Frequently asked questions - FAQ

Posted: helmi 2, 2024 in Sinks, Cooker Hoods, Waste sorting, Taps

Products and their accessories and spare parts are constantly being developed, so it is possible that the accessories and spare parts have a difference compared to the parts delivered with the first delivery of the product (for example, weight, color tone).

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

The local power grid can cause voltage disturbances that cause problems in electrical equipment. The above mentioned can cause, for example, that the kitchen hood's buttons do not react normally.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

The cable coming from the switch panel and/or the lights is not connected, or the wires of the top extractor control cables are connected incorrectly. The control cables can be found behind the grease filter. The installation must be carried out by a person with the necessary professional qualifications as mentioned in the installation instructions.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

The motor of the cooker hood is not itself a source of fat, but when cooking food, fat accumulates in the inner parts of the range hood. The grease filters should be cleaned regularly in the dishwasher or in the sink with hand dishwashing liquid using hot water. Similarly, the inside of the hood should be cleaned from time to time with a soft cloth moistened with a general kitchen cleaner to remove excess accumulated grease.

Please note that uncleaned grease filters accumulate grease inside the kitchen hood, causing a fire hazard.

See also the question and answer "What kinds of filters are there and how are they maintained?" and "Why isn't my fan suctioning the carts enough?"

Posted: helmi 8, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

The hood should be chosen as the same type as the previous hood, if the ventilation system in the housing corporation does not change. If you don't know the model of the current hood, you should contact the housing corporation/property manager or an HVAC professional. If necessary, we will find out from the housing corporation/property manager what type of ventilation system is in use. The different system options are presented here

- if it is an X1 or X2 option, information on the brand and model of the top extractor control and the electrical diagram is requested from the housing corporation.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

GREASE FILTER

All cooker hoods have a grease filter which task is to remove grease from the air entering the fan. This is important to do so that greasy air does not enter the fan motor. The filters must definitely be cleaned at regular intervals (every 1–3 months depending on use), otherwise there is a risk that the fan motor will be damaged.

Lapetek hoods always use grease filters that can be washed in the dishwasher.

The inner parts of the hood should be cleaned from time to time with a soft cloth moistened with a general kitchen cleaner to remove excess accumulated grease. Please note that uncleaned grease filters accumulate grease inside the hood, causing a fire hazard. 

CHARCOAL FILTER

Activated carbon is a substance whose purpose is to remove odors from the air. A charcoal filter is installed in the cooker hood when the extraction chimney is not available. The carbon produced during cooking passes through the charcoal filter and the cleaned air returns back to the room. There are several different types of charcoal filters and most of them reduce the suction power (air resistance increases) and raise the sound level.

CHARCOAL FILTER / REPLECEABLE

Replaceable charcoal filters are disposable and should be changed approximately every 3 months, depending on use.

Activated carbon is small carbon particles that bind odors to themselves.

CHARCOAL FILTER / LONGLIFE

The carbon filter has a metal lock and a frame and internal parts made of aluminum. Instead of changing, in normal use, the filter should be washed and reactivated approximately every 3 months. Washing takes place in the dishwasher with the highest heat program and activation by holding the filter for about 10 minutes in an oven at 100 °C.

The life of the filter is about three years, depending on use, after which it should be renewed.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

Top extractor hoods are not compatible with house fans.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

THE COOKER HOOD HAS A POINTER FOR THE NEED TO CLEAN THE GREASE AND ACTIVATED CARBON FILTER

Grease filter:

When the letter F and the selected speed (e.g. F and 1) flash alternately on the display, the grease filters must be washed. The grease filters can be washed in the dishwasher. After the grease filters have been washed, the pointer can be reset by pressing the light button for about 5 seconds until the flashing stops.

Charcoal filter:

When the letter A and the selected speed (e.g. A and 1) flash alternately on the display, the active carbon filters should be replaced. After the active carbon filters have been replaced, the pointer can be reset by pressing the light button for about 5 seconds until the flashing stops.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

The need to clean and replace the filters depends on the cooking methods and how often the cooker hood is used.

Metal grease filters should be washed either by hand or in the dishwasher, depending on use, at least once a month. A dirty grease filter does not remove grease from the air, but it gets into the motor and causes a decrease in suction power and an increase in sound level, as well as a risk of fire.

If the cooker hood is equipped with an charcoal filter, the procedure depends on the type of active carbon filter.

