Behind the filters of every cooker hood is a fan, usually a motor driving a round impeller. Any grease that gets past the filters ends up on the impeller blades and inside the housing. As it builds up, the fan becomes unbalanced, louder and much less effective, even though the motor is still running.
What's included
- Filters and inner panel removed to reach the fan
- Impeller blades degreased one by one
- Fan housing and outlet collar cleaned
- Motor checked for noise, wobble and overheating
- In-line loft or duct fans cleaned where access is safe
- Hood tested on every speed after reassembly
Reaching the fan
On most chimney and canopy hoods, the fan can be reached once the filters and an inner panel are removed. We clean the impeller blades, the housing and the outlet collar. Some kitchens have an in-line fan fitted in the ducting or loft to keep the hood quiet; we clean these too where they can be reached safely.
When the fan is the problem
If the canopy and filters have already been cleaned and the suction is still poor, the fan is the next place to look. If your hood has never been cleaned, start with a full cooker hood clean, which includes the fan where it's accessible.
Grease or a mechanical fault
Not every noise is grease. A worn motor bearing, a cracked impeller or a loose chimney section can sound similar. If we find a mechanical fault, we'll explain the options, including whether a replacement motor is available for your model.
How the visit works
01
Listen and isolate
We run the hood to hear the fault, then isolate the power before opening anything.
02
Open the housing
Filters and the inner panel come off so the impeller and housing are fully visible.
03
Degrease the impeller
Each blade and the inside of the housing is degreased so the fan runs balanced again.
04
Reassemble and test
Everything goes back together and we compare noise and suction with how it ran before.
Common problems we fix
Cooker hood fan loud but weak
A noisy fan with weak suction usually has a greasy, unbalanced impeller or blocked filters. Cleaning both normally fixes it.
Can a cooker hood motor be replaced?
Many motors are available as spare parts. On cheaper hoods, a new hood can cost less than the motor. We'll advise once we've seen the unit.
In-line extractor fan in the loft
In-line fans are quieter in the kitchen but collect grease the same way. They need the same cleaning and safe loft access.
What affects the price
Fan cleaning is priced on how the fan is reached: from below the hood, by removing the hood, or in the loft or ductwork. If the fan is cleaned as part of a full cooker hood clean, it is usually included where it can be reached from below.
Send photos for a written quoteWhat you can do yourself
Fan cleaning means opening the hood with the power isolated, and some impellers are easily knocked out of balance. The safest thing you can do between visits is keep the grease filters clean, which keeps most of the grease off the fan in the first place.
Questions about Extraction Fan Cleaning
If the noise is caused by grease on the impeller or blocked airflow, yes. Worn bearings need a repair.
We specialise in kitchen extraction: cooker hoods, kitchen fans and commercial canopies.
If the filters are clean but suction is still weak, the hood vibrates, or grease is visible around the fan outlet, the fan needs attention.
Yes, where it's accessible from below. Fans that need the hood removed or are fitted in the loft are cleaned as a separate job.
Get a free quote
Tell us the make or model, add a photo of the underside of the hood, and let us know whether it vents outside or recirculates.
