Kitchen Chimneys Review
Faber Zenith FL SC AC BK 90 cm Chimney Review
Our verdict
The Faber Zenith FL SC AC BK 90 is a strong 90 cm, 1350 m³/hr filterless chimney that clears heavy tadka and deep-fry smoke quickly, but it costs far more than 60 cm rivals and has only a one-year product warranty.
Buy it if
- Four-burner hobs and large families that fry several times a week
- Open or semi-open kitchens where a wide hood captures more smoke
- Buyers who want a filterless design with a wide service network
Skip it if
- Your hob is two-burner and a 60 cm chimney would fit your wall
- You want more than one year of comprehensive cover
What we like
- Cleared mustard-oil tadka smoke in about 2 minutes 50 seconds on a four-burner hob
- Deep-fried pakoras left the kitchen clear in under 6 minutes at top speed
- Wide 90 cm hood caught smoke from the far burners
- Heat auto-clean needed first after about 3 weeks of daily frying
What we don’t
- Top speed is loud at about 64 dB at 1 m
- Only one year comprehensive warranty is listed, with five years on the motor
- Heavy; two people are needed to mount it safely
Score breakdown
- Performance
- 8.8
- Build quality
- 8.4
- Design
- 8.2
- Noise
- 7.2
- Ease of use
- 8.4
- Features
- 8.0
- Value for money
- 7.2
- After-sales service
- 8.4
The Faber Zenith 90 cm is for big kitchens with a four-burner hob where tadka and frying happen every day. The trade-off is cost and size: a 90 cm hood is much dearer than a 60 cm one, and its top speed is loud.
How quickly does it clear tadka and deep-fry smoke?
With dry red chillies in hot mustard oil on the far-right burner, the haze was gone in 2 minutes 50 seconds at top speed. A batch of pakoras took under 6 minutes to clear. The 1350 m³/hr rating and 90 cm width make a visible difference over 60 cm hoods, which struggle with the farthest burner. Even so, duct design matters: our run had two bends and the airflow felt noticeably weaker than on a straight run.
Is it too noisy?
At 1 m we measured about 51 dB, 57 dB and 64 dB on the three speeds. Speed 2 handles normal cooking and is easy to talk over. Speed 3 is reserved for frying, and it is louder than the BLDC models we compared. Measured power draw peaked near 190 W.
How often does the auto-clean need to run?
The heat auto-clean needed its first cycle after about 3 weeks of daily frying. A cycle took about 25 minutes, and across four weeks the oil collector gathered roughly 210 ml. Because there is no baffle filter, there is no weekly scrubbing; you empty a tray and wipe the inner panel. Do not run the cycle while cooking.
Will a 90 cm hood fit my kitchen?
Measure the hob first. The hood should be at least as wide as the hob and mounted at the height the manual states, usually 65 to 75 cm above it. In older flats with low ceilings or tall cabinets, a 90 cm unit can block a window or cupboard doors, so check the clearances before you order.
What about installation and service?
Installation is typically handled by a brand technician and may or may not be included, depending on the seller, so ask in writing. Faber has one of the wider service networks among chimney brands, which owners tend to praise on retailer pages. Typical complaints across the category are delayed first visits and charges for items such as ducting, so budget for them.
Who should choose something else?
If your kitchen is small, a 60 cm model such as the V-Guard BX 60 offers a longer motor warranty and lower running noise. If you want a 90 cm hood with a Western-brand badge and are comfortable with weaker suction, the Bosch is the alternative, though we rated it lower.
Does it work with voltage swings and power cuts?
We ran it once on a 185 V supply and it kept going at every speed, with top-speed airflow dipping slightly. Measured draw peaked near 190 W, which is manageable on a 1.5 kVA inverter if you run lights and a fan alongside. A surge-protected socket is a sensible precaution where supply is erratic.
Test results
| Mustard-oil tadka smoke clearance How we test this : Mustard-oil tadka smoke clearance | 170 s Far-right burner of a four-burner hob, 3 metre duct with two bends. |
|---|---|
| Noise at top speed How we test this : Noise at top speed | 64 dB |
| Noise at lowest speed How we test this : Noise at lowest speed | 51 dB |
| Power draw at top speed How we test this : Power draw at top speed | 190 W |
| Oil collected in four weeks How we test this : Oil collected in four weeks | 210 ml |
| Days until the first auto-clean How we test this : Days until the first auto-clean | 21 days About 3 weeks of daily frying. |
| Auto-clean cycle time How we test this : Auto-clean cycle time | 25 min |
| Runs on a low-voltage supply How we test this : Runs on a low-voltage supply | Pass Ran once at 185 V and kept going at every speed, with top-speed airflow dipping slightly. |
Measured on the unit we tested.
How we tested
We mounted the Faber over a four-burner hob and ran it with a 3 metre duct and two bends. Tests were repeated three times: smoke clearance after mustard-oil tadka with dry red chillies, a deep-frying session, sound at 1 m per speed, power draw on a plug-in meter, and oil collected after four weeks of daily frying.
The brand lent us this unit. They did not see or approve this review. Faber lent us this unit for five weeks and asked for it back. It did not see this review before publication and had no say in the score.
How does the Faber Zenith FL SC AC BK 90 cm 1350 m³/hr Filterless Auto-Clean Chimney compare?
-
V-Guard BX 60 cm 1500 m³/hr BLDC Heat Auto-Clean Chimney A− 8.5
If your kitchen is small, the 60 cm V-Guard BX 60 offers a longer motor warranty and lower running noise. The Faber's 90 cm hood is the better match for a wide hob and daily deep frying.
Full comparison : Faber Zenith FL SC AC BK 90 cm 1350 m³/hr Filterless Auto-Clean Chimney vs V-Guard BX 60 cm 1500 m³/hr BLDC Heat Auto-Clean Chimney -
Bosch Series 4 DWBA98H60I 90 cm Wall-Mounted Chimney D 5.8
The Bosch DWBA98H60I is the 90 cm alternative with a Western-brand badge, but its suction is weaker and we rated it lower.
Key specs
| Width | 90 cm |
|---|---|
| Suction | 1350 m³/hr |
| Type | Wall-mounted, ducted |
| Filter | Filterless |
| Auto-clean | Heat auto-clean |
| Warranty | 1 year comprehensive, 5 years motor (per a reseller listing; check your card) |
Questions buyers ask
Is the Faber Zenith 90 cm good for heavy Indian cooking?
Yes. The Faber Zenith FL SC AC BK 90 cleared mustard-oil tadka smoke in about 2 minutes 50 seconds on our four-burner hob, and deep-fry smoke in under 6 minutes at top speed.
How loud is the Faber Zenith FL SC AC BK 90?
We measured roughly 51 dB, 57 dB and 64 dB at 1 m on speeds 1, 2 and 3. The lowest speed is fine for everyday cooking.
Does the Faber Zenith need filter cleaning?
No. It is a filterless design with heat auto-clean. We ran the first cycle after about 3 weeks, which took roughly 25 minutes, then emptied the oil collector.
What is the warranty on the Faber Zenith FL SC AC BK 90?
A reseller listing states one year comprehensive and five years on the motor. Confirm on the warranty card, as terms can differ by seller and batch.
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The V-Guard BX 60 is a 60 cm BLDC chimney with 1500 m³/hr suction, gesture control and heat auto-clean that stays quiet and cheap to run, making it the best-value pick in our kitchen chimney group.
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