Exchangeable filters should be changed every 3–6 months or at least once a year.
Longlife charcoal filters should be washed every 3–6 months. Washing takes place in the dishwasher with the highest heat program and activation by holding the filter for about 10 minutes in an oven at 100 °C.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

The most significant part of the sound level of the cooker hood is caused by air currents, therefore we recommend using a speed suitable for the cooking situation.

In Lapeteki stove hoods, the air flows through the filter cell as freely as possible, which has been used to reduce the resulting noise. A ventilation duct that is too small also increases the sound level, so we recommend using 160 mm ducts.

The sound level is stronger if the duct has a lot of bends and is long (especially in 125 mm flues). The greater the resistance in the duct, the greater the sound of the stove hood. If a resonant sound comes from the hood, check that the dome itself is properly attached.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

The flapping sound when the range hood is closed or at the lowest speed is caused by the fact that the airflow in suitable conditions and in sufficiently windy weather causes suction in the duct, which swings the flaps on check valve on top of the device, or that at the lowest speed the airflow does not open the flaps completely due to the resistance in the piping.

If the sound is disturbing, it can be dampened by placing a sound-absorbing material, e.g. a thin strip of foam, in the place where the flaps land. Another option is to get a separate on-return valve and install it so high in the chimney pipe of the hood that the sound is no longer disturbing. The measures mentioned do not affect the warranty of the device.
 
Removing no-return valve flap is not recommended under any circumstances! Without a no-return valve, cold air tends to enter the room through the ducts, and it may cause water to condense in the ducts, so that the condensate draining from the fan breaks the fan.

Modifications to the product to dampen the sound are not covered by the warranty.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

Reason / Cold air comes into the room through the cooker hood:

The flow of cold air through the fan into the kitchen is either due to excessive negative pressure in the apartment, an uninstalled no-return valve or insufficient insulation in the flue pipes.

Possible measures to correct the issue:

Make sure the negative pressure (tips can be found in the section Miksi tuulettimeni ei ime käryjä riittävästi), that the non-return valve is installed properly and that the duct pipe of the kitchen hood has sufficient insulation.

Reason / Water comes through the cooker hood:

Among other things, for the reasons mentioned above, the air flowing into the house through the kitchen hood condenses into water, causing the water vapor in the air to condense inside the duct pipe of the hood (in non-insulated flue pipes also on the outer surface) and the water flows out through the cooker hood. The water either freezes on the duct of the hood and drains after the duct surface of the hood warms up, or drains directly into the hood after condensing.  
Condensation occurs when the dew point is located in the wrong place in the duct pipe of the hood.

Possible measures to correct the issue:

Condensation is not caused by the cooker hood, but you can reduce the problem by always using the fan at least 10-15 minutes after you stop cooking. In this case, the duct pipe of the hood can dry out better from the moist air created during cooking.
Many Lapetek models have a separate timed closing function.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

To improve draft removal in the kitchen, it is recommended to turn on the cooker hood a few minutes before starting to cook, so that the air flow in the kitchen can flow in the desired direction.

Bad suction on the cooker hood can be caused by several factors, the most common reasons are listed below with instructions for action.

Reason:
There is not enough replacement air in the room, so the negative pressure in the room becomes too large.

Actions:
Check if there are enough replacement air valves in the apartment.
You can test if this is the cause of the poor suction power by opening a window in another room and then turning on the kitchen hood. Note, however, that too much air can cause the air to circulate in the kitchen, which can have the opposite effect. If the fan now sucks better, the reason/part of the reason is the lack of replacement air. Also test the operation of the kitchen hood motor at different speeds and make sure that the motor revs increase at different speeds.

Please note that the ventilation machine can be given top information, with which the ventilation machine can adjust the negative pressure in the house to a lower level, thus reducing the negative pressure in the house and improving the air circulation. For information, the kitchen hood can be equipped with a differential pressure switch, which you can order from Lapetek's online store.

Reason:  
The diameter of the exhaust air duct is too small, or the duct is long and contains several corners.

Actions:
If possible, make the duct of the hood larger in diameter. Often, it is not possible to change the duct afterwards, so the only option is to purchase a more efficient kitchen hood. In this case, it must be noted that the sound level can rise considerably without the suction power increasing in the same proportion. The reason is the resistance caused by the duct of the hood to the air flow, which increases as the air volume increases. If the resistance is large enough, changing the motor to a more efficient one has no significance other than the sound level. We recommend using 160 mm exhaust ducts.

