Kitchen extractor fans typically last 10 to 15 years, but grease buildup and poor maintenance can cut that in half. Learn the signs it's time to replace yours and how to pick a better one.
Kitchen Extractor Fan Replacement: When to Fix It or Swap It Out
When your kitchen extractor fan, a vented system designed to pull smoke, steam, and odors out of your cooking area. Also known as range hood, it’s not just about comfort—it’s about protecting your walls, ceilings, and air quality. If it’s whispering instead of roaring, dripping grease, or just won’t turn on, you’re not alone. Most kitchen extractor fans last 10 to 15 years, but many fail sooner because people ignore the early warning signs. A clogged filter or dirty duct might seem like a quick fix, but if the motor’s grinding or the fan’s barely spinning, replacement is often cheaper than repeated repairs.
Replacing a kitchen extractor fan isn’t just about buying a new box and screwing it in. You need to match the extractor fan motor, the core component that drives airflow and determines efficiency to your setup—whether it’s ducted (vent to outside) or recirculating (filters and returns air). A mismatched motor means poor performance, louder noise, or even overheating. And don’t forget the ducted extractor fan, a type that vents directly outdoors, offering the best air quality and moisture control. If your current unit is recirculating and you’ve got the option to duct it out, that’s a smart upgrade. Many homeowners don’t realize how much mold and grease build up in the walls behind their old fans until it’s too late.
Signs it’s time for replacement? Constant buzzing, grease leaking from the sides, lights flickering when it turns on, or if you can still smell last night’s curry after it’s been running for 20 minutes. If you’ve cleaned the filters, checked the switch, and even reset the circuit—yet it’s still failing—it’s not the filter. It’s the motor, the wiring, or the whole unit. Repairing a 12-year-old extractor fan is like patching a 20-year-old car tire. Sometimes it works, but you’re just delaying the inevitable. And in kitchens where cooking happens daily, a weak fan means more cleaning, more humidity, and more risk of long-term damage.
What you’ll find below are real stories from people who faced the same problem. Some tried cleaning it themselves. Others called a technician who said, "Just replace it." We’ve pulled together guides on how to tell if your fan is beyond repair, what models hold up best in UK homes, and how to avoid getting overcharged for a simple swap. Whether you’re dealing with a noisy unit in a small flat or a heavy-duty extractor in a busy kitchen, there’s a solution here that fits your situation. No fluff. No upsells. Just what actually works.