The Ultimate Guide to Suction Power in Cooker Hoods for Singapore Kitchens

Walk into any appliance store in Singapore and you’ll notice this first question every salesperson asks:

“How strong do you want the suction?”

And it matters — especially in Singapore, where kitchens are compact, ventilation is limited, and cooking styles (stir-fry, sambal, wok hei, heavy oil dishes) produce plenty of smoke and grease.

If you’ve ever wondered what suction power actually means and how to choose the right level for your HDB or condo home, this guide breaks everything down simply and clearly.

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What Is Suction Power in a Cooker Hood?

Suction power refers to how much air the cooker hood can pull in and expel within an hour.
It’s usually measured in:

• m³/h (cubic metres per hour) — most common in Singapore

• CFM (cubic feet per minute) — used by some international brands

A higher suction power = more smoke, odour, steam, and oil vapour removed.

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Why Suction Power Matters in Singapore

Singapore kitchens tend to be:

• compact (especially BTO kitchens)

• enclosed with poor natural ventilation

• open-concept layouts where smells travel easily

Plus, our cooking is often heavy:

• frying ikan bilis

• sambal belacan

• wok-frying

• searing meats

• hotpot at home

This requires strong, efficient suction to prevent lingering smells and greasy cabinets.

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How Much Suction Power Do You Really Need?

Here’s the quick Singapore rule-of-thumb:

🔥 Light Cooking (Western-style, reheating, light frying)

350–600 m³/h
Suitable for: boiling, steaming, light pan cooking.

🍳 Moderate Asian Cooking

700–900 m³/h
Ideal for: occasional frying, simple Chinese/Asian dishes.

🔥🔥 Heavy Asian Cooking (Singapore typical cooking)

900–1,200 m³/h
Recommended for:

• wok hei

• sambal

• oil-heavy stir-fry

• high-heat cooking

• daily frying

🔥🔥🔥 Open Kitchens / Serious Home Cooks

1,200 m³/h and above
Best for open-concept HDB, condos, and landed homes where smell travels quickly.

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Ducted vs Recirculating Hoods — Suction Works Differently

1. Ducted (vented) hoods

Smoke is expelled outside the home via an exhaust pipe.
Pros:

• strongest performance

• ideal for heavy cooking

• less oily residue

Best for:
HDB with existing vent points, condos with proper exhaust systems, landed homes.

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2. Recirculating (ductless) hoods

Air is filtered and recirculated back into the house.
Pros:

• flexible placement

• common in condos without vent points

Cons:

• weaker suction

• relies on charcoal filters

• needs regular filter replacement

Best for:
Homes where ducting is not allowed or not possible.

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Suction Power Isn’t Everything — 5 Other Factors That Matter

Even a 1,200 m³/h hood won’t work well if the design is inefficient. Look out for:

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1. Hood Design

Different styles affect how well suction is captured.

• Chimney hood → strong and reliable

• Slim hood → good for small kitchens but weaker

• Inclined/angled hood → modern and good airflow

• Island hood → beautiful but needs very strong suction

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2. Hood Width

The hood should be wider or equal to your hob.

• 60cm hob → 60–70cm hood

• 76cm hob → 80–90cm hood

• 90cm hob → 90cm+ hood

More coverage = better smoke capture.

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3. Static Pressure

This is the "pulling force" inside the hood.
High suction with low static pressure will feel strong on paper but weak in real use.

Aim for: ≥ 300 Pa (good benchmark in Singapore).

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4. Airflow Path

Shorter and straighter ducting = better suction.

Too many bends = suction drops by 30–50%.

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5. Installation Height

Singapore standard installation height:

• 65–75 cm above gas hob

• 55–65 cm above induction hob

Too high = smoke escapes
Too low = unsafe and inefficient

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Signs Your Kitchen Hood Isn't Powerful Enough

If any of these sound familiar, you probably need higher suction:

• smoke lingers after cooking

• cabinets feel sticky or oily

• your kitchen smells long after you’re done

• smoke spreads to the living room

• hood sounds loud but doesn’t pull well

• recirculating hood feels “weak” despite high m³/h rating

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Does Higher Suction Mean Louder Noise?

Generally, yes — higher suction = more motor work = more noise.

But premium hoods use:

• inverter motors

• better insulation

• aerodynamic fans

…which reduce noise significantly.

Look for: ≤ 58 dB on medium-high speed for comfort.

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Recommended Suction Power for Singapore Cooking Styles

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Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Hood Strong

• Clean aluminium filters every 2–4 weeks

• Replace charcoal filters every 4–6 months (for recirculating hoods)

• Ensure ducts are not blocked

• Avoid positioning filters too close to oily pans

• Wipe hood body regularly to prevent oil buildup

A well-maintained hood performs 20–40% better.

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Final Thoughts

Choosing the right suction power for your cooker hood makes a massive difference in keeping your Singapore kitchen clean, smoke-free, and grease-free — especially for everyday Asian cooking.

When in doubt:

• choose higher suction for small HDB kitchens

• ensure good installation height

• prioritise static pressure, not just m³/h

• match hood width to your stove