Extractor Fan Servicing: Keep Your Kitchen and Bathroom Ventilation Running Smoothly

When you turn on your extractor fan, a device designed to remove moist, stale, or odorous air from kitchens and bathrooms. Also known as ventilation fan, it’s not just a quiet background hum—it’s your home’s first line of defense against mold, condensation, and poor air quality. Most people forget it exists until they see black spots on the ceiling or smell dampness after a shower. But regular extractor fan servicing, the process of cleaning, inspecting, and maintaining the fan to ensure optimal airflow and safety isn’t optional. It’s what keeps your walls dry, your air clean, and your energy bills from creeping up.

Think of your kitchen extractor fan, a type of ventilation system built to pull grease, smoke, and steam away from cooking surfaces. If it’s clogged with grease, it doesn’t just run louder—it stops working entirely. Same goes for your bathroom extractor fan, a unit meant to remove humidity after showers and prevent mold growth on tiles and grout. In damp climates like the UK, these fans work overtime. A fan that’s been neglected for five years isn’t just inefficient—it’s a health risk. Servicing means cleaning the blades, checking the duct for blockages, testing the motor, and replacing worn parts before they break. You don’t need to do it monthly, but skipping it for more than two years is asking for trouble.

Some signs you’re overdue: the fan’s louder than usual, it takes forever to clear steam, or you notice dust and grease buildup around the grille. These aren’t just annoyances—they’re red flags. A fan that runs but doesn’t move air is worse than no fan at all. It gives you a false sense of security. And if your fan’s over ten years old, parts may be hard to find. That’s when servicing turns into replacement. But before you buy new, get it checked. Often, a simple clean and belt replacement can bring it back to life for years.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides on what to look for, how to clean your own fan, when to call a technician, and what happens if you ignore it. No fluff. Just what works.