Cooking at your home is more than amazing and people who have a habit of eating homemade meals cannot live on ordered food. Although it is a fun activity that brings a lot of taste and togetherness as well, the heat of your kitchen can most often become unbearable especially in the hot summer days when the temperature can go in between 40 to 50°C.
When it comes to beating the heat in any part of your house, the air conditioner is probably the first thing to think about but a question arises: is it ok to put AC in the kitchen?
There are some necessary aspects to know about before installing an air conditioner in your kitchen
Does putting hot appliances under an air conditioner have any bad impacts
Putting hot appliances under an air conditioner such as gas stoves, microwaves, ovens, pressure cookers, rice cookers, and other related appliances is prohibited. This will affect the performance of AC in one place while increasing the energy consumption and utility bills on the other.
Having heat under the air conditioner will burn its outer body as well with passing time. Although it will not have any major effect, AC will lose its aesthetic look and attractiveness. Also, the burn mark on the air conditioner cover is impossible to remove and the only thing that can be done is the replacement.
The gas stove should be placed far away from the air conditioner. When you cook on a stove, oil and other ingredients of food evaporate and can get stuck in your air conditioner. This will slowly but constantly create a layer of debris which can cause disturbance to its cooling and air process.
Can you put a central air conditioner in the kitchen
Most people who have a central air conditioner in their home have a return air mechanism installed that usually works in all rooms of the house. Although return air can bring a lot of benefits, it is not ideal for a kitchen because it will suck smokey and oily air from the kitchen and will distribute it in all corners of your house. This will not only take the oily particles and smoke to all rooms of your house but will cause a smell that can be disturbing and unpleasant as well.
This factor does not mean that you can use a central air conditioner without a return air mechanism because even if you don’t use it, the flow of the constant air will create a huge pressure inside the kitchen environment which will eventually push the smell and oil out of the kitchen. This is one of the major reasons that make a central air conditioner a bad choice for a kitchen.
Can an air conditioner explode in the kitchen
R22, R32, and R410A are probably the only and most common refrigerant gases that are used in air conditioners of almost all kinds. According to the research and reports published by CESA (Consumer Electronics Supplier Association) and AREMA (Air conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment and Manufacturers Association of Australia), none of the above-mentioned gases are flammable.
Especially when it comes to a normal kitchen where no heavy fire is used like a factory or something, an air conditioner explosion because of gas ignition is almost next to impossible. Experts also claim that these gases cannot easily catch fire even if the air conditioner has a leakage spot.
How is a kitchen air conditioner different from a normal room air conditioner
Do keep this fact in mind that if you use an air conditioner of the same brand with the same size and capacity in your rooms and kitchen, the one in the kitchen will have different outcomes than those which are installed in rooms. The first thing that is compulsory is an increase in utility bills as an air conditioner installed in the kitchen consumes about 20 to 40% more electricity because of oil, dust, and debris.
Cooking food will become a bit difficult because hot ingredients will tend to become cold in a rapid manner. This can cause serious issues while making a lot of dishes at the same time. Just because oil and smoke can get stuck inside the air conditioner, maintenance costs and taking care will be at an upper level.
How to maintain and take care of an air conditioner in the kitchen
- Thoroughly clean the air conditioner with some commercial products or safe chemicals at least once in a couple of months.
- Oil and food steam can form a layer over the air conditioner’s body. Wipe it off with a towel and soap or washing detergent.
- Keep the gas stove and other steamy appliances away from the air conditioner.
- The best thing is to install your air conditioner on a wall that is on the opposite side of the heat and related activities.
Tips to keep your kitchen cool without an air conditioner
- Using an induction stove instead of a traditional one can solve almost half of your problem. An induction stove does not emit heat into the air, it just provides heat to the area where the pan is placed.
- Try to make meals and foods that can be prepared without using a stove for a long time. Microwave ovens and pressure cookers can prepare your food in no time without emitting excessive heat on the atmosphere.
- Installing ceiling or table fans in your kitchen can help the air to circulate in the kitchen and go out of the area through windows and doors. Also, this should be included in the to-do list while designing your kitchen in the beginning.
- Wear suitable clothes instead of heavy stuff. Wearing suitable clothes will not allow the heat to stay within your clothes.
- Lights can play a major role in increasing the heat in your kitchen. It is highly recommended to only use necessary lights instead of a full bunch. Following this practice can also bring positive results in an efficient manner.
Curious to know should i install aircon in living room?
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