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Elica WD TBF HAC 60 (₹12,999) is best for heavy daily frying and tadka with 1500 m³/hr suction and 15-year motor warranty. For filterless convenience, Faber Hood Venice (₹10,990) offers excellent 1200 m³/hr with heat auto-clean eliminating manual filter washing. Choose Elica for maximum power, Faber for hassle-free maintenance.

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Formula: Kitchen area (sq ft) × 10 = Minimum m³/hr. For 120 sq ft kitchen: 120 × 10 = 1200 m³/hr minimum. Add 20-30% buffer for heavy cooking. Quick guide: 100-150 sq ft = 1000-1200 m³/hr, 150-200 sq ft = 1200-1400 m³/hr, 200+ sq ft = 1400-1500 m³/hr. Most Indian kitchens (120-180 sq ft) need 1200-1350 m³/hr.

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Buy filterless (Faber Venice, Glen Senza, Hindware Nadia) if: You want minimal maintenance, hate filter scrubbing, cook 1-2 times daily. Just empty oil tray monthly. Buy baffle filter (Elica WD TBF, Faber Mars) if: You cook 3+ times daily with heavy frying, want maximum oil trapping, don't mind cleaning filters every 2-3 weeks. Both perform similarly for smoke - difference is maintenance style.

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Auto-clean uses heat to melt collected oil, draining it to a removable tray. Filterless auto-clean: Highly effective - just empty oil tray monthly, no filter scrubbing needed. Baffle auto-clean: Helps reduce oil buildup but you still need manual filter cleaning every 2-3 weeks (less frequent than non-auto models). Run auto-clean cycle every 30 days for best results. Always clean/empty oil collector regularly regardless of filter type.

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60cm chimney (reviewed here): Perfect for 2-4 burner gas stoves (most common Indian kitchen setup). Covers stove width adequately. 90cm chimney: Only needed for 4-5 burner large stoves or kitchen islands. Rule: chimney width ≥ stove width. Measure your stove - most Indian 3-burner and 4-burner glass-top stoves are 55-65cm wide, making 60cm chimney ideal. 90cm is overkill and costs ₹3,000-5,000 more.

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Duct installation (recommended): 60-70% smoke removal efficiency - vents smoke outside via pipe. Needs wall opening but much more effective for Indian cooking smoke. One-time installation cost ₹1,000-2,000. Ductless/recirculating: 40-50% efficiency - filters and recirculates air. No drilling needed but less effective, requires expensive carbon filter replacement (₹2,000-3,000 yearly). For heavy Indian cooking, always choose duct installation.

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Ideal height: 24-30 inches (2-2.5 feet) between stove top and chimney bottom. Too low (below 24 inches): Heat damage risk to chimney, difficult cooking access, safety hazard. Too high (above 30 inches): Reduced suction efficiency, smoke escapes before capture. Most manufacturers recommend 26-28 inches for optimal balance of safety and performance. Measure twice before drilling wall brackets.

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Noise levels: Low speed 45-50 dB (library quiet), medium speed 55-60 dB (normal conversation), high speed 65-70 dB (loud conversation). All chimneys are louder at maximum suction - this is normal physics (more air movement = more noise). Filterless models are slightly quieter than baffle. Use medium speed for everyday cooking, reserve high speed for heavy frying. Quality motors (Faber, Elica) run smoother with less vibration noise.

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Best service: Faber (pan-India network, 300+ service centers), Elica (strong in metros, 200+ centers). Good service: Hindware (established network, good in North India), Glen (improving coverage, focused on metros). Limited: Eurodomo (backed by Faber but Amazon-exclusive), Inalsa (weak in Tier 2/3 cities). Check local service center before purchase. Most issues are maintenance-related - proper cleaning reduces service needs.

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Power consumption: 180-250W on high speed (similar to two LED bulbs). Daily usage cost: If run 2 hours daily at ₹6/unit electricity: 0.2 kW × 2 hours × ₹6 = ₹2.40 per day = ₹72 monthly. Very economical. BLDC motors (found in premium models) consume 30% less power. Always turn off when not cooking to save electricity. LED lights on chimney consume negligible power (3-5W).