This document describes the Zephyr Hurricane, Cyclone, and Whirlwind series range hoods (models AK2000, AK6000, AK9800), providing detailed instructions for their use, care, and installation. These range hoods are designed for household cooking areas and are equipped with features to ensure efficient ventilation and ease of maintenance.
Function Description
The Zephyr range hoods are designed to ventilate cooking fumes, smoke, and odors from the kitchen. They feature centrifugal blower systems that automatically liquefy grease, collecting it in dishwasher-safe grease containers. The Hurricane series (AK2000, 2036) includes a QuattroVent Air Curtain, dual "Thrust-Fore" self-clean blowers, digital touch pad controls, a clock, timer, and a 3-stage delay shutoff. The Cyclone series (AK6000, 6036, 6042, 6048) also features dual "Thrust-Fore" self-clean blowers, independent rocker controls with high and low speeds, and a 3-way convertible ducting option. The Whirlwind series (AK9800) has dual self-clean blowers, independent rocker controls with high and low speeds, and a slim-line design.
The primary function of these range hoods is to extract air from the cooking area, preventing the accumulation of grease and odors in the kitchen. They are suitable for general ventilating use and should not be used to exhaust hazardous or explosive materials and vapors. Proper installation and maintenance are crucial for their effective and safe operation.
Usage Features
The range hoods offer various controls for operation. For the Hurricane series, the digital touch pad controls allow users to set the time, activate the timed delay shutoff, and control the lights and blowers. The "On/Off" button can simultaneously turn on the light and both blowers at high speed. Individual blowers can be controlled for speed (Hi/Lo) using the "Fan-L" and "Fan-R" buttons. The timed delay off function allows the unit to run for 3, 5, or 10 minutes before automatically shutting off, with the light turning off and blowers decelerating to low speed during this period. A timer (alarm) function can also be set, which will sound beeps when the countdown reaches zero. This timer function cannot be operated simultaneously with the "Delay Off" function.
For the Cyclone and Whirlwind series, independent rocker controls are used. A dedicated switch turns the light on or off. Separate rocker switches control the right and left blowers, allowing users to select low speed (rock switch up to 'I'), high speed (rock switch up to 'II'), or turn them off (center position).
It is important to always leave safety grills and filters in place during operation to prevent hair, fingers, or loose clothing from getting caught in the blowers. When cooking at high heat or with flaming food, the hood should always be turned on.
Maintenance Features
The Zephyr range hoods are designed with a self-clean feature, eliminating the need for traditional filters. The centrifugal blower system automatically liquefies accumulated grease, which is then collected in dishwasher-safe grease containers. Running the self-clean function periodically flushes out grease from the internal housing. Cleaning should be performed approximately once a month under normal use.
For self-cleaning, both blowers should be turned on at low speed. For the Hurricane series, the Timed Delay Off can be set to 5 minutes for this purpose. A grease-cutting detergent, such as '409' or its equivalent, is recommended. The detergent should be squirted directly onto the blower blades 30-35 times with the nozzle on 'spray' setting, repeating for the second blower. After the cleaning cycle, water can be sprayed to rinse off the detergent.
The residue containers, which collect the liquefied grease, can be gently slid out with both hands and cleaned in a dishwasher under a normal wash cycle. To prevent grease from drying and tacking onto the cup surface, it is recommended to fill the residue containers ¼ full with water before cleaning or during regular use.
The safety grills can be removed for cleaning by loosening Philips screws and are dishwasher safe. However, extreme caution is advised when the safety grills are removed, as the blowers are exposed, posing a risk to hair, fingers, and loose clothing. Children should never be left unattended during this process.
For the Hurricane series, the light shield can be removed by turning it counter-clockwise for cleaning in a dishwasher. For the Whirlwind series, the light shield is removed by unscrewing a Philips screw. When removing light shields, users should be careful of exposed edges on the stainless steel surface and are advised to wear latex cleaning gloves.
The QuattroVent Air-Curtain channels (Hurricane series) share the same internal housing as the main blowers, so no further cleaning is required after the self-clean function. Residue around the channel surface can be cleaned regularly with '409' and a cotton cloth.
Surface maintenance involves cleaning all surface residue with '409' or mild detergent and wiping with a cotton cloth. Stainless steel surfaces can be polished with any stainless steel polish or glass cleaner.
Light bulbs are 40W appliance bulbs and can be replaced with 60W bulbs for brighter illumination. Instructions for removing the light shield (as described for cleaning) should be followed when replacing bulbs, again with caution due to exposed edges.