Kitchen Extractor Fan Repair and Maintenance Guide

When your kitchen extractor fan, a device that pulls smoke, steam, and odors out of your cooking area. Also known as range hood, it keeps your kitchen air clean and prevents grease buildup on walls and cabinets. stops working, it’s not just annoying—it’s a safety issue. Without proper ventilation, moisture builds up, leading to mold, and cooking fumes linger, making your home uncomfortable and even unhealthy.

A kitchen extractor fan isn’t just a fan. It’s part of your home’s ventilation system, a network designed to remove stale air and bring in fresh air. It connects to ductwork that leads outside, and if that duct is clogged with grease or bent, the fan can’t do its job—even if the motor’s fine. Many people assume a broken fan means a new unit, but often it’s just a dirty filter, a worn motor, or a faulty switch. Replacing the extractor fan motor, the core component that spins the blades costs a fraction of a full replacement.

Most kitchen extractor fans last between 5 and 15 years, depending on how often you cook and how well you clean them. If you fry food daily, grease builds up faster. A fan that’s loud, slow, or doesn’t pull air anymore is usually past its prime. But before you call a technician, check the simple stuff: is the filter clean? Is the power getting through? Did someone accidentally turn off the circuit breaker? Sometimes, all it takes is a wipe-down or a reset. If the fan hums but doesn’t spin, the capacitor or motor might be fried. If it won’t turn on at all, the switch or wiring could be the issue.

You don’t need to be an electrician to handle basic checks, but if you’re unsure about wiring or duct connections, it’s smarter to call in a pro. A faulty extractor fan can cause long-term damage to your kitchen structure—and in extreme cases, increase fire risk from accumulated grease. That’s why many UK homeowners wait too long to fix it, then end up paying more for water damage or mold removal.

Below, you’ll find real fixes from people who’ve been there: why extractor fans stop working, how to tell if yours is dying, what parts actually need replacing, and when it’s better to just swap the whole unit. No fluff. Just what works.