Can you install your own extractor fan?
DIY has become increasingly popular and, where possible, many people prefer to make their own home improvements without the help of a professional. In this guide, we’ll look through when it’s possible to install your own kitchen extractor fan, and where you might need some outside help!Is it easy to fit a cooker hood?
How easy a kitchen extractor fan is to fit will entirely depend on how confident you are with DIY. You should feel confident in home DIY before you consider fitting your own cooker hood. If you don’t feel comfortable, it’s always advised to get a professional in. While this can be a more expensive option than doing it yourself, it will give you peace of mind and save time.Different types of kitchen extractor will also have different installation needs. Downdraft extractors, for example, are fitted to slide underneath your workspace, whereas chimney hoods are mounted onto your wall.
You then need to take into account if your extractor fan makes use of recirculation or ducting to ventilate the kitchen. You can find out more about the types of extractor fan and ventilation methods in our guide on choosing an extractor fan.
Fitting a ducted extractor fan
Ducted extractor fans are more complicated than recirculation extractor fans because they vent externally, which means you’ll need to make a hole in your external wall.You’ll need to make numerous checks to the outside wall to make sure it’s a suitable space to install ducting. One important thing to look for is gas mains, water pipes and electrical wiring as they can run along walls. If you’re unsure or don’t know how to check, it’s best to get a trusted professional out. They can advise if the wall has any gas mains and, if registered, will be able to move the pipes. They’ll make the same checks on your wall using a cable, pipe and stud detector to ensure that no water pipes or wires will get in the way of installation.
These are both very important steps as accidentally drilling into an electrical wire or pipe can cause huge damage, both to your home and yourself.
If you’re upgrading an existing ducted cooker hood, you’ll be able to reuse the previous pathway. This certainly saves a lot of time but if you do need to fit new ducting and don’t feel confident, we strongly advise hiring a professional to carry out the work.
Where should you fit your kitchen extractor fan?
The main purpose of a kitchen extractor fan is to ventilate steam, grease and cooking odours whilst cooking, so the ideal place is above your hob. This is because it’s the main source of grease and steam in your kitchen.You can find more information on the importance of a cooker hood in our article “do you really need a cooker hood?”
If you have a standalone hob and a cooker fitted in another area of your kitchen, you would still place the extractor fan above your hob. Placing it above your hob means your kitchen extractor fan can directly, and most efficiently, deal with any smoke, grease and moisture.
Do electricians fit extractor fans?
While you can fit the main body of your kitchen extractor fan yourself, you will need a qualified person to connect the appliance to the mains electric supply.Do cooker hoods just plug in?
Kitchen extractor fans need to be earthed so they can’t just be plugged in. At CDA, we recommended the appliance is connected by a qualified electrician who is a member of the N.I.C.E.I.C and who will comply with the I.E.T and local regulations.How do you install a cooker hood?
As there are many different types of extractor fan, how you install each will vary. Your extractor fan user guide will have detailed guidance on how to install that specific model, but here we’ll share some common tips that help with any installation.Have a CDA extractor hood but lost your manual? No problem! Visit our extractor page and find your kitchen extractor fan. Under the download tab, you can download a PDF copy of the user manual.
Preparing to fit your extractor fan
As with most home projects, preparation is probably the most vital part of the entire project! The right preparation will make fitting your extractor fan much easier and save you from coming up against unexpected problems.Measuring out your space
The phrase “measure twice, cut once” is ingrained in so many DIY-lovers for a reason. Having your space measured in advance will make sure there is enough space for your cooker hood.Before you even buy your kitchen extractor fan, you should measure out what space you have available. If you’re replacing an existing cooker hood and you’re happy with the size, you can simply use those measurements.
There are some basic measurements you can use to help with wall mounted extractor fans like chimney hoods.
For a gas cooker, the minimum height for a cooker hood is 750mm from the surface of the hob and the maximum is suggested as 800mm for efficiency.
For an electric cooker, the minimum is 650mm from the surface of the hob. This should help you plan where exactly you want your cooker hood to sit.
When you think you have the right space, make sure to use a cable, pipe and stud detector to ensure you won’t be drilling into any pipes or wires.
Measuring and marking fixing points
The exact fixing points of your cooker hood will vary but you will find information in your user manual. It’s very important to make sure you measure and mark up all of the fixing points with a pencil and a spirit level to make sure all of the points are level.You can then hold the extractor fan unit up to make sure it looks correct. It’s helpful to get another pair of eyes on this as you’ll have a skewed view when holding it.