Cooker Hood Not Working Common Faults and How to Keep Yours Running in Ealing

Published July 2026 | Cooker Hood Repair

How Long Should a Cooker Hood Last and What Affects That

A cooker hood's lifespan depends heavily on how hard it works and how well it's looked after. Budget models from brands like Beko or Hotpoint commonly last 8 to 12 years under normal use. Mid-range and premium units from Bosch, Neff, or AEG tend to last 12 to 18 years when maintained properly, largely because their motors are built to higher tolerances and their components are easier to service.

What shortens a hood's life faster than anything else is neglected filters. When grease filters become saturated, the motor has to work harder to pull air through them. That extra strain builds up heat and accelerates wear on the bearings and the motor windings. It's a slow process, but over months and years it takes a real toll. Our engineers see this pattern regularly in Ealing - a hood that could have run for another five years written off early because the filters hadn't been touched in two or three years.

The type of installation matters too. Recirculating hoods (which filter and return air rather than duct it outside) rely entirely on carbon filters to remove odours. Those filters need replacing every three to six months depending on cooking frequency. Ducted hoods are generally easier to maintain in the long run, but if the duct run is long or has tight bends, the motor works harder and wears faster.

Cooking style is another factor people underestimate. Households that do a lot of frying, stir-frying, or cooking with high heat produce significantly more grease vapour than those doing lighter cooking. A hood over a busy family kitchen in Greater London may need its filters cleaned twice as often as one in a household that cooks infrequently.

The Maintenance That Actually Makes a Difference

The single most important maintenance task is cleaning or replacing the grease filters. These are the mesh or baffle panels that sit directly beneath the hood. Most manufacturers recommend cleaning them every four to six weeks for regular use, though monthly is better if you cook most evenings.

Aluminium mesh filters can be cleaned in the dishwasher on a hot cycle - just remove them, place them flat in the bottom rack and run a standard wash. If your dishwasher doesn't get them fully clean, soak them in hot water with a degreasing washing-up liquid for 20 minutes, then scrub with a soft brush. Stainless steel baffle filters (common on Elica and Franke models) respond well to the same method. Never use abrasive scourers on either type as they'll damage the surface and reduce effectiveness.

Carbon filters on recirculating models cannot be washed - they need replacing. A blocked carbon filter doesn't just reduce odour removal, it restricts airflow enough to overheat the motor. Replacement filters for common brands typically cost between 15 and 45 pounds, and fitting them takes about five minutes.

Beyond filters, these maintenance steps make a measurable difference:

1. Wipe down the canopy and underside monthly with a degreaser spray to prevent grease build-up migrating towards the motor housing.
2. Check the fan blades annually. Grease accumulation on the blades causes imbalance, which creates vibration that gradually damages the bearings.
3. On ducted installations, inspect the external vent grille once a year. Debris and bird nesting material can partially block it, increasing back-pressure on the motor.
4. Test all extraction speeds and the lighting every few months so you catch faults before they worsen.
5. Check that the hood is still level. Vibration over time can loosen wall fixings, causing the unit to sit slightly off-angle - not dangerous in itself but it stresses the mounting points.

Warning Signs Your Cooker Hood Is Reaching End of Life

Most cooker hoods give you clear signals before they fail completely. The trouble is that these warnings tend to appear gradually, and it's easy to adapt to them and stop noticing. Here's what to watch for.

Reduced suction that doesn't improve after cleaning the filters is a common sign of motor wear. The motor may still be running, but if it's lost significant extraction power on all speed settings after you've ruled out a blocked filter or duct, the motor windings are likely degrading. At that point you're looking at a motor replacement or a new unit.

Unusual noise is another reliable indicator. A healthy hood makes a consistent hum. Rattling often points to loose components, debris on the fan blade, or a worn bearing. A grinding noise usually means the motor bearings are failing. Our Ealing engineers can often identify the specific fault just from describing the sound - or you can run the Voltrade GoFIX diagnostic tool to get a preliminary assessment before booking a visit.

Intermittent operation - where the hood works sometimes but not others - commonly points to a failing control board or a faulty capacitor on the motor circuit. On older Bosch and Siemens models this is particularly common after 10 years.

Persistent condensation dripping from the hood despite clean filters and correct operation suggests that the duct insulation has failed or the duct run has developed a sag where moisture can pool. Left unaddressed this causes corrosion inside the unit.

If the lights fail repeatedly in quick succession, it's often not the bulbs themselves but a failing transformer or driver board - particularly on LED strip installations on premium models. Replacing the board is usually possible but can cost 80 to 150 pounds in parts alone.

Repair vs Replace - The Honest Calculation

The decision to repair or replace comes down to three things: the age of the unit, the cost of the repair, and whether the rest of the appliance is in good condition.

A good working rule is this: if the repair costs more than half the price of a comparable replacement unit, replacement usually makes more sense. For a budget Hotpoint or Beko hood that costs around 100 to 150 pounds new, a motor replacement at 120 to 180 pounds (parts and labour) doesn't add up. For a quality Neff or Bosch canopy hood that costs 400 to 700 pounds new, repairing the motor at the same price is often worth doing.

