Does a Dirty Extractor Affect Your Food Hygiene Rating in Wales?
Yes — and in Wales the sticker is mandatory. What the inspector looks at, and why a 3 costs you more here than in England.
Yes. The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme scores three things, and one of them — "cleanliness and condition of facilities and building" — includes the extract canopy, the filters and, if the inspector can see it, the ductwork above. A grease-dripping canopy over a clean prep bench is the fastest way to lose a mark.
Why it matters more in Wales
Under the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013, every food business in Wales must display its rating sticker where customers can see it, and failing to display is an offence with a fixed penalty. In England display is voluntary, so an English café with a 3 can quietly leave the sticker in a drawer. A Swansea café with a 3 has it on the door, on Google, and on every delivery app. The rating is a marketing asset here, and the extract system is one of the easiest ways to damage it.
What the inspector actually looks at
- The canopy edge and underside. Grease runs and drips are the first thing they photograph.
- The filters. Blackened baffles, missing filters, or filters so loaded they sag.
- The plenum behind the filters if they can lift one out — and they often do.
- The state of the duct where it is visible, and whether there is any record of it being cleaned.
- Your records. A certificate, photographs and next-service date go in the "confidence in management" element too, which is the third score.
Keeping the 5
Weekly filter cleaning by your own staff keeps the visible parts presentable between visits. A full TR19-standard clean on the right interval keeps the parts you cannot see in the same state, and gives you the paperwork. Together they cover two of the three scored elements.
Re-rating after a poor score
In Wales you can request a re-rating visit once you have fixed the problems; the local authority may charge for it. A documented extract clean is one of the easiest fixes to evidence, because you can hand the inspector the certificate and photographs before they look up.
We arrange TR19-focused extract cleaning quotes across Swansea, Gower, Neath Port Talbot and Llanelli. Request a free quote.
Related: Takeaways · Cafés · How often to clean baffle filters
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a dirty extractor fan lower my food hygiene rating?
Yes. The canopy, filters and visible ductwork are scored under cleanliness and condition of the premises, and the absence of cleaning records affects the confidence-in-management score.
Do I have to display my rating in Wales?
Yes. Display is mandatory under the Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013, with a fixed penalty for failing to show it. In England it is voluntary.
How quickly can I get re-rated?
You can request a re-rating visit once the issues are fixed; councils in Wales may charge a fee and will visit within a set period. Have the extract cleaning certificate ready to show.
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