[RachelSJ]

What could causes a smelly and discoloured liquid to leak from my kitchen extractor fan when its turned on?

[smoothy]

Condensation in the vent ducting. Grease and crud has built up in it and when the excess moisture is introduced... soup.


Does the vent go straight out the wall to outdoors? Does it vent up through the roof? (if it does is the duct uninsulated?) or does it simply recirculate the air back into the kitchen?

[RachelSJ]

It is an internal extractor fan so I guess the air is recirculated back in to the kitchen. Do you know how easy it is to properly clean them?

[smoothy]

On the ones I've seen you pop off the aluminum mesh screen you see under the hood, usually by shifting it forward or backward you can get it in a position to drop it out... some clip into position... but they should NOT be required to be bent to remove them. Some have an attached foam filter as well. If you soak this in hot water with dish soap it will help lift off the dirt and grease. You could also put it in your dishwasher.

Clean any other parts you can reach and dry them as well.

I was never a fan of the recirculating ones. All it does is move the air around... you still have all the moisture and odors from cooking that remain in the kitchen. Sounds like its partially clogged and actually helping condense some of that extra moisture.

[RachelSJ]

Thanks very much - very useful. I will give that a go and fingers crossed.

[smoothy]

Those filters are usually aluminum mesh... Do NOT use bleach. I forgot to mention that before. Bleach is incredibly corrosive on aluminum.

[tkrussell]

I always soak mine in ammonia. Simple Green may work, but I never have any luck with it dissolving large amounts of grease.

[fkaner]

Random question.. I have one of these fan ducts directly over my stove, and I believe that it dripped some brown liquid into a pot of pasta that I was cooking, unbeknownst to me. I ate the (funny tasting) pasta, and noticed the problem later when I went to rinse the pot... does anyone happen to know what I might've ingested, and if my health is endangered?

[smoothy]

I always soak mine in ammonia. Simple Green may work, but I never have any luck with it dissolving large amounts of grease.

I boil a big pot of water... pour it into the sink with a closed drain... and put in some dishwashing detergent. Then drop in the filter.

Sometimes that gives it the extra kick to get that grease dissolved and liquified or at least softened. ( then don't mess with it until it cools off enough to avoid scalding yourself).

[smoothy]

Random question.. I have one of these fan ducts directly over my stove, and I believe that it dripped some brown liquid into a pot of pasta that I was cooking, unbeknownst to me. I ate the (funny tasting) pasta, and noticed the problem later when I went to rinse the pot... does anyone happen to know what I might've ingested, and if my health is endangered?

Without a lab testing it its anyone's guess. But if you or your guests didn't suffer from gastric or intestinal distress consider yourself lucky.