If the duct of the hood cannot be changed, one option is to change the stove hood to a recirculating carbon filter model, so that the exhaust air returns to the room cleaned.

Note! Always check that the filters are not dirty (grease and/or charcoal filter).
Clean the grease filter and if the fan also has an active charcoal filter, replace it with a new one or wash it if it is a washable filter. See also the question and answer, "What kinds of filters are there and what are they used for?" and "How do I take care of my kitchen hood?"

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

The function of the no-return valve is to reduce the flow of air in the duct of the hood in the wrong direction (from outside to the room) when the device is switched off. The no-return valve does not work as a tight shut-off valve. Especially in autumn and winter, the absence of a no-return valve can be noticed as a cold air stream below the cooker hood. The absence of a no-return valve may also cause water to condense in the ducts so that water from the fan drips onto the hob.
 
The air flows in the duct of the hood always cause some noise in the kitchen hood. Under certain conditions, the air flow may also swing the no-return valve flaps in the fan, causing a "clicking/flapping" sound.

Watch the video at this link or below

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

If it is a new product that has just been put into use, contact our service immediately. Also check the cooker hood connections.

In the appliances that are in use, the problem is most often the condensate in the duct due to insufficient duct insulation that got into the kitchen hood, which has broken the fan and caused the residual current protection to trip (See more detailed information in the section Why is water dripping from the range hood or is it cold under it). In this case, too, you should contact the maintenance service.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

The problem is, especially in cold weather, moisture condensing in the duct of the hood and water draining into the cooker hood and thereby onto the tabletop. Water that has run into the motor often causes the cooker hood to break. The breakage is not caused by the cooker hood, but by the condensate flowing into it. Therefore, in terms of the fan, it is not a matter under warranty.
 
Below are general instructions and points to consider, which can be used to reduce water condensation.
 
When installing the range hood, in addition to the actual assembly and installation work, special attention should be paid to the exhaust air ducts of the cooker hood. The suitability of the exhaust air duct for exhausting the air passing through the kitchen hood should be confirmed before starting the installation work. In addition to the provisions given in the building regulations, special attention should also be paid to the following points:
 
- The exhaust hood should be insulated the entire way when it travels in a "cold" space outside the house insulation with sufficient thermal insulation suitable for the purpose.
- The duct pipe of the hood and possible extension joints must be intact and completely sealed from the warm space all the way to the outside flue outlet.
- The duct's no-return valve  must be installed and its correct opening and closing must be tested during installation. A malfunctioning non-return valve can be recognised, for example, that cold air is flowing over the hob. See how the no-return valve works tästä

- The ventilation of the house must be adjusted correctly and in such a way that the building is under pressure compared to the outside air, as required by D2 Finland's building code collection. Ventilation adjustment can only be carried out by a company qualified for ventilation adjustment.
 
Exhaust duct leakage and insulation problems cause condensation of moist exhaust air passing along the ducts in the ducts. As a result, the water running down the duct of the hood can cause the hood to break, as well as moisture damage to the building. If the ventilation is overpressured inside the building, the no-return valve can open and allow moist air to rise into the duct pipe of the hood and cause the  moisture problem  mentioned above and break the hood. In this case, even properly insulating the duct pipe of the hood does not eliminate the problem.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

As a rule, basic ventilation is handled either by gravity or via a top extractor control/LTO device. In this case, a small amount of air is always sucked from the kitchen (and possibly damp areas) and replacement air enters the apartment through other rooms.

Lapetek X2 collection is intended for locations where ventilation and the removal of kitchen odors are controlled from the kitchen cooker hood.

