Do Bathroom Fans Really Work?

Does a Bathroom Extractor Fan Really Work?

Is your current bathroom extractor fan actually doing the job it's intended to do?

In the UK, it is estimated that over 45% of households have a bathroom fan that is either not installed or working correctly. So, how do you find out if your extractor is working efficiently? You may think we are about to tell you that there is a technical checklist to go through, well there’s not. It's simple - the toilet paper test.

This test is exactly what it says on the tin. Take a piece of toilet paper and hold it up next to the fan, it should be sucked up by the fan and be held at the grille. At this point you will want to go through a few other checks to see if it's a problem that can be solved easily.

Potential Quick Fixes

Before moving forward with any of the next steps it’s vital that you turn the electric off to the extractor fan’s circuit at the consumer unit. Once this is done you need to take the front cover off the fan, you may find it has a build up of dust blocking the impellers or outlet. Cleaning this thoroughly might be the root to your problem.

Another common issue is the ducting behind the fan is ripped or restricted so the air can’t pass through. Can you see any visible holes or blockages through the ducting? If so the ducting will need to be replaced as soon as possible. 

If these two methods fail then it's more than likely that you will need to start the process of choosing a bathroom fan to replace your faulty one!

Not replacing a faulty fan can cause major issues within the bathroom, from condensation building up which will lead to mould or even paint peeling from the walls.