How to Turn Off Kitchen Exhaust Fan
Most modern kitchen exhaust fans can operate automatically when they detect humidity. But can this be overridden? And if extractor fans can be turned off, what circumstances would require it?
In this blog, we will show you how to turn off a kitchen exhaust fan.
With new buildings being made to be as energy efficient as possible, and the UK aiming for 95% of its electricity usage to be low carbon by 2030, it is imperative to understand how we can make the most of our ventilation. This is where applications such as extractor fans and heat recovery ventilation units come in.
To prevent mould, fresh air should constantly be introduced into your dwelling daily, as it helps to regulate temperature and reduce condensation. Introducing fresh air can be as simple as having a ventilation routine, or installing extractors or MVHR units. Almost all of this is facilitated by ducting.
Why do kitchen extractor fans have sensors?
Modern kitchen extractor fans have sensors that enable it to start working as soon as it detects a humid atmosphere. The accuracy of the sensor can be more fine-tuned than our senses, which is why having it operate automatically makes sense, as we may not realise that a room is too humid.
If kitchen extractor fans didn’t have sensors, you would have to constantly measure the humidity in the room to know whether you should activate the extractor fan, if you remember to do that. Sensors improve the efficiency of kitchen extractor fans and allow you to focus on other things.
Is it better to always have windows open rather than using an extractor fan?
Although keeping windows open is a key method in mould prevention and humidity removal, it isn’t exactly convenient. A single open window can make a whole home cold over time, which is not ideal in the cold winter months.
Extractor fans do not compromise on extracting humidity in exchange for keeping your home warm, it mitigates the removal of heat significantly. An open window is fine for a brief time, but not all day and night. In conjunction with using an extractor fan, it is adequate to prevent humidity from building up.
If you would like to retain as much heat as possible, an MVHR unit is a worthy investment. It functions the same way as an extractor fan but has the additional benefit of replacing the extracted air with fresh, filtered air, and it retains and redistributes the heat from the extracted air.
How to turn off kitchen exhaust fan
Turning off a kitchen extractor fan is simple. It just depends on the extractor fan you have, and how it has been installed.
Some operate by simply activating a switch, others by pulling a string which acts as a switch, others operate as soon as a light is turned on, and some can be turned off by accessing the actual fan itself.
When it comes to most modern extractor fans, they are turned on and off with a switch but only operate when a certain threshold of humidity has been met.
That being said, why exactly would you need to turn off a kitchen extractor fan in the first place?
You would need to turn off your extractor fan when conducting maintenance. This is because leaving it activated whilst cleaning can lead to injury or damage within the fan itself. Additionally, if there is dust within the ducting, it can spread everywhere if the fan is still on while being cleaned.
Other than this instance, there isn’t any reason why your extractor fan should be off, especially when you are using the kitchen space when cooking etc.
Is it better to have a cooker hood or kitchen extractor fan?
It is never a case of which one you should opt for, you should have both a kitchen extractor fan and a cooker hood. Using these units in conjunction when cooking in your kitchen can effectively remove humidity more quickly. For best results, you should have a window open too.
Although cooker hoods are generally larger and more powerful, they do use more energy. They are used specifically to extract humidity, smoke and smells directly from the cooker while it is in operation.
Extractor fans work to remove the humidity throughout the day and night. Most modern extractor fans operate with an extremely low usage cost without compromising on effectiveness.
Do cooker hoods work automatically?
Most cooker hoods work manually, however, there may be exceptions on the premium end that can operate via sensors, though this is extremely uncommon if at all possible.
Can a kitchen extractor fan grow mould?
Under certain circumstances, an extractor fan can grow mould. This will happen if…
- The extractor fan is never turned on when needed.
- There is a structural leak which has ended up around the extractor and/or ducting.
Mould must be cleaned and removed from the extractor fan before using it again, although replacing the unit would be more appropriate. If a structural leak caused the mould, it must be fixed, otherwise the mould will return, or spread to other areas.
Can mould affect my health?
Yes. Especially if you already have underlying health issues, particularly any respiratory issues. Here are some signs that mould could be impacting you. It is more relevant if you didn’t have any of these issues until you had extended periods amongst mould.
- Hair thinning/ hair loss.
- A weaker immune system is more obvious if you go from rarely being ill to regularly being ill.
- A lingering cough.
- Unexpected skin rashes.
- A lack of vitality.
- Breathing that is slightly more laboured than usual.
- Breathing in the outdoors is more comfortable, than breathing in the home with mould.
- Regular or increased instances of having phlegm in your throat without any illness or contaminants that affect your lungs such as cigarettes.
These are just a handful of symptoms you can experience with mould allergies. Please note that symptoms will vary amongst individuals.
Mould removal options
So what are your options? You will be happy to know there is more than one way to remove mould. Here are a few that we will list for you.
- Use a mould surface cleaner, or other mould treatment products if the mould returns after using this, there may be a leak in the area or inadequate insulation.
- Contact local mould removers, they will not only assess the cause but treat it too, however, this may cost more.
- Contact your landlord. If the landlord has highlighted issues like these as their responsibility in your tenancy agreement then you can legally ask them to take care of it.
- Enquire about the ventilation, how old is it? Is it working efficiently?
Upgrade your kitchen extractor fan today
At I-Sells, all things ventilation and ducting related is our speciality, we are here to answer the questions we know are common for those new to HVAC and what it encompasses.
We at I-Sells endeavour to ensure our customers have all the information they require before investing in our mould solutions. Be sure to visit our blog page to learn about the vast array of factors and issues surrounding ventilation, mould, condensation, and much more.
We hope to have shown you how to turn off a kitchen exhaust fan, its importance, and why it should be done.
We understand you may have more questions, do not hesitate to contact us for more information about whatever you need our help with. If you’d like to email us, click here. For other contact options, see below:
Call us on 020 8463 9696
Visit us at our showroom:
*OPENING TIMES*
Monday – Friday: 8:00 am to 5:30 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Sunday: Closed
15 St John’s Parade
Sidcup, Kent
DA14 6ES
United Kingdom
Add comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.