What Happens If You Don't Use an Extractor Fan? Hidden Risks in Your Kitchen and Bathroom

Skipping the extractor fan might seem harmless-just a quick cook, a short shower, maybe you forget to turn it on. But over time, that small habit starts to cost you. In Wellington, where damp winters and frequent rain make indoor moisture a constant battle, not using an extractor fan isn’t just inconvenient-it’s a slow-burning problem that attacks your home, your health, and your wallet.

Your walls start sweating

Every time you boil water, fry eggs, or take a hot shower, you release steam into the air. Without an extractor fan to pull that moisture out, it doesn’t vanish. It clings to your walls, ceilings, and windows. In a poorly ventilated kitchen or bathroom, you’ll notice condensation forming within minutes. It looks like fog on the mirror, but it’s not harmless. That water doesn’t evaporate-it soaks into paint, plaster, and wood. Over months, this leads to peeling wallpaper, bubbling paint, and rotting skirting boards. In Wellington’s humid climate, this happens faster than you think.

Mold takes over

Mold doesn’t need much: moisture, warmth, and a surface to grow on. Your bathroom tile grout, the corner behind the shower, even the underside of your kitchen cabinet-these are perfect spots. Black spots that look like dirt? They’re not. They’re mold spores multiplying. And once mold sets in, it’s not just ugly-it’s dangerous. Long-term exposure to mold in damp homes is linked to respiratory problems, allergies, and even asthma in children. The Ministry of Health in New Zealand has documented cases where households with chronic moisture issues saw a 40% increase in asthma-related hospital visits. Removing mold isn’t a weekend DIY job. It requires professional cleaning, often with structural repairs, and it can cost thousands.

Your air gets stale-and unhealthy

Extractor fans don’t just remove water vapor. They also pull out cooking fumes, grease particles, and chemicals from cleaning products. Without them, those pollutants hang in the air. You might not smell them, but your lungs are still breathing them in. A 2023 study from Massey University found that kitchens without extractor fans had airborne particulate levels up to 7 times higher than those with working fans. That’s like smoking half a cigarette every time you fry chicken. Over years, that adds up to reduced lung function, especially in kids and older adults.

Your home loses value

Sellers don’t ask for proof of extractor fan use. But they do get asked about mold, damp, and musty smells during inspections. A home inspector will spot the telltale signs: discolored ceiling patches, warped cabinetry, mildew in the grout. These aren’t just cosmetic-they’re red flags for structural damage. Buyers walk away from homes with moisture problems. In Wellington’s competitive market, where homes sell fast, a property with visible mold or water damage can sit on the market for months longer and sell for 15-20% less than a comparable home with proper ventilation.

Energy bills creep up

You might think turning off the fan saves money. It doesn’t. Moist air holds heat. When humidity builds up, your heating system has to work harder to make the space feel warm. You crank up the thermostat, but the air still feels cold and clammy. That’s because moisture steals heat from your body. In winter, a damp room can feel 3-5°C colder than a dry one, even at the same temperature. That means your heater runs longer, burning more gas or electricity. A household without proper ventilation can spend up to 25% more on heating than a well-ventilated one.

Appliances start failing sooner

Moisture doesn’t just affect your walls-it kills your appliances. Fridge seals get sticky and crack. Oven controls corrode. Washing machines develop mold inside the drum. Even your TV or sound system can suffer if placed near a steamy bathroom or kitchen. Electronics and metal parts don’t like humidity. In a home without extractor fans, appliance failures jump by nearly 30% within five years, according to a 2024 report from Consumer NZ. Replacing a fridge or oven isn’t cheap. Fixing the fan is.

What you can do right now

You don’t need to rebuild your kitchen. Start small:

• Turn the fan on before you start cooking or showering-not after.
• Let it run for at least 20 minutes after you finish. Moisture doesn’t disappear the second the steam stops.
• If your fan is noisy or doesn’t seem to pull air, it’s clogged or broken. Clean the grille or replace the motor. A $50 repair beats a $5,000 mold job.
• If you don’t have a fan, install one. Basic models start at $120 and can be fitted in a day. Look for ones with timers or humidity sensors-they turn on automatically when needed.

Some older homes in Wellington still have no extractor fans. That’s not a design feature-it’s a flaw. Modern building codes require them in bathrooms and kitchens for a reason. Ignoring them doesn’t make your home quieter or cheaper. It just makes it more expensive to fix later.

When to call a professional

If you’ve seen mold growing behind tiles, noticed water stains on the ceiling, or smell a persistent damp odor, don’t wait. A professional extractor fan repair technician can check for:

• Blocked ducts (often stuffed with insulation or bird nests)
• Failed motors (the fan spins but doesn’t move air)
• Improper venting (some fans just blow air into the attic-this makes things worse)
• Missing or damaged grilles that let moisture back in

A good technician will test airflow with a smoke pencil or an anemometer. They’ll show you exactly how much air your fan moves. Anything under 50 cubic meters per hour isn’t enough for a standard kitchen or bathroom.

It’s not just about comfort-it’s about survival

People think extractor fans are optional extras. They’re not. They’re the silent guardians of your home’s health. In a place like Wellington, where the air is naturally damp, not using one is like leaving your windows open during a storm. The water will get in. The damage will grow. And eventually, you’ll pay for it-in money, in stress, and in health.

Fix the fan. Run it. Keep your home dry. It’s the cheapest, smartest thing you’ll do this year.