Kitchen Extractor Fan Repair and Maintenance Guide

When your kitchen extractor fan, a ventilation system designed to remove smoke, steam, grease, and odors from your cooking area. Also known as kitchen exhaust fan, it plays a quiet but vital role in keeping your kitchen air clean and mold-free. If it’s not pulling air properly, making weird noises, or just won’t turn on, you’re not alone. Most people ignore it until the grease builds up, the walls get sticky, or the smell lingers for days. But this isn’t just about comfort—it’s about safety. A clogged or broken extractor fan can trap moisture that leads to mold, or even become a fire hazard if grease coats the motor.

There are two main things that kill these fans: grease buildup, a sticky residue from cooking that clogs filters and slows down the motor, and motor failure, often caused by age, overheating, or poor ventilation. Cleaning the filter every month is the easiest fix—and most overlooked. But if the fan still doesn’t spin after cleaning, the problem could be a blown capacitor, a faulty switch, or a worn-out motor. Some people try to fix it themselves with a screwdriver and YouTube, but if you’re not sure about wiring or electrical safety, calling a pro saves time and avoids shocks or fires.

Most kitchen extractor fans last 8 to 12 years, depending on how often you cook and how well you clean them. If yours is older than 10 years and needs a part replaced, it’s often cheaper and smarter to swap the whole unit. Newer models are quieter, more energy-efficient, and come with auto-sensing features that turn on when they detect steam. You don’t need to spend a fortune—basic units start under £100, and many can be installed in under an hour if you’re handy.

In the posts below, you’ll find real fixes for common problems: how to diagnose a fan that won’t start, what to check before calling a technician, how often to clean it, and whether your model is even worth repairing. No fluff. No guesswork. Just clear steps from people who’ve been in your kitchen, staring at a broken fan, wondering if it’s time to give up.