What Are The Most Common Causes Of Extractor Fan Failures?

Extractor fans do a lot of work in your kitchen, particularly in busy, fast-moving industrial and restaurant kitchens. This means that not only does a highly effective extract system need to be installed in your kitchen, but it also needs to be regularly maintained.

An extractor fan relies on a series of fan blades and carefully developed channels and pipes that help to guide smells, smoke and humidity away from the kitchen area before it has a chance to build up and cause a range of hygiene, health and safety issues.

A broken extractor fan is a silent disaster if it is left to break and issues are left to build up, and it can lead to potentially dangerous circumstances.

There are multiple common causes that lead to an extractor fan failing, but the most common of these is an issue with the power supply.

As extractor fans are constantly moving and consistently rely on an electrical connection, a faulty connection or loose wire can cause a fan to stop working, as can a circuit breaker tripping. 

These can range from being relatively easy to fix, albeit hard to diagnose, to requiring professional intervention.,

Beyond an electrical component failing, the motor of the fan can overheat, particularly if it is dealing with obstructions, blockages or rust caused by humidity.

Typically, a louder-than-normal extractor fan is a sign that the motor is having to work harder than usual, but check for slower spinning or weird vibrations.

Blockages are often a reason why the fan is working harder, and if there is too much gunk or grease built up, it can not only cause the fan to stop working but also risk the spread of a cooking fire.

Finally, damp, rust and mildew can not only cause a respiratory hazard, but they can also cause damage to your fan.