If your kitchen feels stuffy even after cooking, your extractor fan might not be doing its job. You don't need fancy tools to check if it’s working right. Start by turning the fan on and seeing if you feel any airflow when you put your hand over the vent. No breeze? That’s your first hint.
Sometimes it's even more obvious — a buzzing sound with no spin, or the power button lights up but the fan does nothing. This usually means you’re dealing with an electrical or motor issue. You'd be surprised how often the problem is just a blocked filter or grease build-up slowing things down.
The best way to get answers is to run a few simple checks before you call in a pro. These easy steps will help you figure out how serious the problem is and whether it’s something you can tackle with a screwdriver and a little elbow grease.
- Spotting Basic Fan Problems
- Simple Tests You Can Do Yourself
- Dealing with Weird Smells and Noises
- When to Repair or Replace
Spotting Basic Fan Problems
Most people don’t think about their kitchen extractor fan until it smells like last night’s curry or the ceiling gets sticky. So, knowing the early warning signs can save you a ton of hassle — and maybe some cash, too. Here are the usual signals something’s up with your fan:
- Weak Airflow: Place your hand over the vent while the fan’s running. If you don’t feel a steady flow, there’s probably grease or dust clogging things up.
- No Response: Press the power button. If you get nothing — no noise, no lights, no spin — check your fuse box before you panic. Kitchen extractor fans sometimes trip a circuit if they’re overloaded.
- Unusual Noises: Grinding, rattling, or squeaking isn’t normal. Loud clunks usually mean something’s loose inside or the motor’s wearing out.
- Persistent Smells or Smoke: If cooking odors or steam hang around longer than usual, your fan’s probably just moving air around rather than pulling it outside.
- Visible Build-up: Take a quick look at the filters or the vent cover. Grease and grime can build up pretty fast, especially if you’re into fried foods.
Check out the next table showing how often people run into these issues, based on service call data from kitchen appliance repair companies in the UK:
| Problem | Percentage of Service Calls |
|---|---|
| Weak or No Airflow | 42% |
| No Power or Lights | 27% |
| Loud Noises | 19% |
| Persistent Odors | 9% |
| Visible Grease Buildup | 3% |
That table makes it pretty clear: most of the time, a kitchen extractor fan just needs a good clean or a checked connection. By spotting these problems early, you can keep your kitchen air fresh and avoid pricier repairs down the line.
Simple Tests You Can Do Yourself
Don’t worry, you don’t need a toolbox full of gadgets to check if your kitchen extractor fan is working. Here are quick tests you can pull off using stuff you already have around the house.
- Paper Towel Test: Turn your fan on full power. Hold a square of paper towel flat against the intake grill. If it sticks without you holding it, the fan’s pulling air. If the paper falls off or barely moves, your fan’s probably clogged or underpowered.
- Listen and Look: Press the power switch and pay attention. Loud rattling, grinding, or a constant humming without movement usually means something’s up inside. Also, check if the fan blade actually spins when on; sometimes the cover hides a broken blade.
- Check the Filters: Pop the cover off and inspect the filter. If it’s soaked in grease or visibly dirty, give it a thorough clean or replace it. Clogged filters slow airflow and make even a good motor struggle.
- Flip the Breaker: If pressing the switch does nothing—no lights, no sound—try resetting the circuit breaker. Sometimes, extractor fans trip fuses without any big drama, especially after a kitchen overload.
- Test with Incense or Steam: Light an incense stick or boil a pot of water. Hold the incense near the fan intake or watch the steam. If smoke or steam vanishes into the vent, airflow’s decent. If it drifts back into the room, your fan is slacking.
These steps help pin down if the problem is airflow, power, or just a bad filter. Most of the time, these simple checks are enough to know what’s slowing your fan down—or if it just needs basic cleaning before you worry about expensive repairs.
Dealing with Weird Smells and Noises
Cooking smells hanging around long after dinner, or a fan that sounds like it’s about to launch, are signs you shouldn’t ignore. These are usually a warning that your kitchen extractor fan needs attention. Let's get into what could be causing the problems and what you can do about them.
First off, weird smells are often the result of built-up grease and dust inside the fan or its filter. If you haven't cleaned the filter in a while, odds are that's the issue. Metal mesh filters can clog up pretty quickly and actually block airflow. Charcoal filters (for recirculating fans) wear out after about 6 months of regular use, sometimes sooner if you cook a lot. If the kitchen still smells long after the fan’s been running, check the filter first.
- Take the cover off and remove the filter. If it’s sticky or stinky, clean or replace it.
- Wipe down the fan blades with a damp cloth — grease can build up there and cause nasty odors too.
- If you see black spots or mold, use a vinegar-water solution to clean everything up.
Noisy extractor fans can be annoying and usually mean something’s not right. Squealing or rattling may come from loose screws, unbalanced blades, or a worn-out motor. A common cause is actually simple: debris trapped inside the fan housing. Loud humming means the motor is struggling, maybe due to poor lubrication or a stuck blade.
- Tighten any visible screws on the cover and inside the unit.
- Spin the blades by hand (with the power OFF, of course). If they don’t move freely, there’s a blockage or the motor’s failing.
- If the noise is new and came out of nowhere, check for small objects stuck inside the vents — even a bit of aluminum foil can cause a racket.
Smell or noise problems ignored too long can kill even the best kitchen extractor fan. Regular cleaning can prevent 80% of common issues. Take a look at these basic timeframes:
| Fan Part | How Often to Check | Common Problem |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Mesh Filter | Every 2-4 weeks | Clogs, odors, grease build-up |
| Charcoal Filter | Every 3-6 months | Absorbs odors, eventually stops working |
| Fan Blades/Housing | Monthly | Dirt, stuck objects, unbalanced blades |
| Motor & Bearings | Yearly | Worn-out, noisy, or stuck motor |
If you follow these check-up routines, your extractor should stay trouble-free. A fan with persistent bad smells or weird noises even after a good cleaning probably needs new parts — or a call to an appliance repair tech.
When to Repair or Replace
Deciding whether to fix your kitchen extractor fan or just swap it out for a new one comes down to a few clear signs. If your fan isn’t pulling out steam or cooking smells, or if it’s making grinding noises every time you turn it on, that’s already a red flag. But before shelling out cash for a replacement, check a couple of things first.
If filters are caked with grease or dirt, grab some hot soapy water or a dishwasher and give them a good clean. Lots of fans that seem "broken" just need a clean filter to work again. Also, double-check the power source and wall switch—sometimes it’s just loose wiring or a dead fuse. These are easy fixes you can do without calling for help.
But here’s where it gets serious. If you see burnt wires, smell melting plastic, or the fan shuts off randomly, that’s usually an electrical problem. Motors that squeal or don’t spin, even after cleaning, often mean the fan is nearing the end of its life. Replacement motors can cost almost as much as a basic new fan, so weigh your options before spending more on repairs.
- If your fan is over ten years old, replacement makes sense. New models use less power and suck out grease and smoke better.
- Serious damage, like a cracked casing or broken blades, is a sign you should just swap it out. Safety first, always.
- If you’re fixing the same issue over and over, you’re just pouring money down the drain. A fresh fan will save hassle in the long run.
When shopping for a replacement, look for a fan with enough extraction rate for your kitchen size, and filters that are easy to remove and clean. If you use your kitchen a lot, it’s worth picking a model with a higher power rating and decent noise control. Don’t forget: a well-chosen kitchen extractor fan will keep smells, grease, and moisture under control—making sure your kitchen feels fresh every time you cook.