Remember when you first installed your “ultra quiet” Bathroom fan? You could barely hear it whisk away moist air and odor, right? Fast forward a year or two and your fan is probably as loud as the box fan you grew up with as a child. Don’t worry. There are two very simple methods of cleaning out your old, noisy bathroom fan that could possibly present an alternative to replacement. One is very easy. The second is a bit more tricky.
Very Easy
Both of these methods for cleaning the bathroom fan involve removing the decorative plastic shroud covering the motor of your fan. There are only two or three ways these are manufactured. Remove the shroud by prying the shroud (at one of the corners) away from the ceiling. At this point, you’ll see how the shroud is attached to the metal motor housing. After removal of the shroud, place the plastic shroud into a 5 gallon bucket of water mixed with either vinegar or ammonia.
Assess how dirty your bathroom fan is by peering into the metal motor housing. Along with common dust and dirt, you could also see excess oil and grime from the moving parts of the fan. Clean out all loose dust and dirt with a standard garage or house vacuum. If your fan is located directly above your bathtub, take the necessary safety precautions to avoid shock. After the dust is removed, clean the oil around the motor with at paper towel or q-tips.
Insert the plastic fan shroud back onto the metal housing and turn the bathroom fan on. In most cases, this simple task will make a noticeable improvement.
Another method to clean your noisy bathroom fan includes many of the steps taken in the first example above. This time, take an additional step by removing the motor from the housing. Before attempting this repair yourself, assess your comfort and skill level. If necessary, contact a local contractor to assist you.
To remove and clean your bathroom fan motor, remove the two or three screws holding the motor to the metal housing. With the bathroom fan switch turned off and the circuit breaker for the fan off, separate the electrical connection within the housing to the motor. At this point, the motor should easily exit the metal housing.
Take the motor into your garage or basement. If you have an air compressor with a blower attachment, use it to blow compressed air into the copper coils of the motor and the outer motor shroud. If you don’t have a air compressor, a vacuum cleaner will work just fine. After a thorough cleaning, insert back into the motor housing. Before turning the circuit breaker on, make sure to double-check your electrical connections for accuracy. Replace the plastic shroud and turn fan on.
Even if you perform these tasks, you might find that replacing your fan motor is inevitable. More often than not, cleaning your noisy bathroom fan using these methods will either prevent replacement or extend your bathroom fan motor by several months or years.
