A kitchen extractor fan is an essential appliance that helps to remove cooking fumes, smoke, and odors from your kitchen. It’s a handy device that makes your cooking experience more enjoyable and keeps your home smelling fresh and clean.
However, what do you do when you switch on your extractor fan and nothing happens? It can be frustrating and confusing, especially when you’re in the middle of cooking a meal.
A non-functioning extractor fan can pose health risks by exposing you and your family to harmful gases and pollutants.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the possible reasons why your kitchen extractor fan has stopped working and what you can do to fix the issue.
So, let’s dive in and find out how you can get your extractor fan back up and running in no time!
What to Do When Your Kitchen Extractor Fan Stops Working?
If the range hood fan fails to run while the lights work, the problem could be with an electronic control board, a faulty user interface, a bad fan switch, wiring malfunctions or a broken fan motor.
The steps below will help you troubleshoot the problem yourself:
Step 1
You must unplug the range hood and check the connections between the control and the fan motor. If there are any loose wires, you should reconnect them and repair any damaged wires.
While the range hood is still disconnected, check the electronic control board for burn marks to determine whether the control board is defective. Replace the circuit board if it shows burn marks.
Step 2
Your range hood might need to be replaced if the user interface isn’t sending signals to the control board when you press the fan button.
The user interface control consists of a keypad and a display panel that, when pressed, sends signals to the electronic control board.
In most range hoods, the user interface control may not be tested by the user. In most cases, you will need to replace the electronic control board if the fan does not activate when you press the fan button on the user interface control.
You may also have to replace the user interface control if the electronic control board still does not work.
Step 3
Using the multimeter (while the range hood is still unplugged), check if the switch can allow current to flow to the fan when you turn the switch on if your range hood has a switch for activating the fan motor.
Whenever you measure no continuity through the fan switch when the switch is on, replace the switch.
Generally, replacing a fan motor is necessary if the switch or electronic control board sends current to the fan motor but the motor isn’t running (if the wiring between the switch and the fan is good).
The Airflow In My Extractor Hood Is Poor
Have you frequently experienced inadequate air extraction from your room from your extractor hood?
A brand-new extractor will tell you if it’s working or not, but a faithful extractor that’s been running for years is unlikely to have a partial breakdown.
Since extractors are pretty simple appliances, they either work or they don’t. An extractor that isn’t working is most likely affected by a broken motor, which must be replaced immediately.
Sometimes, the ventilation itself prevents the extractor from operating as it should. To determine whether the air is being pulled through, you should check the outside of your building.
These are easy fixes if a vent has become blocked or if the slats are freezing on the outside.
Why Would The Fan And Light In My Kitchen Exhaust Hood Stop Working?
You may encounter problems with your range hood lights or fan as you use them. It is common for range hood problems to be electrical or related to malfunctioning parts. Your hood’s electrical connections should be tested before any parts are replaced.
Check Other Wire Connections
When your breaker is off, remove your filters and inspect the wire connections to the circuit board, lights, and control panel. Be sure to tighten these connections.
Electrical tape, wire nuts, and caps might need to be added or tightened. After you have tested all the electrical components, you should troubleshoot the hood itself if you haven’t identified a problem.
If You Hardwired Your Range Hood
It is a good idea to double-check the wires. To ensure your safety, you should turn off the breaker that supplies power to your range hood. You need to be careful when working with electricity. Check the connections for looseness.
You should then double-check the wire colors and make sure they match. Your range hood will not work if the wires are mismatched.
Consult a professional electrician if you believe that the wires are mismatched. If you have a range hood, you should contact the manufacturer.
A Fuse May Have Blown
It’s possible that you have blown a fuse or flipped your circuit breaker if you don’t have power at your standard outlet. Your fuse is blown if you can’t see melted metal or discolored glass on your circuit breaker box.
A fuse with the right amperage can be found at your local hardware store or by consulting an electrician.
Testing the fuse with a multimeter will show whether the electrical current flows continuously. I’d say it’s a great sign if the multimeter beeps. A continuous current indicates that it is floating. A blown fuse indicates the problem.
Your Outlet Could Be Overloaded
Often, outlets overload when many plug-in devices or appliances are plugged into them. When this happens, you should unplug some electrical devices from the outlet before switching the breaker on. Unless that is the case, this is unlikely to be the issue.
Test The Power To Your Standard Outlet
Range hoods are usually powered by 110V outlets – three-pronged outlets found in most American homes. Short circuits or overloads may occur at this outlet from time to time.
General Troubleshooting Tips For Your Range Hood Fan Problems
Listed below are a few troubleshooting tips to help you fix your problem.
Inspect All Switches
There should be electricity flowing to the switches in the control panel, which controls the fan and lights.
You can find the wires connecting your switches by contacting the manufacturer of the range hood.
After that, make sure a current flows through the electrical system using a multimeter. A replacement switch should be ordered if you don’t detect a current.
Inspect The Circuit Board
A faulty circuit board could be affecting the operation of your range hood fan. You should check the circuit board to see if no blower is working when the touch panel lights up and functions through each speed.
You can identify whether or not a hood is operating by looking for melted components, dark or burnt areas, or broken pieces. If not, you might need to purchase a replacement circuit board from your manufacturer.
Replace The Control Panel Or Touch Panel
Control panels might need to be replaced if individual switches cannot be replaced. Replace the touch panel, specifically if it does not turn on or does not function at different speeds.
It might be necessary to replace the control panel to rectify the issue with the range hood lights.
Tighten The Range Hood Fan
The screws on your fan motor must be tightened to keep everything in place. To ensure proper fan behavior, make sure the blade is securely attached. An inspection of the fan blades is possible by removing the plastic housing of the blower.
Inspect Your Fan Blades
Your fan blades need to spin smoothly. Your blower can become damaged over time if anything is impairing the blades.
Final Words
A non-working cooker hood fan and light may indicate a problem with one of the switches. If there are any problems with the Micro Switch, Switch Kit, Rocker Switch, Rotary Switch, or Selector Switch, you should inspect them.
A continuity test should be performed on each wire with an Ohm meter. Replacement switches can be installed if any of these are defective.
Your switches should work if the problem persists, and the thermal fuse should be disconnected and checked for continuity.
The User Control and Display Board may also exhibit malfunctioning signs. Despite this, there are relatively few control board problems.
