Auckland's damp climate makes ventilation one of the best value electrical jobs in a home. A bathroom without a working fan means mould on the ceiling, peeling paint and a mirror that never clears. A kitchen without one sends cooking moisture and smells through the house.
We install and replace bathroom extractor fans, wire kitchen rangehoods, and fit fan and light combinations and humidity sensing fans. Every fan we install is ducted to the outside, not into the roof space, and for rentals we give you the written details you need for Healthy Homes records.
Pricing: a free quote and a fixed price agreed before we start. You get a written, itemised quote, and small jobs can be quoted from photos.
Bathroom extractor fans
A bathroom fan needs enough flow to clear steam while the shower runs, and it needs somewhere to send it. Ceiling fans are the most common choice, ducted through the roof space to a soffit or roof outlet. Where there is no roof space above, such as an apartment or a skillion roof, a wall fan or an inline fan with a short duct to an outside wall may suit better.
We also fit fans that switch on with the light, run on after you leave, or start automatically when humidity rises. Humidity sensing fans are a good choice for rentals and teenagers, because they do not rely on anyone remembering to turn them on.
- Ceiling, wall and inline fans
- Fan and light combination units
- Humidity sensing and run-on timer fans
- Replacing noisy or seized old fans
- New ducting to soffits, walls and roofs
Kitchen rangehoods
Many rangehoods are recirculating models that filter grease and then blow the moist air straight back into the kitchen. Ducting to the outside removes the moisture as well, which is what matters for damp and mould. If you are replacing a rangehood, it is worth checking whether a ducted model can go in the same spot.
We supply the power, fit the isolating switch where needed and connect the hood, and we can run the duct through the ceiling or an external wall. If you are also changing the cooktop or oven, we can do both in one visit.
How It Works
Healthy Homes rules for rental properties
Under the Healthy Homes ventilation standard, every kitchen and bathroom in a rental needs an extractor fan that vents to the outside. Tenancy Services sets minimum sizes for fans installed after 1 July 2019. A kitchen fan or rangehood needs a diameter of at least 150 mm, including the ducting, or an exhaust capacity of at least 50 litres per second. A bathroom fan needs at least 120 mm, or 25 litres per second.
Fans installed before 1 July 2019 can stay if they vent outside and work properly, but if they fail they must be replaced with a fan that meets the current rules. Tenancy Services suggests landlords ask installers to put the fan diameter, ducting and flow rate in writing. We include those details on every rental invoice.
Why the duct matters as much as the fan
A powerful fan connected to a long, crushed or sagging flexible duct may move far less air than its rating. BRANZ's Level guide notes that ductwork adds to the demand on the fan, and that ducts running through a cold roof space should be insulated to reduce condensation. We keep duct runs short and straight, use the right diameter all the way through, and support flexible duct so it does not dip.
Venting into the roof space is not a fix. The Level guide says extraction systems must not vent into a ceiling or roof space, because that moves the moisture into the ceiling where it can condense on timber and insulation. Tenancy Services is also clear that rental fans must vent to the outside.
Replacing an old fan
Old fans fail by getting noisy, slowing down or seizing. A fan that runs but barely moves a tissue is usually worn out or connected to a blocked duct. Replacement is often straightforward: we remove the old unit, check and if needed replace the duct, fit the new fan, and test the airflow.
If the old fan was on the same switch as the light and you would rather have a separate control or a humidity sensor, we can change that at the same time. While we are on site, we can also check your rental's smoke alarm positions if you are a landlord working through compliance.
Paperwork and price
Installing a new fan circuit or new fixed wiring is electrical work that comes with a Certificate of Compliance. A like-for-like swap of an existing fan on its existing wiring is treated as maintenance.
The price depends on the fan type, the duct route and length, roof access, and whether new wiring or a new switch is needed. Send us a photo of the ceiling or existing fan and a note about access to the roof space, and we will give you a fixed price.
Why Choose Cheeky's Electrical for Extractor Fans
Always ducted outside
We never vent into the roof space. The moisture goes outside, where it belongs.
Landlord-ready paperwork
Fan diameter, ducting and flow rate in writing for your Healthy Homes records.
Duct done properly
Short, straight, supported runs so the fan delivers close to its rated airflow.
Fixed price from a photo
Most fan jobs can be quoted from a photo and a note about roof access.
Extractor Fans FAQs
What size extractor fan does a rental bathroom need?
Tenancy Services says bathroom fans installed after 1 July 2019 need a diameter of at least 120 mm including ducting, or an exhaust capacity of at least 25 litres per second, vented to the outside.
What about a rental kitchen?
At least 150 mm diameter including ducting, or at least 50 litres per second, vented to the outside, for fans or rangehoods installed after 1 July 2019.
Can a fan vent into the ceiling space?
We do not recommend it. Healthy Homes rules for rentals require fans to vent to the outside, and venting into the roof moves moisture into your ceiling.
Is a humidity sensing fan worth it?
For many homes, yes. It switches on when the room gets steamy, so it works even when people forget.
My old fan still works. Do I need to replace it for Healthy Homes?
Not if it was installed before 1 July 2019, vents outside and is in good working order. If it fails, the replacement must meet the current rules.
Can you install a fan where there is no roof space?
Often, using a wall fan or an inline fan with a short duct to an outside wall. We check the options on site.
Extractor Fans Near You
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