Installation, replacement and repair
Ventilation fan installation
Ventilation fans move hot, stale or greasy air out of kitchens, service yards, store rooms and windowless rooms, through a window, a wall opening or a duct. The fan is sized to the room, the duct length and any cooking grease, which makes this different from a simple bathroom exhaust fan swap.
Typical price
$120–$280per fan, from like-for-like swap to supply and installTypical job time
1–3 h
Estimate, confirm on WhatsApp
When to replace or repair
- The kitchen stays hot and smoky after cooking, even with the cooker hood on.
- Laundry in the service yard takes all day to dry and the yard smells musty.
- A store room or windowless room smells stale, and stored bags or shoes grow mould.
- An existing wall or window fan is noisy, coated in grease, or has stopped.
- Walls or windows in an enclosed room fog up or feel damp.
Common reasons
- Service yards closed in with windows or blinds, which trap damp air from drying laundry.
- Kitchens closed off with glass doors or partitions, so heat and smells have nowhere to go.
- Grease on the blades of old kitchen fans, which slows them down and burns out the motor.
- Rooms converted into studies or walk-in wardrobes that have no window.
- A fan too small for the room, or a duct that is too long or has too many bends.
Before you call
Safe things to try first
- Measure the room's length, width and height, and note the window type, such as sliding, casement or louvre.
- With the power off, wipe grease off the grille and blades of an existing fan. Degreaser on a cloth works better than water.
- Check whether there is a power point near where the fan would go.
- Take photos of the room, the window and the route to the outside, and send them with your enquiry.
Stop and call if
- The motor smells of burning or the fan trips the breaker.
- Grease drips from the fan or duct. Built-up grease is a fire risk, so stop using it until it is cleaned.
- You plan to cut through an external wall or the household shelter. Check the rules first.
What we do
- 1Look at the room, how air will leave it (window, wall or existing duct) and where fresh air will come in to replace it.
- 2Size the fan for the room and the duct run, and choose a type suited to grease, moisture and noise.
- 3Isolate the power and fit the fan into the window panel, wall sleeve or duct, with a backdraft shutter and a weather cowl on any outside opening.
- 4For inline fans, run the duct with sealed joints and proper supports, keeping bends to a minimum.
- 5Connect power (new wiring by a Licensed Electrical Worker), test airflow and noise, and show you how to clean the fan.
How much it costs
Most ventilation fan installation jobs in Singapore cost $120–$280 (per fan, from like-for-like swap to supply and install). This is an estimate; the final price is confirmed on WhatsApp or on site before work starts.
- Replace a wall or window fan in the same opening (your fan)$120–$180
- Supply and install a standard wall or window ventilation fan$210–$280
- Inline duct fan with a new duct run$300–$700
- New power point or switch by an LEW$200–$450
HDB, condo and landed
HDB
Kitchens and service yards usually have windows, so a fan fitted to a window panel is the simplest option. Do not core new holes through external walls without checking HDB's renovation rules. If your store room is the household shelter, its walls must not be hacked or cored for a fan.
Condo
Changes to windows or the façade need MCST approval, so many condo jobs use an inline fan into an existing duct, or vent through the yard window. Inform management before work starts and keep to the by-law hours.
Landed
Wall fans through external walls and ducts through roof or ceiling spaces are possible, subject to the structure. Keep outside openings covered with a cowl or mesh to stop rain, birds and insects.
Ventilation fan installation: common questions
How is a ventilation fan different from a bathroom exhaust fan?
A bathroom exhaust fan is a small unit sized for steam in a toilet. Ventilation fans serve kitchens, service yards, store rooms and windowless rooms, where the fan must suit a bigger space, longer ducts, grease or noise limits. For toilets, see our bathroom exhaust fan page.
Can a ventilation fan replace my cooker hood?
No. A hood captures smoke and grease right above the hob. A wall or window fan helps clear the heat and smell that escape, so the two work best together.
What is an inline duct fan?
It is a fan fitted inside a duct, usually above a false ceiling, that pulls air from one or more grilles to an outside outlet. Because the motor sits away from the room, it is quieter and suits windowless rooms and studies.
Can I install a fan in my HDB store room?
In many flats the store room is the household shelter, and its walls must not be hacked or cored, so a fan through the wall is not an option. A dehumidifier and leaving the door open are the usual alternatives.
How do I stop a kitchen fan getting clogged with grease?
Run the cooker hood whenever you cook so less grease reaches the fan, and wipe the fan grille every few weeks with degreaser. Choose a model with a removable grille you can wash.
Get a price for ventilation fan installation
Send a photo or short video, your home type and postal code. We reply with a price range and the earliest slot.
Open 24/7. All of Singapore.