Extractor fans, also known as vent fans in some parts of the world, are incredibly useful and beneficial inventions that have revolutionised home ownership and DIY as we know it. In the past, extractor fans were considered unnecessary, and they certainly weren’t all that efficient, yet nowadays, an extractor fan is one of the most beneficial inventions you could ever wish for. Extractor fans aren’t only designed to remove nasty smells from the home, they’re also designed to help filter the air and make it cleaner, so that we don’t have to breathe in harmful particles that come from cooking and preparing food, as well as other, shall we say, erm, less hygienic procedures. 
Typically, you’ll find extractor fans in kitchens, above hobs and cookers, as well as in bathrooms as well. As mentioned, they not only remove nasty smells and particles from the air, but they also remove steam and moisture, making them very useful for health and hygiene purposes. In bathrooms for example, when you have hot showers and baths, the steam from the hot water causes moisture and condensation which can then breed mould spores, which have actually been known to be fatal if ingested. Because of this, extractor fan repair and maintenance tips are essential, which is where we come into the mix.
Here’s a look at a few effective extractor fan repair and maintenance tips to ensure your extractor fan performs to the best of its ability.
Vacuum the vent – If you own a laptop, a computer, or a games console, you may have noticed that, at times, the device may overheat and randomly shut itself off. This is because the fan and cooling system of the device, may be clogged full of dust. If you take a vacuum clean and suck away the dust accumulations, your devices will once again work better than ever. Well, the same principle applies to extractor fans. Extractor fans suck particles out of the air, and that includes dust and other debris. What’s more, as they suck grease, in kitchens, or steam and moisture, the blades of the fan become sticky, so all of that dust and debris sticks to it. Overtime, this dust and debris can build up, slowing the fan down and potentially even breaking it. By simply taking your vacuum cleaner and vacuuming the vent to the fan however, you can remove all of these accumulations, so that the fan works better than ever.
Clean it monthly – It may seem pointless to some of you, but if you set just one day, or even just one hour, aside each month and clean your extractor fan, you avoid more serious problems in the future. Replacing an extractor fan isn’t going to be cheap, and it will be disruptive as well, and as it can be very easily avoided if you just clean and maintain your fan, it’s well worth setting aside just one day/hour every month to clean and maintain your fan.
Sweep the vents – Although using a vacuum cleaner to suck away most of the dust and debris is a great place to start, in order to really ensure your fan is as efficient as it could be, you should take a brush and use it to sweep the vents. Which brush you use will depend on which fan you’re sweeping. Obviously the extractor fan above your hob in your kitchen, is going to be much larger than the extractor fan in your bathroom, so a large brush may be required. For bathroom fan vents however, an old toothbrush should do the trick.
Clean the filters – Extractor fans in kitchens are notoriously disgusting as they get coated in grease and grime every time you cook something on the hob below them. The longer you leave this grease and grime, the thicker it becomes and the nastier the job becomes. If you leave it too long, grease can literally drip onto your food as you cook it, which nobody wants. Once every few weeks, remove the filters, and clean them. For best results, soak them in a degreaser and then in hot soapy water, before rinsing them off, or alternatively, degrease them, then place them in a dishwasher. Once the filters are removed, clean the surrounding areas and once replaced, your extractor fan will be cleaner than ever before.
Bring in the professionals – If your extractor fan stops working, or isn’t as efficient as it should be, you may need to hire professionals that specialise in extractor fan repair. Extractor fan repair experts are affordable, they know exactly what they’re doing, and they can potentially save you a great deal of time, effort, and money in the process, so don’t keep putting the job off.