Kitchen Exhaust Fan Repair and Maintenance Tips

When your kitchen exhaust fan, a device that pulls smoke, steam, and grease out of your kitchen through a duct to the outside. Also known as range hood, it keeps your air clean and stops grease from coating your walls and cabinets. stops working right, it’s not just annoying—it’s a health risk. Moisture builds up, mold grows, and grease lingers in the air. Most people think these fans last forever, but they don’t. In fact, many need cleaning or replacement after 8 to 12 years, especially if you cook often.

A kitchen exhaust fan, a device that pulls smoke, steam, and grease out of your kitchen through a duct to the outside. Also known as range hood, it keeps your air clean and stops grease from coating your walls and cabinets. isn’t just a hood over your stove. It’s a system: the fan motor, the grease filter, the ductwork, and the external vent. When one part fails, the whole thing suffers. A clogged filter is the most common issue—you’d be surprised how many people forget to clean it for years. A noisy fan? That’s usually a worn motor or loose mounting. If air isn’t moving, the duct might be blocked with grease, bird nests, or collapsed insulation. These aren’t just repair problems—they’re safety issues. Grease buildup in ducts can catch fire.

You don’t always need to replace the whole unit. Sometimes, a new filter or a quick duct cleaning fixes it. But if the motor’s humming like a dying bee or the fan won’t turn on at all, it’s probably time to think about replacement. And if your fan vents into the attic instead of outside? That’s a red flag. That’s not ventilation—that’s a moisture bomb waiting to happen.

In Taunton, where damp weather and frequent cooking go hand in hand, a working kitchen exhaust fan isn’t a luxury. It’s part of keeping your home healthy and your walls mold-free. Below, you’ll find real fixes people have used—how to unblock a clogged fan, when to call a pro, and what signs mean it’s time to walk away from a repair and buy new.