The first instinct about Indian summers is the thought of an AC. We’ve all experienced the torturous summer heat this year and felt the need to have an air-conditioned kitchen. In the peak summer heat, it becomes unbearable to spend hours in the kitchen. Sadly, even after so many years of fighting for equality, the larger proportion of household help and homemakers leans towards the female population. The other rooms in the house have the privilege of having an air conditioner, but the kitchen sphere is always deprived of it because there are several essential things we have to be careful about before installing an AC in the kitchen. Setting up a ceiling fan also becomes impossible as it hinders the cooking process. In such a condition, installing an air conditioner in the kitchen seems like a necessity. One of the confusions that people face is whether it is possible to put a cooling system in the kitchen. Yes, it is. But there are a few important things to keep in mind before installing AC in the kitchen.

USE OF CHIMNEY

One very important aspect to keep in mind before installing AC in the kitchen is to make sure that the kitchen has a chimney. Without a chimney, the smoke that is emitted as a result of cooking will make the kitchen stuffy and uncomfortable. This might lead to suffocation and troubled breathing. Therefore, the first thing to keep in mind before installing AC in the kitchen is to install a chimney beforehand. Cooking is ideally done in well-ventilated spaces, but that stands opposed to the requirements of an air conditioner. Smoke and grease, the by-products of cooking, not only damage the household's interior but also takes a toll on the health of the person spending time in the kitchen. The chimney helps suck up the smoke even when the kitchen is air conditioner friendly. This step is essential to be remembered before installing AC in the kitchen especially in the case of Indian households as the use of oil and spices is more compared to other cuisines.

PLACEMENT OF THE AC

Where to place the AC unit is also another necessary factor to keep in mind before installing an air conditioner in your kitchen. The placement of the AC unit right above the stove can not only hinder cooking but also might cause trouble in the machine itself when fumes enter it. The cooling vent will slow down the process of cooking. It is advisable to install the air conditioning machine far or at the opposite end of the room from where your cooking stove is kept.

 APPROPRIATE TYPE OF AIR CONDITIONER

The knowledge of the appropriate type of air conditioner is of utmost importance when it comes to installing AC in the kitchen. Be careful about the type of AC before installing it in the kitchen. It is advisable to use an undersized AC for the kitchen at a constant temperature of 26-28 degrees Celsius. A moderate temperature is necessary to optimize the process of cooking. It is also important to check the energy star rating before installing an AC in the kitchen. Look for an air conditioner with a high energy rating because the heat generated from cooking has an impact on the energy load and power consumption of the AC. The size of the kitchen should also be considered before deciding on the appropriate cooling system for the kitchen. The spacier the kitchen, the better. A cramped up, narrow kitchen full of smoke and no ventilation is not a pretty scenario.

PROPER HANDLING AND MAINTENANCE OF THE AC

The job doesn’t just end once you install an air conditioning system in your kitchen; there are things to take care of even after the AC is installed in the kitchen. The people in the kitchen should have required information about the maintenance of an AC in the kitchen. If they do not have sufficient knowledge, instruct or train them accordingly to avoid any unfortunate accidents in the kitchen.

The periodic cleaning is also an important requirement. The air conditioning unit should be cleaned at least once a month with commercial products. Make sure they do not contain harmful chemicals. Ac in the kitchen needs special attention because it involves food that we intake and consequent health issues. Periodic wiping the oil and food steam off the AC is another principal tip.

There are some additional tips you can keep in mind while installing AC in the kitchen. Indian households mostly use a gas stove for cooking. But times are evolving, and so are our kitchens. If possible, use induction or microwave instead of a stove in an air-conditioned kitchen. Inductions do not heat the kitchen like LPG stoves. If you are using stoves, try and keep the air conditioner switched off during the process of actual cooking. An additional hack is to place refrigerators and ovens in some other room as they radiate heat.

However, if considering the above important factors for installing AC in the kitchen, you decide against it, there are other means to keep your kitchen cooler during summers. As an alternative to an air conditioner, an exhaust fan can be used. Of course, an exhaust fan is not equipped to give an instant cooling effect, but it will help make your kitchen well ventilated. An exhaust fan will reduce the humidity, smoke, and stuffy feeling inside the kitchen. Just because ceiling fans for the kitchen are a bad idea, that does not mean you have no option of fans in the kitchen. A small table fan can be set up, or spot cooling machines come to use in such cases. Kitchen table fans can also be used. There are companies that design fans, especially for kitchens.

Today, a lot of people are installing air conditioners in kitchen spaces. It is no more frowned upon if you follow the above-mentioned important factors before installing AC in the kitchen. We tend to make our home a better place to live in by decorating it and providing all the facilities one can afford. Why not make your kitchen a better place too so that it is no more a nightmare in summer?