Kitchen Extracter fan

[Johnytuono]

Hi
Have just had a 6" fan fitted in my kitchen, before this was fitted we used to open the window when cooking/washing up etc. but my wife always complained about "letting all the heat out".
Anyway now the fans fitted the windows still steam up but eventually the fan clears it, is this normal ? I thought the fan would prevent this.
My other point is should I now have a wall vent (open/shut) fitted to 'draw' some fresh air into the kitchen. I'm sure I read somewhere that you don't have a fan running and an open window too, and if someone suggests opening a window instead of a vent, then haven't I just wasted money on a fan??
Totally confused.
JohnyT

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Unless you buy an industrial extractor fan a domestic extractor fan will never compete with an open window. How could a small pipe ever compare with an open window??? The windows steaming up is normal I'm afraid. If you really thought fitting an extractor would cure the problem you were mistaken.

 

[Burnerman]

Certainly your kitchen fan is better than nothing - or even opening a window at this time of year. As for its effectiveness, it really depends on where it is....a cooker hood, for example, is right above the area of most moisture.
Leave a door ajar when the fan is working - this will allow air into the kitchen as it is extracted. Naturally enough there will be some degree of heat loss - there always is.
Opening a window which is close to the fan isn't much good - cold air comes into the room, only to be extracted again.
John

 

[foxhole]

Ideally kitchen should have a permanent vent on wall opposite any extractor fan, which as mentioned should be over oven in hood to be most effective, assume it expells air to exterior?