Many people will know the frustrating feeling when a bulb goes in the house, and it’s even more annoying when it happens in the extractor hood above the hobs in your kitchen. Not only does this affect your visibility whilst cooking which can potentially be a safety hazard, but many people are unsure how to go about changing this bulb.

If you notice that the bulbs in your extractor hood are no longer working efficiently, follow the steps outlined below to diagnose the fault and repair it at home:

Why aren’t my extractor hood lights working?

The lighting above your extractor hood can become damaged when moisture out of the food you’re cooking makes its way into the appliance. This has the potential to fray and dampen wires, causing the lights to work intermittently.

However, if you’ve checked that the wires look fine visibly when looking inside the appliance, the issue could lie with the fact that the light bulbs have expired and need replacing.

Changing your bulbs

Before attempting to replace the bulbs in your extractor hood, it’s essential to turn off the power supply at the mains to ensure that electricity doesn’t flow and cause an electric shock. Once the appliance has completely cooled down, you can then follow the below steps:

1. Start by removing the grease filters from underneath the hood to access the bulbs. This can be done by simply lifting the filters.
2. Take off the lamp cover above the bulb by unclipping the two clips at the back.
3. Next, fully unscrew the lamp and gently remove it. Be careful when handling the bulbs in case they smash and scatter glass over the kitchen area.
4. Take the new bulb and screw it into place. Don’t overtighten the screw.
5. Click the lamp cover back into place and replace the grease filters on the outside of the extractor hood.

Whilst these are general tips to help you replace the bulbs of an extractor fan, it is always best to consult the manual that comes from your manufacturer, as this will give you specific advice for your appliance.

As you can see, changing the bulbs in your kitchen’s extractor hood is a relatively easy job and can be completed by somebody with limited DIY knowledge.

However, if the bulbs within your extractor hood are still not working properly, you could contact a professional to repair your cooker hood. These experts will be able to diagnose a fault that may be lying elsewhere, allowing you to have a fully-functioning and efficient extractor hood within no time.