Kitchen Smoke Ventilation Ideas

Ceiling Fans

• Many kitchens have ceiling fans either in the rooms themselves or in a nearby room where the increased airflow still benefits smoke removal. Turn on any nearby ceiling fans prior to cooking anything as a preemptive move to keep air circulating before smoke even starts building. This prevents you from having to scramble to get the fans turned on once smoke has already accumulated. Likewise, if the fans are off, turn them on as soon as you notice any smoke building in the kitchen area.

Doors and Windows

• Open any doors and windows in the house once smoke starts accumulating so the smoke has an exit route out of the area. Airflow is essential in removing smoke and the more doors and windows are open, especially those close to the source of the smoke, the faster and more efficient the smoke clears out. Smoke will continue to build unless the source of the smoke is dealt with, but opening the doors and windows gives you more time to deal with the smoke before inhalation becomes a greater danger.

Floor Fans

• While ceiling fans are useful for room ventilation and are convenient due to their locations throughout many homes, they normally do not generate the force of floor fans. Bring fans into the area once smoke becomes noticeable and turn them on high. The faster the air moves through the kitchen, the more smoke is moved out in a shorter amount of time. Ceiling fans also work well in conjunction with with open doors and windows since you can angle the fans towards the openings so the smoke is pushed forcibly out in that direction.

Air Purifier

• Air purifiers are designed to remove harmful particles from the air so they are ideal for smoke removal. Many air purifiers use High Efficiency Particulate Air, or HEPA, filters that are useful in trapping smoke particles and removing them from the air you're breathing. HEPA filters are typically made of fiberglass that are randomly arranged to trap smoke and other harmful air particles. Keep an air purifier near the kitchen if you get smoke there frequently and turn it on prior to cooking. Keep it running until you don't smell or detect smoke in the air anymore.