How to repair a burnt out bathroom fan
If your bathroom fan suddenly stops working, chances are that the motor burned out. Fortunately, a burnt out motor is fairly easy to fix. It is somewhat more difficult than changing a light bulb but similar in a lot of ways. You follow the same steps of, 1) removing the cover, 2) taking out the burn out motor, 3) replacing the motor with a new one, 4) replacing the cover. You will probably even be able to use the same step stool that you use when replacing the light bulbs.
Removing the Cover
The first thing you have to do when replacing a burnt out bathroom fan is remove the fan cover. Of course, there are different types of fan covers and they come off in various ways. You will have to look at your fan cover to discover how to remove it.
Some fan covers are held to the ceiling with screws. If this is the case, unscrew. Look at the area around the screws on the fan cover. If there are holes extending away from the screw, you can loosing the screws, twist the fan cover, and remove it without removing the screws completely.
Other fan covers might be held in place by a groove mechanism inside the fan cover. If it doesn't appear that your fan cover is held on by screws but rather looks glued to the ceiling, try twisting. The cover may twist and then be free.
No fan covers are glued to the ceiling. You will just have to keep looking and trying things to find out how your cover comes off. While you are taking it off, make a mental note (or even physical note if remembering isn't your thing) about the steps involved in getting the cover off because you will need to reverse those steps when it is time to put the cover back on.
Locating the replacement motor
Once you have the fan cover off, use a flashlight to look inside of the fan. There should be a little plate with a serial number on it. Write that number down and go online to see if you can order the part. You might also call your local home improvement stores to find the part. Using the order number is the easiest way to locate a fan part. However, if you cannot find the number you can try taking the motor to the store and trying to shop for it that way. If you have to take in your motor to try to match it with its replacement, remember to write down everything you can find out about the type of fan you are looking for.
Removing the burnt out motor
Either you will have to take the old motor out to take it to the store or you will have to take it out after you have the replacement motor. It's a great idea to pull out the old and put in the new at the same time so you can remember exactly what you did to get it out.
Before removing the burnt out motor, check again to make sure that the power to the fan is switched off. Some bathrooms have a set of switches; check to see that they are both pointed the same way.
Looking into the fan, you will see a small motor. It will be the only solid piece in side the fan and will have wires coming out of it. The motor will probably be held on with screws and be plugged into the wiring. Remove the screws and unplug the wires.
Replacing the motor and the fan cover
Once you have the old motor out you should put the new one in by reversing the steps you used to take it out. You can now turn on the fan switch to make sure the motor works. If it does, replace the fan cover and enjoy. If it doesn't, check the wires and make sure they are all plugged in.
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Tags: home_repair home_improvement bathroom_fan fan_motor burnt_out replacing_fan_motor fan_cover seria_ number
