The exhaust fan in your bathroom works wonders by preventing the unsightly and unsanitary growth of mold and mildew. However, just like any appliance, they can break down at times. If this should happen, you'll need to know how to repair it.
Before attempting to fix the exhaust fan, you'll need to take some precautions. Make sure the electrical power is turned off, since you'll be working with live wires. Also, wear safety glasses and a face mask to prevent dust and debris from getting into your face.
Possible Problems
Since bathroom exhaust fans aren't the most complicated of appliances, the reasons they stop working are limited to a few possibilities.
- The wiring may have come loose.
- The fan might be built up with debris, which can cause the blade to stop spinning.
- If it's not one of the above problems, then the motor of the fan is probably dead.
Solutions
You'll need to remove the exhaust fan, or at least its plastic casing, from the ceiling in order to diagnose the problem. Based on what the problem is, you can fix by taking the following measures:
- If the wires are loose, you can try to reattach them. You may need to put in more wire nuts in order to make sure the wires remain properly attached.
- If there is excessive buildup on the fan itself, carefully clean the blades of any dust, dirt, or mildew that may have accumulated.
- If tightening the wires and cleaning the fan hasn't solved the problem, then it is likely the motor of the fan is dead.
If you have determined that the motor is dead, then you'll have to purchase a new one from any home improvement store. Since exhaust fan motors are usually unique to each brand and type, make sure you know the model number of the motor before buying a new one. After purchasing the right one, you can install it into the existing system.
These are suggestions for fixing the most usual bathroom exhaust fan problems. If, after trying the above methods, the exhaust fan still doesn't work, you may have to replace the entire system.