Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Does anyone here NOT have an extractor fan?

64 replies

LittleEsme · 08/07/2022 14:43

My kitchen is nearly fully assembled and the kitchen designer has made an error in the design of the island. My hob is island based and given that I have low ceilings, we'd planned for a downdraft extractor to be fitted into the island behind the hob (it rises up when in use, and folds down when not).

The extractor doesn't fit however - the motor and cylinder cannot fit into the island below. I've bought a second brand of the same item but still, the motor and cylinder is too big. To house it, I now need to buy an extra 8" of cupboard to blend into my island so I'm going to lose floor space AND my island will change shape. This of course means that my cost of granite work top will increase.

I'm seriously considering not having an extractor at all. I have 4 large windows and a bifold in that kitchen to air the place. We are heavy garlic and spice eaters - is it a stupid idea to not extract?

OP posts:

easyday · 09/07/2022 14:10

I didn't have one in my last house. But ceilings were 11ft and the back door was about 5' away from the job.
I have one now but I very rarely use it.

cottagegardenflower · 09/07/2022 14:24

It's on a par with the extractor thing over the cooker. Useless and not used.

Cedarfire · 09/07/2022 14:48

If it’s a kitchen in a new extension then it’s a requirement of building regs, but if it’s a new kitchen in a room that previously was a kitchen I think it’s fine not to have one. You may live to regret it so I would push for whoever made the mistake to cover the costs of putting it right, but if that’s not going to happen I suppose you could try it and see? Especially if the granite has already been cut.

Solosunrise · 09/07/2022 14:57

I've never had one. We live in an old council house and still have the kitchen they put in 25 years ago. Replaced the cooker two years ago, and it never occurred to me to think about extractor fans.
I work in other people's homes and a lot of them look like grease catchers to me.
We ventilate well here, and wipe down all surfaces regularly. I hadn't thought of looking damp though.

TitoMojito · 09/07/2022 14:58

I don't have one. I just open the back door and hope for the best.

Doje · 09/07/2022 15:12

I don't have one. I don't like them - all big and loomy and noisy. Don't have any problem with grease or smoke. If I burn something I open the window and shut the door.

roxyrocky · 09/07/2022 15:39

We don't have one.
DH eats a lot of curries. We use a tealight on a plate everyday. It gets rid of the smells.

blackgreywhite · 09/07/2022 17:42

TheGander · 09/07/2022 13:37

No condensation or damp , but I am a fan of open windows.

Me too.

I haven't had a bathroom or a kitchen extractor in the whole 17 years I've lived in my current home, they just weren't here when I moved in and I haven't changed my kitchen or bathroom either.

I hate the sound and I'm a fan of having windows open (helps I live in the sunny SE) and honestly I wouldn't install either in this particular house as I have no issues.

MyBrilliantFriend · 09/07/2022 22:10

We don’t have one. It’s totally fine. Our only option was a recirculating one and they’re a bit rubbish, plus our kitchen looks heaps better without one. No problems with smells or grease etc - we keep it well ventilated and it’s fine (large open plan room). Building regs wise you only need one if it’s a new room, not if it’s an existing room.

ProseccoStorm · 09/07/2022 22:28

We don't have one, and are having a kitchen refurb soon, and don't plan to get one.

They seem to be mostly noisy and not hugely effective.

I shut the kitchen doors if i'm worried about smells, or open a window.

I'd rather have natural ventilation rather than complex electrics which are environmentally damaging and likely to go wrong.

I like to think i'm future proofing by deliberately avoiding unnecessary tech (much to kitchen designers bemusement) We've said no to: inbuilt sound systems, wifi gadgets, wine fridges, steam ovens, fizzy water taps, lights in cupboards, lights in the kick boards (!?!) etc etc Although are having a dishwasher, it's not quite Victorian days.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 09/07/2022 22:30

We don't have one. Problem is we're in a rented house and the previous owners decided to build a sort of extension and a conservatory without opening it up so the kitchen is in the middle of the house without air iyswim. They left the kitchen window in as well so that opens into the conservatory 🙄

2pinkginsplease · 09/07/2022 22:32

We don’t have one, we open a window instead.

BlueMongoose · 11/07/2022 09:11

I'd try to get one in if you can. It makes a surprising diffrence to humidity if you do a lot of cooking on the hob, or stuff like baking bread- if your house is at all inclined to be damp ( most older houses) I'd get one. You won't want windows open in the winter, esp. with fuel prices as they are!
When we moved here there was only an old, inefficient one. Our surveyor was pretty firm that we needed to get one that worked properly. It's much better now we have a good one. No cooking smells throughout the house too.
re 'grase traps' you can get hoods which have steel filters, easy to clean, and better than having to replace those felty filters.

BlueMongoose · 11/07/2022 09:14

(re noise- you get what you pay for on that one, I'm afraid- cheap ones are noisy. The more expensive ones can be very quiet on their standard settings, and not too bad even when going full blast. Our old one was noisy and ineffective- our new one is quieter and more effective. Specs give you the noise in dbs)

Flip

1 2 3