You know what’s oddly underrated? That constant hum quietly whisking away steamy air as you shower, or that little fan above your stove saving you from setting off the smoke alarm every time you try to cook bacon. Extractor fans save walls from mold, fight off kitchen grease, and keep air circulating so your house doesn’t turn musty. When your fan suddenly clunks to a stop (usually at night, because of course), it takes about five seconds to realize how vital it is. But here’s the catch: who’s actually supposed to replace an extractor fan? The answer isn’t as obvious as you might think.
Who Actually Replaces an Extractor Fan?
Most folks instantly think “electrician”—and in a lot of cases, they’re right. Any time you’re dealing with wiring or need to touch a home’s electrical panel, you want a licensed electrician for safety and code reasons. But swap out a broken fan for one of the same size, same spec, and same power draw? Some local handymen do it, especially for simple bathroom fans. If your setup just screws into place and wires up like-for-like with clear color-coded terminals, a skilled handyman might do the job for less.
Still, not every fan replacement is a plug-and-play situation. Some older fans were installed before modern bathroom or kitchen codes existed. That’s when you need to watch out for things like old cloth wire (fire risk!), no ground, or weird voltage mismatches. In Canada, any time the job involves running new wiring, creating a new electrical circuit, or connecting to the main panel, only a certified electrician should do it. Ontario and neighboring provinces set this out clearly because insurance may not cover fires or damage from DIY electrical work.
Let’s not forget new builds or major renovations, either. Builders, general contractors, or HVAC pros install extractor fans as part of bigger jobs, especially in kitchens or multispeed setups with ductwork. But if you’re dealing with combo fan/lights, humidity sensors, or smart-fan upgrades, an electrician (with experience in home automation if possible) is usually your safest option.
So, quick summary: regular swap, check if a reputable handyman has the proper experience—but only for basic models. Upgrading power, size, wiring, or adding features? Licensed electrician, every single time. Out west in Vancouver, they crack down even harder on unlicensed work, so always check your city’s bylaws. If you rent, your landlord’s responsible by law for keeping kitchens and bathrooms properly ventilated; they legally have to hire a pro to fix or replace the fan.
What Skills Should a Good Installer Have?
It would be nice if swapping a fan was always just a matter of removing a couple of screws and twisting a few wires together, but things rarely stay that simple. For a quality extractor fan replacement, the person needs some key skills:
- Electrical Know-how: Safe switching off of breakers, knowledge of electrical code, and testing connections with multimeters. This keeps your home and wiring up to standard.
- Ventilation Smarts: An extractor fan is only as good as its duct. Anyone doing this should check for blockages, gaps, or leaks in the existing pipe or ductwork. Poor venting can wreck your new fan fast.
- Understanding of Local Code: In Canada, standards are strict. Bathroom fans have to exhaust air, not just swirl it around, and kitchen extractors must vent outside rather than into attics. Worth asking—"Where's the air go once it leaves the fan?"
- Physical Dexterity: Some installations require crawling into tight attic spaces or squeezing under kitchen cabinets. Your pro should be nimble and have the right tools (think compact screwdrivers, voltage testers, hole saws).
- Attention to Detail: Fit matters. If the new fan is even a bit bigger than the old hole, patching drywall or cutting a new opening without trashing your ceiling is part of the job. Dust control, debris cleanup, and careful taping seal out drafts and noise.
- Customer Service Chops: You want someone you can ask questions, who’ll explain what went wrong, and even give you quick tips to keep your fan running strong in the future.
If you get a person who ticks all those boxes, you’re set. True story: when I swapped a 30-year-old bathroom fan in my Hamilton rental, the first "installer" someone sent just cut the power and yanked the unit. Turns out, the fan was vented straight into insulation, not outside! The proper electrician caught it, cleaned up the mold, and added a roof cap with flashing. Definitely worth being picky.

Key Steps in Extractor Fan Replacement
The basic job looks like this: remove the old fan, disconnect the wiring, fit in the new one, wire it up, test, and patch as needed. Let’s break it down:
- Safety First: Flip the breaker. Even simple jobs aren’t safe unless you’re 100% sure the power’s off (use a plug-in tester—not just "looks safe").
- Remove the Old Unit: Take off the cover, unscrew the fan housing, and carefully undo wiring. Be ready for dust, cobwebs, or hidden surprises above the ceiling.
- Check the Wiring: Match old with new. If you see outdated colors, aluminum wire, or unraveling insulation, stop. This is electrician-only territory.
- Inspect and Clean the Duct: Pull out loose debris, wipe inside the pipe, and confirm there’s an actual vent leading outside. New houses in Hamilton often have insulated ducts for energy efficiency. If there’s just a hole into the attic, fix it.
