Condensation on the Kitchen Hood: Causes and Remedies

Blog Guides Diagnostics Maintenance and cleaning Maintenance and cleaning

June 8, 2023 - Updated at May 6, 2024
Tiziano B.
Diagnostics
7922 views

Have you noticed condensation forming on the kitchen hood?

The sight of a veil of moisture or water droplets might make you think there's a malfunction with the hood and could also worry you about the hygiene of your kitchen.

No worries! In 90% of cases, it's sufficient to take some simple precautions to reduce and ideally make the condensation disappear.

In this article, I'll help you understand why condensation forms on the kitchen hood and give you practical advice to solve this unpleasant problem, so you can continue to use it correctly without fearing repercussions on the hood's functioning and hygiene.

Let's get started!

Why does condensation form in the kitchen hood?

Condensation in the kitchen hood forms due to the thermal shock between the temperature of the hood surface (cold) and the hot, moist steam rising from the cooking surface during food preparation (hot).

(This phenomenon tends to accentuate in winter when the steel surface is cold due to ambient temperature.)

This process creates condensation droplets on the surface of the hood, which can then mix with grease residues and accumulate inside the hood, forming a layer of dirt that can clog the grease filters of the hood and attract other airborne contaminants like dust.

These droplets could also fall back onto the cooking surface, compromising kitchen hygiene.

Furthermore, you should know that even the use of induction cooktops can accentuate the phenomenon of condensation formation on the kitchen hood.

Before listing the various solutions that contribute to solving this problem, let's understand together why induction cooktops increase condensation formation on the kitchen hood.

Condensation and induction cooktops

Although condensation formation on the kitchen hood is a phenomenon that can occur with all types of cooktops, it's also true that this issue can be exacerbated when using induction cooktops.

Why does induction generate more condensation?

Induction cooktops heat the contents of pots and pans more quickly compared to other types of cooktops because they utilize the power of electromagnetic energy, which generates an electric current in the pot itself, subsequently producing heat.

Since the heat is generated directly in the pot and not in the surrounding air, the heating process is faster, and the liquid reaches the boiling temperature quickly.

As a result, the surfaces surrounding the induction cooktop and the hood remain cool, and when the hot steam comes into contact with these cool surfaces, a thermal shock occurs, leading to condensation formation.

What is the solution to this problem?

In the next paragraph, I will explain some practical solutions that can help you prevent condensation formation in the kitchen hood, even if you use an induction cooktop.

Condensation in the kitchen hood: solutions and remedies

1) Always use the hood

It might seem strange, but the primary cause of condensation formation on the kitchen hood is actually not using the hood itself. Therefore, the hood should not only be turned on to prevent smoke and odors from spreading throughout the house but also to prevent condensation formation on the hood and to maintain hygiene in the kitchen.

2) Turn on the hood 10 minutes before cooking.

To further emphasize the previous point, it's important to note that the kitchen hood should be turned on 10 minutes before starting to cook, not at the moment cooking begins.

3) Putting lids on pots

When possible, it would be advisable to put lids on pots and pans to limit the steam escaping from them and the consequent thermal shock between the hood surface and cooking vapors.

4) Performing maintenance on the hood

If you're using the hood correctly and the problem persists, take a look at the hood filters; it might be time to clean or replace them!

Metal Grease Filters:

If you find that the grease filters are noticeably dirty and sticky, it's time to clean them or, if excessively worn, replace them.

Active Carbon Filters:

Active carbon filters are used in recirculating hoods, and due to their composition and function of absorbing "polluting" substances (odors and fumes) in the kitchen, they cannot be cleaned and should be replaced periodically to ensure air purification.

*Clarification: even if present when the hood is in extract mode, meaning the air is expelled outside through ducting, they should be removed.

Read our in-depth article on how to clean the kitchen hood!

5) Installing an anti-condensation hood (as a last attempt)

As a last resort, adopting an anti-condensation hood could be a solution to consider if, despite following the precautions listed above, the condensation problem persists.

Anti-condensation hoods are equipped with surface heating systems to keep the hood at a sufficiently warm temperature to prevent thermal shock and, consequently, condensation formation.

Ask for help from an expert

If you can't identify the problem and if you notice that, despite following all the suggestions provided, the condensation problem persists, we recommend seeking help from a technician who is experienced in the installation and maintenance of kitchen hoods.

The reasons for the issue could be varied. Among the most common are:

- Installation error

- Insufficient power of the hood

- Blockage of the filters

- Undersized exhaust pipe hole

Seeking help from a technician will allow you to identify the problem and find a suitable solution to resolve it.

To conclude

In this article, we've seen that turning on the hood isn't just important for preventing the spread of odors throughout the house but also crucial for avoiding condensation formation on the kitchen hood, which could then drip onto our stovetops.

Especially when using induction cooktops, it's even more important to turn on the hood during their use to limit condensation formation and effectively remove the steam and odors generated during cooking.

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