When you leave fan on, you’re not just clearing smoke—you’re managing moisture, heat, and air quality in your kitchen. An extractor fan, a device designed to remove steam, odors, and airborne grease from kitchens and bathrooms. Also known as exhaust fan, it’s one of the most overlooked parts of your home’s ventilation system. Many people turn it on while cooking and shut it off right after. But is that the best move? The truth is, leaving it on longer can prevent mold, protect your cabinets, and even extend the life of your oven and fridge by reducing humidity spikes.
Here’s what actually happens when you leave the fan on: moisture from boiling water or steaming food doesn’t cling to your walls or seep into your wood cabinets. That’s why homes with poor ventilation often show signs of peeling paint or warped kitchen units after just a few years. A extractor fan, a device designed to remove steam, odors, and airborne grease from kitchens and bathrooms. Also known as exhaust fan, it’s one of the most overlooked parts of your home’s ventilation system. running for 10–15 minutes after you finish cooking can cut down on condensation by over 60%. That’s not just about cleanliness—it’s about preventing damage that leads to expensive repairs. And if your fan is old or clogged with grease, it won’t do this job well. Many fans fail before 10 years because no one cleaned them. appliance maintenance, regular cleaning and inspection of household devices to prevent breakdowns and extend their working life. Also known as preventive care, it’s the quiet hero behind every working oven or fridge. A dirty fan motor struggles to pull air, forcing your kitchen to stay damp longer. That extra moisture doesn’t just sit there—it gets absorbed by nearby appliances, especially electronics in your oven or dishwasher, which can short out over time.
But leaving the fan on all day? That’s a waste. Running it nonstop drains energy and wears out the motor faster. The sweet spot is simple: turn it on before you start cooking, keep it running for 15–20 minutes after you finish, and make sure it’s clean. Most people don’t realize their fan needs cleaning at all. We’ve seen fans so clogged with grease they barely spun—yet homeowners kept using them, thinking the problem was their oven. It wasn’t. It was the fan.
What you’ll find below are real, practical guides from people who’ve been there: how to tell if your fan is dying, when to replace it instead of repairing it, how to clean the motor yourself, and why skipping maintenance leads to bigger appliance failures. No fluff. No theory. Just what works in real kitchens, in Hinckley homes, with real appliances that need real care.
24 November 2025 · 0 Comments
Leaving your extractor fan on all day wastes energy, shortens its life, and can cause damage. Learn when it's safe to run it, how long to run it, and what to replace it with for better efficiency.
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