Maintaining Bathroom Exhaust Fans

Bathroom exhaust fans are designed to vent steam, hot air, and odors. Over time, fan blades can accumulate dust, debris, and moisture, creating stress on the exhaust motor. There are a few simple things you can do to maintain your bathroom fan exhaust system to keep it from being noisy and burning out:

• Remove the fan cover.
• Unplug the fan from the housing unit.
• Remove the fan and motor and clean the fan blades and blower wheel. Shake off excess water and dry with a towel.
• Avoid getting the motor wet.
• Put six drops of household motor oil in the oil ports and put the fan and motor back in place.
• Clean the front cover with warm, soapy water or a soft scrubbing solution. Dry and put the cover back in place.
• Read the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and maintenance. Some fans require more specific maintenance.