The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where you make all the goodies and enjoy time with your family as you make meals and spend time together. All this cooking will make any kitchen quite hot, which can sometimes be uncomfortable.
With these conditions, you want to regulate your kitchen’s temperatures. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system benefits any kitchen and ensures moderate temperatures while enhancing air quality. However, an HVAC system will only meet these needs with proper installation. Here are five things to keep in mind when installing an HVAC in your kitchen:
Hire A Qualified Contractor
The proper installation of an HVAC unit requires a qualified contractor. They’ll install it from an expert’s point of view with no errors. Ascertain the contractor’s qualifications by asking about their certifications and accreditations. These show they have the necessary training and certifications for HVAC installation.
The other aspect of qualification is experience. How long has the contractor you’ve chosen installed HVAC systems? More years translate to mastery in their service. That means you’re less likely to experience errors due to wrong installations.
HVAC needs are broad and go beyond installation. Older systems often need repair and maintenance. Therefore, seek the services of a contractor that also offers heating and air conditioning repair and installation. You won’t need to find a different repair contractor if your system needs it.
Where To Place Your HVAC
Placing your new HVAC system strategically in your kitchen means maximum efficiency. Improper placement can also do a lot of harm to your unit. Therefore, plan where you want to install your unit.
It’s advisable not to place the AC above your cooker or near other heating appliances. A lot of smoke and tiny particles might end up in your system. The result is clogged filters that lead to your system performing poorly.
It’s best to have the HVAC in an area away from your kitchen appliances or its busiest place. Consider placing the unit opposite your cooking area. There’ll be no direct heat or exposure to debris or steam.
The Type Of HVAC
There are many HVAC units from which you can choose to meet your kitchen cooling and ventilation needs. They differ in operating mechanism, size, and energy efficiency, among other differences.
Choosing an HVAC unit that meets your needs without compromise is crucial. Your kitchen size and requirements should guide your choice. It should be large enough to cool your space effectively. However, it shouldn’t be too big or small.
It’d also help to choose a unit allowing an average temperature of 26 to 28 degrees Celsius. These temperatures are cool enough to make you comfortable in the kitchen without interfering with your cooking. As said, activity in the kitchen produces a lot of heat. Sometimes, the HVAC will try harder to cool the kitchen, which consumes more power to run and increases energy bills.
It goes without saying, but choosing an energy-efficient HVAC unit is crucial. Ask the sales representative about a system’s energy efficiency ratio (EER). An ideal EER for HVACs is 8.5 and above. Generally, the higher the EER, the more efficient the system is.
The Presence Of A Chimney
Chimneys ventilate a kitchen while removing excess fumes that make the space stuffy. Without a vent, working in the kitchen can get uncomfortable. If you install an HVAC unit in a kitchen with no chimney, expect it to experience frequent issues. Without a chimney, the HVAC removes all the kitchen fumes, some of which have particles. It’ll also be responsible for ventilation.
The result is an overworked HVAC unit that’ll break down quickly, meaning maintenance needs also increase. You have to change its filters frequently to address clogging. So, before you install an HVAC unit, build a chimney first (if you don’t have it still). Also, it won’t hurt to clean your chimney once in a while to help improve HVAC efficiency.
The Associated Costs
It’s not advisable to spend a fortune on an HVAC installation project. Start by understanding the cost effects of your chosen HVAC unit. These systems can cost you as low as GBP£300 to as much as GBP£8,500+ for high-end Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MHVR) systems. In addition, you also have to factor in short- and long-term costs.
The project’s short-term costs are what you’ll pay for the system and installing it. Each of these depends on various factors. The price of the HVAC depends on its size, brand, and other features. Installing the HVAC depends on the HVAC contractor you hire and how often you require to repair or replace the unit, respectively.
Long-term, consider how much you’ll pay for your energy bill annually and maintenance costs. On average, an HVAC unit in the kitchen can expel 8,000 BTU. At GBP£34 per kWh, running the system for four hours will cost you close to GBP£23 per week.
Consolidate all these figures and check if you can afford the HVAC unit. Settle for the unit you can afford in the short and long term.
Conclusion
Installing an HVAC unit in your kitchen is essential. It’ll keep the temperatures cool, despite the heat outside and from all the cooking. As said, you must install the unit correctly to enjoy the benefits. Keep these tips in mind so you can enjoy cooler temperatures in your kitchen for a long time.
