How to repair the bathroom exhaust fan?

Do you know how to repair the bathroom exhaust fan if it is noisy or not removing the moist air out as well as it use to? The fix might be a simple cleaning and an adjustment of the fan or it might need the motor replaced. If the bathroom exhaust is not removing the moist air then you should get it fixed before you have mould problems.
The first thing to do to repair a bathroom exhaust fan is to remove the vent cover by pulling it down and squeezing the spring clips together to remove them out of the slots. If the wall switch is off there should be no power at the fan. Unplug the fan and remove the screw to remove the fan motor from the ceiling housing. Vacuum the fan and the housing and check that the fan turns freely. If it is rubbing you can pull it up slightly. Be careful not to pull it up too much or it will rub inside the housing.

Testing

Plug in the fan and see if the motor is noisy. If so try putting some oil on the bushings and plug it in again, be careful of your fingers when you plug in the fan. If it is no longer noisy then remount it in the housing and plug it in and switch it on. A quiet fan quiet is fixed so you can replace the cover, but if it is still noisy it could be that the fan is rubbing on the housing or it could be from the duct in the attic being too small or not supported properly and vibrating.
If you have not been able to repair the bathroom exhaust fan have determined that the fan needs to be repaired then you can replace just the fan and motor without replacing the exhaust fan housing in the ceiling. Get the make and model number from the fan and take the fan into the hardware store. Check to see if can still get the same make and model of exhaust fan, if not open some boxes and compare the fan. You are trying to find a fan that that will fit into your existing housing. You might have to use a self tapping screw to screw the new fan into your housing in the ceiling. The new fan housing that you have purchased can be discarded.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to repair the bathroom exhaust fan you can do it yourself or you can call your local handyman to do it for you. While you are working on the fan it is a good idea to check the vent pipe in the attic. You would be surprised how many houses I have seen where the moist air just vents into the attic and is not vented to the outside. In fact I have seen fans where the vent pipe has come off the fan housing and the moist air is venting under the insulation. Knowing how to repair the bathroom exhaust fan is only half the battle. The vent pipe in the attic needs to be supported so that there are no vibration noises, there should be no low spots where water can puddle in the pipe and the pipe should slope up to the roof or exit point on the gable end wall. An insulation sock should also be on the pipe so that you don’t get condensation freezing on the outside of the pipe in the cold weather.

About the Author: Stan The Ancaster Handyman

My name is Stanley McCall. I was born in Scotland and came to Canada when 11 years old. Growing up in Brantford my mother instilled in me the importance of having a career. I decided after working my summers in factories that I would rather work with my mind than labour in factories all my life. Because of that decision, I went to Mohawk College to get a career in Mechanical Design Drafting. I found that I have a skill for understanding design issues and designing solutions in my mind then conveying that on paper so that it could be built. Throughout my career, I have designed food processing equipment, case packaging equipment, paper mills, sawmills, printing presses and steel mill equipment. I ended my career working for a global consulting engineering company checking the designs and drawings of junior engineers who had engineering degrees but no experience conveying their designs on paper so that it could be built. While I was pursuing my career I raised a family, renovated three houses and did over 20 years of volunteer work as a director in charge of the maintenance of Mount Forest Camp. Unable to retire to a rocking chair in 2014 I started my business as The Ancaster Handyman. Many people have said to me that it is hard to find a good handyman. I decided that I would be a good handyman and that it would be easy to find me and know that you have found a good handyman. To accomplish this I would have to be a good handyman, get lots of reviews and testimonials in as many places as possible on the internet so that no matter where people found me on the internet they would know that they have found a good handyman. Someone with integrity who they could trust to do a good job and could rely on to give them sound advice. Proof that I have accomplished this is seen in the fact that I have been recognized by Trusted Pros to be the best handyman in Ancaster for three years now. I am also a lifetime member of ACHP (The Association of Certified Handyman Professionals". I am Ancaster's only Certified Profesional Handyman. To be a member of ACHP you have to be committed to running an ethical business. If I say I can do a job you can trust me to do a good job. If I didn't feel I could do a good job I would refer you to someone else. If you want a cover-up job so that you can sell your house you have found the wrong handyman. I do not do cover-up jobs. My reputation and membership in ACHP is too important to risk over making a quick buck.

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