- Fit the New Fan: Ideally, it drops into the old hole. If it’s tight, you might need to trim drywall—carefully—to avoid gaps or extra repairs.
- Wire It Up: Black to black (live), white to white (neutral), ground to ground. Don’t forget to tape up any wire nuts. Switches and timers may need an extra wire leg; read the manual.
- Test: Restore power and check operation. Run the fan with a piece of toilet paper against the grill—it should stick in place from strong suction.
- Seal and Replace the Cover: Silicone any gaps, especially around the fan box and where ducting meets the unit. Small drafts kill efficiency and push moist air behind walls, so don’t skip this.
- Clean Up: Vacuum dust, sop up stray insulation, and wipe surfaces. A good installer leaves your bathroom or kitchen spotless—no trace of the job beyond a working fan.
For extra tricks, some pros use foam gasket tape or acoustic caulk to make sure the fan runs whisper-quiet. Ask about warranties, too—a quality installer guarantees labor for at least a year, more if it’s a premium unit.
Cost, Licensing, and Red Flags
Nobody loves overpaying, but nobody wants to cheap out on electrical work either. In Hamilton, replacing a basic fan (labor only) runs between $100 and $250. If you're upgrading models, moving vent ducts, or patching drywall, it can hit $400+. Replacing a kitchen extractor above the stove (with a hood and venting) usually costs a bit more—sometimes up to $800 if the ductwork needs major work. Material costs vary: a solid bathroom fan sells from $40 to $170, while snazzy range hoods can shoot way beyond $600 for pro-style models.
Always check if your installer carries liability insurance—especially if there’s any risk of fire or water leaking into wiring. Licensing in Ontario is handled by the Electrical Safety Authority. Ask your electrician for their license number. Handymen in most Canadian cities don’t need a specific license, but should have WorkSafeBC (or similar) insurance. If your house is under warranty (like Tarion for new builds), ensure a licensed pro does the work so you don’t lose coverage.
Here are classic red flags that should make you shop elsewhere:
- No business name, just first names, and hotmail emails
- Willing to work "cash only" to skip permits
- Pushing you to install a larger, louder unit than you want
- Doesn’t offer a written quote or break down parts vs. labor
- Can’t tell you if new fans will trip your breaker
- Avoids building permits even when adding new vents
Before you hire, stalk reviews—Google, HomeStars, Facebook. Ask neighbors for recommendations. I once hired the cheapest listing on Kijiji and wound up with a rattly fan and an attic full of sawdust, so you want someone locals trust.
For those who like numbers, here’s a handy breakdown of recent Hamilton-area prices and installer credentials:
Job | Who Does It? | Typical Cost (CAD) | Licensing Needed? |
---|---|---|---|
Basic bathroom fan swap | Handyman/Electrician | $150 - $300 | Handyman for same-size, same-wattage; Electrician required for anything else |
Kitchen range hood replacement | Electrician/HVAC tech | $250 - $600 | Electrician preferred, especially for wiring upgrades |
Attic fan install | Electrician/HVAC | $350 - $800 | Electrician, sometimes HVAC for ducting |
Fan + new wiring/duct | Electrician | $500+ | Electrician always |

How to Get the Best Outcome (And Avoid Hassles)
Extractor fans may look like simple gadgets, but they play a big role in your home’s air quality and safety. Mess up the wiring, and you risk fire. Mess up the ducting, and you could end up with attic mold, ruined insulation, or a permanent mildew smell.
Here’s how you land the right person for the job:
- Write a clear list of what you want (just a new fan, or a quieter/bigger model with sensors?).
- Take photos of the setup—inside and out. Snap the old fan, wiring, switch, duct exit, and where the air exits the house. Makes it easier for the pro to quote and prepare.
- Ask the installer to show you the circuit breaker before starting. If they hesitate, move on.
- Discuss venting. Ask, “Will this vent outside?” Fake fans that dump air into attic voids are worse than nothing.
- Request a written breakdown of costs—labor, parts, extras for drywall or insulation, taxes.
- Check for eco-friendly rebates. The Canada Greener Homes Grant sometimes covers ventilation upgrades, and some HVAC pros will help you with the paperwork.
- Schedule the work so you don’t go days without a working fan. Some jobs can be done in a morning; complex kitchen extractor swaps may run 4-8 hours.
If you want bonus points, ask your installer about humidity ratings (CFM) and suggested maintenance—like vacuuming the grill every 6 months, or what to do when the fan gets noisy. Trust me, a quick chat with someone who knows builds your confidence and helps you avoid emergency late-night interruptions of Your Favorite Show.
Swapping out an extractor fan isn’t rocket science, but get it wrong and you could make things worse. Whether you hire an electrician, handyman, or someone in-between, a little upfront research keeps your home healthy, code-compliant, and free of weird smells—even if you do burn the bacon once in a while.