Ready to hire?

Post your job in minutes, browse real reviews and choose who to speak to.Post a job

Need some tips or advice?

Kitchen Fitting

extractor fan or extractor hood - serious condensation problem in house

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 2.49 PM

Hi there We had a damp survey done recently as there is a serious condensation damp problem in the house. The kitchen has an old and useless recirculating hood and an extractor fan almost above it which does not work. The surveyor advised that we get a powerful extractor fan in the kitchen as 'hoods are useless': he advised that we get a humidistat extractor fan or something as there is already a hole in the wall for the old fan. I was hoping to get a powerful humidistat installed in the existing hole and then get a more powerful recirculating hood for the grease and smells. However, I am now confused: I have scoured the internet and it seems that extractor fans (even Kair ones) are good for occasional or additional use only and I really need an extractor hood - ie I need to have a new hole drilled for ducting of the hood above the hob. Can anybody advise if an extractor fan + recirculating hood is an inefficient combo? Should I really get a humidistat AND an expensive extractor hood?! new edit: Many thanks for answers. Re second respondent's question: finding the source of the damp is a million dollar question. So far we have had 3 surveyors and one builder and each has given a very different account. There is severe condensation in the house which is now well ventilated etc. Also penetrating damp from many sources - rotting windows, broken seals on chimney and blown render But I get your point that perhaps rushing to get a humidistat should not be my first priority

Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?

2 Answers

Anonymous user

Hi it depends on how big your kitchen is and how close the cooker is to the humidity extractor fan. The humidistat fan is a good choice as anytime it gets humid the fan will automatically come on for its pre-set time and clear the air. As for the Hood Extractor as long as you have purchased a strong / powerful humidistat fan it will be OK to install an cheap hood extractor. It will do the job.

Answered9 April 2014

Anonymous user

Surveyors.... surveyors.... surveyors... sounds to me like you need to kill the source of the humidity before you attempt anything else, you are a little unclear as to the source of the damp and humidity, kitchens are a naturally humid, thats pretty obvious i guess, but a humidstat extractor fan is not only removing damp but heat as well, and lots of it. I apologize for being contrary but I suggest you kill the source of the damp first, remove the humidstat extractor, buy a good quality hood extractor such as Bosch/Neff etc, then either employ the carbon filters (these need changing approx every 2 years) or have it vent outside via ducting if possible, as to the surveyors comment about chimney extractors... rubbish, utter tosh... kill the source of the damp first.. the big fan extractor is just creating a low pressure area in your kitchen and drawing humidity into your kitchen from around the house... if you close all the doors and seal the kitchen how long does the room take to clear?

Answered18 April 2014