Here's a rough guide to common repair costs in Greater London:

• Motor replacement: typically 100 to 220 pounds including labour
• Control board replacement: typically 90 to 200 pounds including labour
• Fan blade replacement: typically 60 to 120 pounds including labour
• Carbon or grease filter replacement (service visit): typically 50 to 80 pounds including labour
• Lighting circuit repair: typically 70 to 150 pounds including labour

Age matters because a 12-year-old hood that needs a motor replacement may have a control board that fails six months later. If the unit is within its expected lifespan and the rest of it is in sound condition, repair makes sense. If it's past 12 years and developing multiple faults, that's the stronger case for replacement.

One thing worth considering for Ealing homeowners specifically: if you're renting out the property, a newer model with a fresh warranty removes the obligation to call out an engineer every time something goes wrong. That practical benefit has real value.

Annual Service - What It Should Include

Most people don't service their cooker hood at all, which is why so many fail prematurely. An annual service isn't strictly necessary for every household, but for heavy-use kitchens it absolutely pays for itself in extended appliance life and avoided emergency callouts.

A proper cooker hood service should cover the following:

1. Removal and deep clean of all filters, or filter replacement where cleaning is not appropriate.
2. Inspection and cleaning of the fan blade and motor housing for grease accumulation.
3. Check of all extraction speeds and confirmation that CFM output is within acceptable range.
4. Inspection of the motor for unusual noise, heat, or vibration indicating bearing wear.
5. Check of the lighting circuit, bulbs, or LED drivers.
6. Inspection of duct connections for leaks or disconnections (ducted installations).
7. Check of the external vent for blockage or damage.
8. Tightening of all mounting fixings and canopy fastenings.
9. Test of all controls including timer functions where fitted.

An annual service visit from a qualified appliance engineer in Greater London typically costs between 60 and 100 pounds. For many households, combining this with an annual service of their oven or hob is a cost-effective way to cover both appliances in one visit.

Simple Habits That Extend the Life by Years

You don't need to be mechanically minded to add years to your cooker hood. These are the habits that make the biggest practical difference.

Switch the hood on before you start cooking, not once you've already filled the kitchen with steam and grease vapour. Running it for a couple of minutes before cooking lets it reach operating temperature and creates an airflow that captures vapour from the moment you start. Leave it running for five to ten minutes after you've finished cooking to clear residual steam and odour. This small change reduces the total amount of grease that settles on the filters, the fan blades, and the motor housing.

Don't always run the hood on its highest setting. Maximum speed creates maximum noise and maximum wear on the motor. For everyday cooking, a medium speed is usually sufficient and significantly reduces noise fatigue. Use high speed for frying, grilling, and anything that produces heavy steam.

Set a recurring reminder on your phone for filter cleaning. The biggest reason filters go unattended is that people simply forget. A monthly reminder takes about 30 seconds to set up and saves you from the slow-build problem that writes hoods off prematurely. Plenty of homeowners in Ealing have told our engineers they wish they'd done this earlier.

When redecorating your kitchen, take the opportunity to clean behind and above the hood canopy. Grease vapour travels further than people realise and accumulates on surfaces you can't easily see. That residue gradually works its way into ventilation gaps and motor housings over time.

If you notice any change in how the hood sounds or performs, don't ignore it for months. A noise that starts as a faint rattle and is left unaddressed will, in most cases, develop into a more expensive problem. Catching a loose fan blade early is a 15-minute fix. Catching it after it's caused bearing damage is a motor replacement.

Cooker Hood Maintenance Questions

How often should I clean my cooker hood filters?

For a household that cooks most evenings, grease filters should be cleaned every four to six weeks. If you do a lot of frying or high-heat cooking, monthly cleaning is better. Carbon filters on recirculating models can't be cleaned - they need replacing every three to six months depending on use. Letting either type go beyond these intervals puts unnecessary strain on the motor and reduces extraction effectiveness noticeably.

Why is my cooker hood making a rattling noise?

Rattling from a cooker hood is commonly caused by one of four things: a loose grease filter that hasn't been clipped back properly after cleaning, grease build-up on the fan blade causing imbalance, a small piece of debris caught in the fan housing, or a worn motor bearing. The first two you can check and resolve yourself. If removing and reseating the filters doesn't fix it, or if the rattle is coming from within the motor housing, it's worth having an engineer take a look before it develops into something more costly.

My cooker hood has no suction - is it worth repairing?

Start by ruling out the obvious causes: check that the filters aren't completely blocked, and on ducted installations confirm that the external vent grille isn't obstructed. If suction is weak on all speeds after cleaning or replacing the filters, the motor is the likely culprit. Whether repair is worth it depends on the age and original value of the unit. For hoods less than eight years old from a reputable brand, motor repair typically makes financial sense. For older budget units, replacement is often the better call. Running the Voltrade GoFIX tool can help you get a clearer picture before committing to either option.

Can I replace a cooker hood myself or do I need an engineer?

Replacing a like-for-like cooker hood is something a competent DIYer can usually manage, provided the existing ducting and electrics are already in place and no new wiring is needed. The main risks are incorrect ducting connections (which allow grease-laden air to escape into the ceiling void) and incorrect electrical connections if the hood is hardwired rather than plug-in. If there's any new electrical work involved, it needs to be carried out or certified by a qualified electrician. In Ealing and across Greater London, an engineer-fitted replacement typically costs between 80 and 150 pounds for labour on top of the unit price, which is worth it for the certainty that it's done correctly.