Cassette Filter vs Baffle Filter | Which One To Consider
When you’re cooking in your kitchen, you’ll notice oil droplets and other greasy substances getting stuck on the cooktop tiles wall and the kitchen cabinets above the gas oven. It is a good idea to purchase a kitchen chimney to help you in keeping your kitchen tidy.
With so many kitchen chimneys available in the market, it can be challenging to choose the right chimney for your needs, especially when it comes to selecting the right type of filter. Two common types of filters used in kitchen chimneys are cassette filters and baffle filters.
In this article we will delve deeper into the pros and cons of both cassette filters and baffle filters and help you select between one of them depending upon your needs and budget and that will also give you clean cooking experience.
Types of Kitchen Chimney Filters
Only the heavier grease and oil granules were allowed to escape into the atmosphere through a conventional type of filter. However, that arrangement proved to be totally unproductive, forcing designers to modify the structure and develop various chimney filters to purify the air completely.
But even though modern tech may introduce newer filter models in the future, there are currently three types of kitchen chimney filters available:
- Cassette or Mesh Filter
- Baffle Filter
- Charcoal Filter
1. Cassette Filter
Cassette filters have multiple layers of aluminum or stainless steel filters to keep the tiny holes in them. It is one of the most popular kitchen chimney types.
It has countless mesh layers that capture oil and grease particles and remove fumes from the kitchen with opening holes less than half a millimeter in size.
The wires are tightly knot against each other to retain the filter structure against the suction pressure of the fan inside the chimney section. To improve the chimney’s performance, multiple layers of the cassette filter are stacked one on top of the other.
Since the aluminum cassette filter is lightweight, you must be more cautious when cleaning. Stainless steel is quite heavy, but it is easy to clean. These filters’ pores become clogged and must be cleaned every two weeks.
Pros
- Comes with advanced cleaning abilities.
- It is lightweight, easy to handle, and comes in suitable sizes.
- Mostly inexpensive
- Dishwasher safe
- The filter can be easily removed from the chimney
Cons
- Makes a lot of noise
- Needs to clean the clogged pores often
2. Baffle Filter
A baffle filter chimney is said to be one of the most sophisticated or revolutionary filters, aiding in the effective cleaning of your kitchen. A baffle filter is composed of numerous curved stainless-steel panels.
The wall is then built up in various places with a specific curvature to allow air to flow through it while capturing oil and grease residues and monitoring airflow.
When the fumes from your kitchen travel through the chimney, they flow through this baffle filter, allowing smoke to escape. However, grime and particles find their way into the panels. It only needs to be cleaned thoroughly with dishwashing liquids once every three or four months. A dishwasher machine would also work fine.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Separate oil and other heavier particles from the air
- Easy to clean and requires less maintenance
- Long-lasting and durable
Cons
- Heavier than other filters
- Can be noisier sometimes
3. Charcoal Filter
The term “charcoal filter” refers to the fact that they are mostly made of charcoal. The absorption spectrum capability of the filter is determined by the width and thickness of the charcoal granules.
Carbon filters are used in conjunction with mesh/baffle filters as a secondary filter. Charcoal filters significantly remove cooking odors by utilizing their specifically enlarged surface features, which are used to absorb unpleasant compounds instantly.
Absorption is the process by which impurities cling to the surfaces of carbon molecules. They are separated from the airflow and thus unable to spread in the air. Because it is primarily made of charcoal, this secondary filter cannot be washed. As a result, for the chimney to function properly, the charcoal filters must be renewed regularly.
Pros
- Improves hygiene of the kitchen
- It’s a secondary filter and eliminates any kind of particles that’s left out through the primary filter
- Long-lasting and durable
Cons
- Not washable
- Needs to be replaced frequently
Cassette Filter vs Baffle Filter | What Is The Difference
Both the chimney filters have the same purpose. But there are particular baffle filter vs. cassette filter aspects that differentiate them to great heights. Here’s the list of cassette filters vs. baffle filters to make you understand better.
1. Working Principle
Another popular type of kitchen chimney is Cassette filters. They are porous, meaning they have small pore-like holes that allow smoke to pass through. Any component larger than the mesh becomes trapped in it. As a result, to work effectively, Cassette filters must be cleaned regularly.
It is possible to regulate the circulation of air drawn up by a baffle filter. It employs a novel’ cut and chop’ method to eliminate the oil and food particles from the fumes. It has curvatures that collect oil and grease while allowing contaminated air to exit via PVC chimneys. Oil absorption by the filter has little impact on air suction.
2. Maintenance
To keep the filter clean, use dishwashing liquid and baking soda. These filters are pretty high maintenance, requiring a deep clean at least once every week. Aluminum-based ones are lightweight and easier to handle, but they are more challenging to wash and clean.
When compared to a cassette filter, baffle filter requires much less maintenance. It only needs to be cleaned thoroughly once every three or four months with dishwashing liquids. It maintains the chimney’s air suction power and improves operational productivity. A dishwashing machine would also work fine.
3. Noise Level
During the performance, the cassette filter generates a huge amount of noise. The noise can be deafening at times. People may have to leave the kitchen to escape the noise.
The baffle filter, on the other hand, produces no sound. Occasionally, a moderate amount of noise is heard. It provides a quiet operation with no annoying noises. During the process, there would be no disruption.
4. Filter Durability
When it comes to the durability of both filters, we must say that the baffle filter outlasts the other. Cassette filters require maintenance to ensure their longevity. The cavities in the cassette filter separate the oil and grime from the sucked air. The slightly cleaner air is maintained through the PVC pipes before being expelled from the house.
The superior airflow of the baffle filter, on the other hand, has a productive suction power of the motor. Oil particles are compelled to move toward the blower wall by centrifugal forces. They are compiled simply to eliminate and washable collectors or bowls. Depending on usage, this detachable oil collector should be rinsed once a month. Because of this, the baffle filter has a long lifespan.
5. Price
When the prices of the cassette filter and the baffle filter are compared, we can see that the cassette filter is less expensive.
A baffle filter, on the other hand, is costly. The advantages of baffle filters over cassette filters are numerous. It is the source of the differences between the two filters.
Also Read:
Baffle filter vs Cassette filter: Which one to consider?
When we look at the baffle filter vs. cassette filter list, both efficiently eliminate dust and dirt from the kitchen. However, baffle stainless steel filters are always preferable for preventing flames and fires in the kitchen by providing a higher protection shield. Furthermore, heavy-duty cooking occurs in the Indian kitchen, so a baffle filter appears to be perfect.
As a result, if you want something that will last a long time, is lighter, and requires very little maintenance, a chimney with baffle filters is the way to go. However, if you’re on a tight budget, cassette filter chimneys are also excellent choices.
