what do you do with old yucky bathroom fan?

Question

I probably spend less time making decisions on big ticket items like roofs, kitchen cabinets or flooring vs bathroom fans!

I seem to spend a lot of time researching bathroom fans. The homes have them but usually they are gross looking and sound unbalanced and rattle. Finding names and model numbers is not easy. Sometimes I get lucky and find a replacement kit online that fits. Other times I try to get Lowes or HD kits. Maybe I'm working too hard at saving a few bucks. Should I just get a whole fan box assembly and have my guys do the necessary framing and drywall repairs for new?

Looking for advice from those who have a better solution.

thanks!

Stephen S. · Answer

If I was flipping a house, either long or short term, I would use cheaper materials. Which by the way; is exactly why I never buy a property from a flipper - every one I have ever seen was obviously "a flipper house" to me. But since I am not "a flipper", that makes me into essentially 'a maintenance-man' - even if once-removed. So why should I knowingly set myself up for more trouble rather than less by using cheap materials?

Joel Owens · Answer

When I had my apartments an option is to clean the dust off the fan which is easy. Then the mounting tab over time with age develops a gap. The rattle was between the fan not being level and then the partial gap. I put a small piece of sticky foam in between fan motor and the top.

Noise was virtually gone from the fan and it worked fine.

Some fans even when working properly produce noise as they are the cheaper ones. So you will get some noise from proper operation but it is bearable. When it becomes off balanced and rattles it gets too loud.

Some of the really expensive fans are ultra quite but not used except for higher end homes.

Stephen S. · Answer

I switch them all to external-mount exhaust fan units.  Much better units mechanically, they move more air, and they last forever so far as I know.

My original thought was that they would be easier to repair or replace later - but so far I have no experience in that regard. <g>

You are kidding yourself with a $30. exhaust fan.

stephen

Bill Gulley · Answer

I'd just get a new fan, the same size or smaller (but as powerful) as the old one, put it in where the old one was and trim it out. I never used a repair kit, seems like more work than taking one out repairing it and putting it back. $50/70 seems like a disposable item. :)

Eric Gutierrez · Answer

You can remove the guts of the current fan/ get a new fan cover for the old box and then install an inline fan like a Soler & Palau TD100 or TD100x up in the attic if its accessible. I believe it would be up to code to use the old fan enclosure as a box to make the connection to the new fan, or add a box up in the attic that you make the connection in.

It would allow you to leave the current box in the ceiling and maybe toss a new grill onto it without having to do any drywall work.  I have installed TD100xs in a couple properties and they incredibly silent.  You can barely hear the hum.

Michael Seeker · Answer

I've also spent a lot of time fiddling with these things.  The best solution I've come up with is to remove the vent cover and clean it very well.  While removed, shop vac out the fan itself to get rid of any loose dust (usually I find quite a bit).  Then if you have a rattle, grab a rag and a can of WD-40.  Spray the WD-40 then turn on the fan, using the rag to try and catch any spray off.  Depending on the fan, I've also sprayed WD-40 in there while it's running.  Haven't come across one yet that this solution didn't fix.

If the fan itself is broken - I wouldn't mess with cleaning/fixing it.  Just pay your GC to fit in a new one and patch the drywall when complete.

As you mentioned, this is a tiny detail...it's good to keep an eye on costs, but not good to nit pick every last dollar spent.  If you need to spend an extra $100 on a new fan it shouldn't ruin the deal for you, otherwise you went wrong somewhere else along the way.