How Do You Fit an Extractor Fan in a Kitchen?

Types of Kitchen Extraction

Ducted extraction removes cooking fumes, steam and grease through a duct to the outside. It is the most effective system. Recirculation systems filter air through charcoal and return it to the room — no external duct is needed, but they are less effective at removing moisture and heat.

Installation Steps for a Ducted Extractor

• Route the duct from the extractor position to an external exit point (usually through a wall behind the kitchen or upward through the ceiling)
• Fit the duct grille on the external wall
• Secure the extractor housing to the wall unit, ceiling or island support
• Connect electrical supply (typically via a switched fused spur)
• Connect the duct to the extractor

Who Does the Extractor Installation?

The kitchen fitter typically installs the extractor housing and duct within the kitchen. If the duct exits through an external wall, this element may require a builder or be done by the fitter if access allows. The electrical connection must be made by a qualified electrician.

Ducted vs Recirculating: Quick Comparison

Positioning the Duct Route Correctly

The shortest, straightest possible route from extractor to the outside wall gives the best performance — every 90-degree bend in ducting reduces airflow, so a route with two or three tight bends may need a more powerful fan to achieve the same real-world extraction as a short straight run.

What If the Only External Wall Is a Long Way From the Hob?

In kitchens where the hob sits in the centre of an island, a downdraft extractor built into the worktop next to the hob, ducted below floor level, is sometimes used instead of a conventional overhead hood — this is a specialist installation and should be planned at the design stage, not added afterwards.