Extractor Fans Wear Out: How Long Do They Last and What to Watch For

Hear that grinding noise every time you turn on your extractor fan? That’s not just annoying—it could be your fan telling you it’s on its way out. Extractor fans deal with all sorts of stuff: dust, grease, steam, and sometimes even critters looking for a cozy spot. Over time, these things just wear them down. No fan lasts forever, but you can catch trouble early if you know what to look for.

Fans don’t just “die” out of the blue. Usually, they start with small warning signs. Maybe it’s not clearing out steam like it used to. Maybe it sounds like a helicopter, or you smell something strange when it’s running. Plenty of fans quietly struggle for months before anyone pays attention. If your fan’s behaving weirdly, don’t ignore it—there are fixes that don’t always mean a total replacement.

• Why Extractor Fans Wear Out
• How to Spot a Worn-Out Fan
• Tips to Extend Your Fan’s Life
• Repair or Replace: What’s Smarter?

Why Extractor Fans Wear Out

If you’re wondering why your extractor fan keeps acting up, it comes down to what’s going on inside and around it. Mechanical parts just don’t last forever—especially when they’re up against moisture, heat, and layers of grime. Fans in bathrooms and kitchens work hardest. Bathrooms throw steam and humidity at them, while kitchen fans get sticky from grease and food particles. Over time, all that gunk gets into the moving parts and bearings, slowing them down and making them work harder than they should.

Here’s what’s usually wearing your fan out:

• Build-up of dust, grease, and grime: This clogs up the fan blades and motor, making it work harder and burn out faster.
• Moisture damage: Damp air causes rust and can mess with the fan’s motor or electrical parts.
• Age: Most extractor fans last 5-10 years depending on use. Cheap or overworked fans with plastic parts sometimes pack it in sooner.
• Poor installation: A fan that rattles or wobbles from the start will develop bigger problems quickly.
• Lack of maintenance: Never gave your fan a clean? It’s probably feeling it now.

Fans also have small motors that just get tired over the years, especially if your family is flipping that switch a dozen times a day. Bearings can squeal, belts can slip, and suddenly all you hear is noise instead of airflow.

"A bathroom extractor fan should be cleaned every six months to keep it working efficiently and extend its life," says Lee Devlin, director of Homecure Plumbers in London.

Think about it this way: every time you use the fan, it’s running a little race against dust, moisture, and time. Anything that slows it down is like tying weights to its legs. Regular cleaning and using the right fan for your room size can seriously stretch out its lifespan.

How to Spot a Worn-Out Fan

Catching a worn-out extractor fan early is way better than dealing with a sudden breakdown. Here’s what you should actually look for—no guesswork.

• Noise changes: If your fan suddenly rattles, grinds, or makes a humming sound it never used to, that’s a red flag. New noises almost always mean something’s off, whether it’s worn-down bearings or a loose blade.
• Poor airflow: If steam hangs around longer after showers or food smells stick in your kitchen, your fan isn’t moving air like it should. Sometimes, a simple clean helps, but a persistent problem signals deeper wear.
• Strange smells: Notice a burning, dusty, or electrical smell? It could be the motor on its last legs or dust buildup getting cooked. Any odd smell deserves a closer look.
• Vibration or wobbling: A fan that shakes or wobbles when running could have a misaligned blade or worn mounting. If left unchecked, it’ll get worse quickly.
• Fan won’t turn on or off properly: If you have to flick the switch a bunch of times or it runs when it shouldn’t, your wiring or internal switches might be failing.

It’s easy to ignore these signs—lots of folks just deal with a noisy or stubborn extractor fan. But waiting comes with risks. A struggling fan can burn out the motor, raise your power bill, or even become a fire hazard. If you spot these signs, it’s time to act—either clean, repair, or get a pro to take a look before things get worse.

Tips to Extend Your Fan’s Life

The number one way to keep an extractor fan running strong? Don’t ignore cleaning. Dust, lint, and greasy buildup are enemy number one. That grime clogs the blades and strains the motor, making it work harder—and wear out faster. Most pros recommend giving the vent cover and blades a wipedown every couple of months. If you use your fan every day, bump it up to once a month—especially in kitchens where grease floats everywhere.

Don’t forget about the filter if your model has one. Some kitchen extractors have metal mesh filters you can pop out and soak in hot soapy water. Bathroom fans usually don’t have filters, but they still collect lots of dust on the inside. Unplug the power before poking around, then use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to pull out any gunk.

Keep an ear out for new noises. Rubbing or rattling sounds could mean a screw’s come loose or a blade’s out of balance. Tightening things up now can save the motor from burning out early. Also, double-check that your fan’s venting somewhere safe—like outside, not just into your attic where all that moisture can start causing mold problems or damage.

If you notice your fan takes longer to clear steam, check for clogs in the ducting, especially if you see lint, dead bugs, or even bird nests in outlet vents outside. A blocked duct forces the extractor to work overtime, and that’s a recipe for breakdowns.

• Turn off power before cleaning or checking your fan.
• Clean the cover and blades every 1-2 months.
• Soak filters in hot, soapy water if your fan has one.
• Vacuum dust and debris from hard-to-reach areas.
• Tighten loose screws if you hear rattling.
• Check the outside vent for blockages.

One more thing—don’t run the fan longer than needed. Leaving it on for hours just adds mileage to the motor. Set a timer if you tend to forget, and only run it long enough to clear the air. Small habits like these can stretch your fan’s lifespan by years, keeping your home fresher and your wallet happier.

Repair or Replace: What’s Smarter?

When your extractor fan starts making weird noises or just stops moving air like it should, you’re faced with a real decision. Is it worth fixing, or should you just swap it out for a new one? The smarter move depends on a few key details, and you’ve got to weigh the numbers before reaching for your wallet.

First off, let’s look at the common repairs. If the problem’s just dirt, worn bearings, or a loose connection, most repairs are pretty cheap—usually under $80 if you know what you’re doing. Sometimes all it takes is new grease for the bearings or a quick wire fix, and you’re back in business. Fan blades and light covers are easy to swap, too.

But if the motor’s burnt out or there’s deep electrical damage, you’re creeping into replacement territory. A new motor can cost almost as much as a brand new fan, and don’t forget the labor if you’re hiring a pro.

Here’s a quick comparison to help decide:

A good rule: if the fan is more than 8 years old, replacement makes more sense. New models run quieter, use less power, and usually come with better warranties. But if your fan’s just a few years old and only needs a small fix, don’t toss it. Just make sure you’re not patching up a lost cause, especially if you’ve already sunk money into multiple repairs.

• If the fan smells burnt, hums but doesn’t spin, or the blades wobble, replacement is safer.
• For small fixes like a stuck vent flap or a loud cover, repairing is easy and cheap.
• If mold is growing inside the fan housing, seriously consider replacement—the inside parts are tough to clean completely.

One last tip: don’t forget about energy efficiency. Fans older than 10 years can cost up to 40% more in electricity than newer models. So, sometimes replacing actually saves money in the long run.