How to Check if your Extractor Fan is Working Properly

How to Check if your Extractor Fan is Working Properly

By Ruth MacEachern

Product Manager

Ensuring that the ventilation system or extractor fans are working properly in your home is vitally important to reduce humidity and enhance indoor air quality for the benefit of occupants.

In this blog, Ruth MacEachern, our Product Manager, gives her top tips on how to make sure your fans or ventilation system are doing their job properly.

“First of all, consider, the operation of the fan – does it switch on or off when required? If there are any remote controls, do they work properly? Sometimes these can take a few seconds for the fan to respond, or they could be automatic. If the remote control is ok and the fan doesn’t switch on or off as it should, then you should consider changing it as this could lead to condensation and mould growth.

Secondly, consider whether the extractor fan is noisier than you would like. If this is the case, then the fan may need cleaning – you can remove the covers of most extractor fans for dusting and cleaning, and this can make them work more efficiently. Consult the manufacturer instructions first for details of how to do this.

Another tip to make sure it is working properly is to investigate whether the fan ducts to outside. Can you see a grille or roof terminal outside the house? The ventilation system should ventilate to atmosphere or outdoors. The only exception to this is a re-circulating cooker hood. If you can’t see any grille or roof terminal, then your fans may not be extracting to outside, and this is not recommended and should be replaced.

It is also worth checking when you are cooking/bathing, does the fan remove moisture from the air? Are there any issues with peeling wallpaper, wet walls, or mould spots? Is so, the fan may not be powerful enough for the room it serves. You may need to seek out a ventilation specialist to survey the property and recommend how you can reduce humidity.

There is a simple way to check if the fan is able to extract properly and this is to add a piece of paper or business card or similar to the inside grill. Check if the fan can hold it. Can you feel any air movement? If not, then the fan may not be extracting at an adequate level and needs replacing.

A final tip, if there are background trickle vents in the windows of your home, check whether these are open. These are usually above and below the window in newer properties. Having these open as well as an efficient fan enables a crossflow of ventilation.

If your fan isn’t running up to speed or is due an upgrade - consider the latest technology with an extractor fan. You can find more details here: cyclone 8 

Cyclone 8 from EnviroVent uses the latest in extractor fan technology, which is designed to deliver high performance in controlling humidity levels in wet rooms, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms, using the lowest energy consumption.    The Cyclone 8 comes with an 8-year warranty, providing you with peace of mind, as well as low maintenance and a fan of the highest quality.

We Can Help

If you are worried that your extractor fans or ventilation system isn’t working correctly, or have discovered condensation or mould, we can help. Our local specialists can visit your home and carry out a free home survey that will assess the sources of condensation in your home and give you advice about whether your current fans are sufficient.  Simply enter your postcode below to find a ventilation expert near you or call us today on 0345 27 27 807 for a permanent solution to condensation.