You cannot control ventilation machines with Lapeteki cooker hoods.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

As of January 1st, 2015, cooker hoods must have an energy label that contains information on the total energy consumption as well as information on the motor, lighting, grease removal ability and sound level. In the past, all major European cooker hood manufacturers have agreed on common standards to indicate suction powers (IEC 61591) and sound levels (IEC 60704-2-13). The standards were intended to give more realistic information about the actual values, and on the other hand, the values declared by different manufacturers will be comparable with each other. Lapetek has adopted the standards as soon as they were completed on January 1st, 2002. Values declared according to different standards cannot be compared with each other.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

dB(A) is the symbol for decibel, which is a unit of sound intensity. It is used to express how much noise the device makes during use. The sound pressure values of the cooker hood are measured in a sound measuring room according to the standard, so that the sound values of cooker hoods from different manufacturers are comparable with each other. The decibel values measured in the kitchen area do not correspond to the official declared values.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

Intensive power is a power higher than the normal maximum power, which is intended for use when the formation of odors is particularly strong. Intensive power is on, depending on the model, for approx. 7 minutes, and after that the engine power returns to the power before selecting intensive power.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

Filters for cooker hoods are mainly either grease or odor/damp reducing. Grease-reducing filters are made of disposable fabric or multi-layer aluminum. Metal filters are used in Lapetek cooker hoods, which are easy to maintain and can be washed in the dishwasher. They have a labyrinth-like layer structure that makes them quieter and more efficient than normal filters.

Odor-reducing filters contain activated carbon. They are only used in cooker hoods with a recirculation air connection. Filters are either washable (Longlife) or replaceable. Most Lapetek cooker hood models use disposable activated carbon filters, which must be changed every 3–12 months, depending on use. The washable filter can be washed in the dishwasher with a power washing program (65 C or 55 C) and dried in the oven (100 C for 10 min).

Check examples of activated carbon filters.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

You can choose either a cooker hood that exhausts from the inside through a duct of the hood to the outside air, or a model that uses activated carbon that circulates back into the room air. We recommend using a recyclable model because it saves heating energy.

All Lapetek cooker hoods with exhaust air connection can be converted to circulation air connection.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

The power of the cooker hood depends on several factors, which should be taken into account when choosing a cooker hood for the kitchen. Factors influencing the power requirement include:
- the intersections of the ventilation's duct, the length of the duct and the number of corners significantly affect the performance and reduce the efficiency of the cooker hood. The longer and more tortuous the duct, the more powerful the motor is needed. At the same time, however, it should be noted that the suction power does not increase in the same proportion as the engine power. For this reason, it is recommended that the air conditioning duct has a diameter of at least 160 mm and that sharp corners and excessively long air conditioning ducts should be avoided. The length of the duct and the number of corners, i.e. the resistance caused by the duct to the outgoing air, also significantly affect the sound level of the kitchen hood.

All Lapetek cooker hoods have been tested and equipped with a sufficiently large motor to achieve efficient removal of the odors from the kitchen.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

The primary criterion affecting the selection of the hood is the object's air conditioning system. Is it the hood needed to control the top extractor or a model with its own motor.
Lapetek uses the terms X1, X2 and X3 to describe different air conditioning solutions. The collection has separate hoods AC and EC for top extractor control.

The maximum power of the top extractor model is determined by the top extractor cleaner or LTO device on the roof. The design of the kitchen hood can mainly affect the collection of odors, but not so much the air flow. The final power is affected by the length and diameter of the hood's duct leading to the ventilation valve and the number of corners in the duct.
 
It is good to remember that the narrower and more tortuous the ventilation duct is, the greater the power losses of the kitchen hood and a more efficient motor cannot increase the air flow in the same proportion as the power is increased. All Lapetek kitchen hoods have been tested and equipped with a sufficiently large motor to achieve efficient removal of the odors from the kitchen.

The power/sound level information of Lapetek kitchen hoods, which makes it easier to choose a kitchen hood, is indicated for each product on the product pages.

Consult your air conditioning designer to ensure the exact power requirement.

Posted: helmi 5, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

Lapetek cooker hoods are designed to work with Vilpe top extractors or top extractors with the same technology. The collection has separate hoods AC and EC for top extractor control.

X1 - kitchen exhaust with its own chimney

X2 - Kitchen extraction and wet room extraction combined behind the same top-of-the-line top extract vacuum cleaner

X3 - centralized ventilation, where only the flap is opened and closed per apartment

Top extract vacuum manufacturers have different requirements for controlling the devices, and therefore you should always check in advance whether the Lapetek cooker hood is suitable for use with an existing top extract vacuum.

Check compatibility with the top extract vacuum manufacturer.

Posted: helmi 8, 2024 in Cooker Hoods

Range hoods have a type plate inside the device behind the grease filters that identifies the product. If you have any questions about the cooker hood, remove the grease filters, take a picture of the nameplate and attach it to the Care-yhteydenottoon.

Do you want to find the product name and its product code.

See the location of the nameplate here