Do extractor fans cost a lot to run

Do extractor fans cost a lot to run

By Ruth MacEachern

Product Manager

With ever increasing gas and electricity prices, people across the country are concerned about the cost of running their appliances and finding ways to reduce their bills.

Whenever you use your bathroom or kitchen and run an extractor to remove moisture from the air to prevent damp, the sound of the fan running may be a reminder that you are using electricity, but how much does it really cost to run an extractor fan.

There are many factors that affect the annual running costs of your extractor fans. How often they are used plays a role, along with the amount of moisture in your air. Larger households will typically produce more water vapour than smaller households, and the amount of moisture that the air can hold is dependent on the temperature, so on cooler days, the fan may be needed more frequently. The amount of power that the fan is designed to use is a major factor too. A more powerful fan will inevitably use more energy to run, but at the same time may run for shorter sessions to achieve the same results as a less powerful model.

How Much Does It Cost to Run an Extractor Fan?

An important thing to remember is that an intermittent extractor fan does not run 24 hours a day. Continuously running fans do run in a trickle speed throughout the day to provide continuous ventilation. Modern automatic extractor fans such as the EnviroVent Cyclone 8 do just this, using just 1-2 watts of power in its trickle speed. It also uses a moisture sensor that detects elevated levels of humidity in the air, so it only speeds up when needed.

We have compiled information about our full range of extractor fans and whole house ventilation systems here, with energy use costs based on average tariffs:

Annual Running Costs >>

Our research found that in normal use, the Cyclone 7 extractor fan mentioned above costs just £3.68 per year when located in a bathroom, and £9.81 per year when mounted in a kitchen.

A more powerful extractor fan such as the Infinity NB costs a little more to run on average - £9.61 in a bathroom and £12.88 in a kitchen.

Older Extractor Fans Can Be Less Efficient

Over time, like any other mechanical device, extractor fans can become less efficient and cost more to run. Dust and grease can build up on fan blades and filters which will affect airflow as well as making the motor work harder to expel air from a humid room.

If you have existing extractor fans in your home, it is important to ensure that they are regularly cleaned. As with any electrical appliance, before you remove the fan cover, ensure that the fan is user serviceable by checking the manual, and that the fan is fully switched off to avoid the risk of electrical shock.

Cleaning the fan blades should make your fan run more efficiently, but if the motor is aging, it might be better to replace the device, and take advantage of a modern extractor fan which uses less power.

Not Using an Extractor Fan Could Cost You More

Ensuring good airflow in your home is an essential part of avoiding problems with condensation that can develop into damp and mould, and as well as affect your health, they can damage your home. Running an extractor fan at the correct levels to expel moist air protects your home from costly repairs in the future.

Find out More

If you are concerned about the cost of running an older, less efficient extractor fan, and want to upgrade to a more modern solution that will protect your home from condensation problems and prevent damp, please contact one of our local specialists for advice. Simply enter your postcode below, and we will find a local ventilation expert who can visit your home to conduct a free home survey.