A welding system having a welding power supply coupled to a fume extractor is provided. The fume extractor may be coupled to control circuitry configured to operate the welding power supply. The control circuitry may be configured to begin, terminate or modify the operation of the fume extractor prior to the establishment of a welding arc, after the termination of the welding arc, or both. The control circuitry may be further configured to modify the operation of the fume extractor based upon a type of welding process used.