Why ventilation is important

Properly sized and installed kitchen rangehoods and bathroom extractor fans reduce condensation from cooking, bathing and damp towels. Moisture build-up leads to mould and mildew, which can damage building materials, meaning more frequent maintenance and redecoration costs.

HomeFit allows kitchens to have an extractor fan, but rangehoods are much better at getting rid of moisture from cooking and the build-up of grease and other pollutants. The Government’s Healthy Homes Standards also require working kitchen and bathroom ventilation fans in rental properties.

If your kitchen rangehood can hold aloft an A4 piece of paper it's probably powerful enough

Dampness and mould exacerbate asthma and other respiratory illness. Higher humidity also makes heating more expensive. On the other hand, drier homes are more comfortable, so you don’t need to heat them to the same degree. For more information, see the Gen Less website.

Kitchen ventilation - what to look for

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An extractor fan over a range/hob. Extractor fans should be in close proximity to the moisture source (range/hob in kitchens or shower/bath in bathrooms). They should be vented to the outside, not the roof space or recirculate steam back into the room (as some rangehoods do). Ducted systems where the fan motor is in the ceiling space are quieter to operate. If your rangehood or extractor fan is ducted, check that ducting is still intact and well connected without leaks. For kitchen fans or rangehoods, check the product data to ensure fans can extract at least 50 litres of steam a second. Alternatively, you can measure the fan or duct diameter to see if it is at least 150mm.

Bathroom ventilation - what to look for

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Typical ceiling-mounted extract fan (can be through wall). For bathrooms check the product data sheet when buying to ensure fans can extract at least 25 litres of stale, damp air a second or see if the fan can hold aloft a piece of paper. Alternatively, you can measure the fan or duct diameter to see if it is at least 120mm. Get an electrician to connect it to the light switch and a timer to ensure it runs for at least eight minutes after the light is switched off.