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replacing bathroom fan grodenhiATgmailDOTcom 04-27-2008
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Posted by grodenhiATgmailDOTcom on April 27, 2008, 1:36 pm
I have a dumb question.... We have a 40 sqft. bathroom (full bath).
The exhaust fan can not keep up. It's been getting worse and worse
since we moved in a few years ago. We've tried cleaning it out a few
times but that does little good. We didn't put it in, but from the
looks of it, it's one of those super cheap Broan fans
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=26556-14-671&lpage=none).
It's rated to fit our size bathroom but does not cut it. What I'd
like to do is replace it with a new better quality one. My question
is...... Is there a way to do this without getting into the attic?
If I buy a better model Broan (same size unit) can I simply put it in
the existing box in the ceiling? Ideally I want to disconnect and
pull down the old one and reconnect a new one in it's spot. Thanks!!

Posted by Nate Nagel on April 27, 2008, 1:42 pm
grodenhiATgmailDOTcom wrote:
> I have a dumb question.... We have a 40 sqft. bathroom (full bath).
> The exhaust fan can not keep up. It's been getting worse and worse
> since we moved in a few years ago. We've tried cleaning it out a few
> times but that does little good. We didn't put it in, but from the
> looks of it, it's one of those super cheap Broan fans
>
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=26556-14-671&lpage=none).
> It's rated to fit our size bathroom but does not cut it. What I'd
> like to do is replace it with a new better quality one. My question
> is...... Is there a way to do this without getting into the attic?
> If I buy a better model Broan (same size unit) can I simply put it in
> the existing box in the ceiling? Ideally I want to disconnect and
> pull down the old one and reconnect a new one in it's spot. Thanks!!

at least with Nutone fans you can definitely do what you're suggesting,
I did just that in a house that I was renting once.

You may at least wish to take the removable working bits of the fan to
the store with you when you go to purchase the replacement. This will
help you determine if your plan will work as easily as you think it will.

Also check the ductwork and dampers etc. to make sure that there's not a
blockage causing the fan to work poorly. Also cracking the door while
showering makes a big difference, or opening a window (if you have one
in your bathroom.)

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

Posted by RBM on April 27, 2008, 2:10 pm

> grodenhiATgmailDOTcom wrote:
>> I have a dumb question.... We have a 40 sqft. bathroom (full bath).
>> The exhaust fan can not keep up. It's been getting worse and worse
>> since we moved in a few years ago. We've tried cleaning it out a few
>> times but that does little good. We didn't put it in, but from the
>> looks of it, it's one of those super cheap Broan fans
>>
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=26556-14-671&lpage=none).
>> It's rated to fit our size bathroom but does not cut it. What I'd
>> like to do is replace it with a new better quality one. My question
>> is...... Is there a way to do this without getting into the attic?
>> If I buy a better model Broan (same size unit) can I simply put it in
>> the existing box in the ceiling? Ideally I want to disconnect and
>> pull down the old one and reconnect a new one in it's spot. Thanks!!
>
> at least with Nutone fans you can definitely do what you're suggesting, I
> did just that in a house that I was renting once.
>
> You may at least wish to take the removable working bits of the fan to the
> store with you when you go to purchase the replacement. This will help
> you determine if your plan will work as easily as you think it will.
>
> Also check the ductwork and dampers etc. to make sure that there's not a
> blockage causing the fan to work poorly. Also cracking the door while
> showering makes a big difference, or opening a window (if you have one in
> your bathroom.)
>
> nate
>
> --
> replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
> http://members.cox.net/njnagel

I'll reply to you Nate, as I have all gmail posts blocked. You need to check
the duct size first. The small, cheap units typically use a 3" duct, which
would be worthless if you want the fan to actually do something. You may be
able to get replacement guts for the existing fan, but it would probably
work as badly as it did previously. Broan and Nutone, which are the same
company now, have many similar fan models with slight changes between them,
just enough to make part replacing difficult. Broan makes some models called
"quiet" or "silent", which I've been able to install from beneath without
wrecking the ceiling. In order to do this, there has to be an open space
above where you can push the entire fan including the duct adapter. You have
to enlarge the existing hole starting up against a joist, cut out the
sheetrock, remove the existing unit and transfer the electric to the new
unit, push the unit into the ceiling, and working through the hole, connect
the duct, (assuming a 4" duct ), then drop the unit down into the perfectly
cut hole until it's flush with the ceiling and shoot several screws through
the interior of the housing body into the joist, reinstall the fan innards,
which you will have to have removed, and you're done



Posted by John Grabowski on April 27, 2008, 2:18 pm

>I have a dumb question.... We have a 40 sqft. bathroom (full bath).
> The exhaust fan can not keep up. It's been getting worse and worse
> since we moved in a few years ago. We've tried cleaning it out a few
> times but that does little good. We didn't put it in, but from the
> looks of it, it's one of those super cheap Broan fans
>
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=26556-14-671&lpage=none).
> It's rated to fit our size bathroom but does not cut it. What I'd
> like to do is replace it with a new better quality one. My question
> is...... Is there a way to do this without getting into the attic?
> If I buy a better model Broan (same size unit) can I simply put it in
> the existing box in the ceiling? Ideally I want to disconnect and
> pull down the old one and reconnect a new one in it's spot. Thanks!!


Depending on the model fan that you have, Nutone/Broan makes a retrofit kit
that is a little quieter than the existing cheap builders special. Check
out the model 690 kit here:
http://www.broan.com/display/router.asp?ProductID=100402 This is
installable without going into the attic in about a half hour. My
recommendation is to get rid of that Broan fan altogether and install a
Panasonic model in its place. You will most likely need to go into the
attic to install it, but it is worth the extra work and expense.

As Nate mentioned, there could be other factors causing the fan to not
perform well. A roof cap that no longer fully opens, a pinched duct, or the
fan damper may be stuck. Also an exhaust fan does require make-up air to
perform well so as Nate suggested an open window would help.


Posted by Bob F on April 27, 2008, 2:25 pm

>
>>I have a dumb question.... We have a 40 sqft. bathroom (full bath).
>> The exhaust fan can not keep up. It's been getting worse and worse
>> since we moved in a few years ago. We've tried cleaning it out a few
>> times but that does little good. We didn't put it in, but from the
>> looks of it, it's one of those super cheap Broan fans
>>
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=26556-14-671&lpage=none).
>> It's rated to fit our size bathroom but does not cut it. What I'd
>> like to do is replace it with a new better quality one. My question
>> is...... Is there a way to do this without getting into the attic?
>> If I buy a better model Broan (same size unit) can I simply put it in
>> the existing box in the ceiling? Ideally I want to disconnect and
>> pull down the old one and reconnect a new one in it's spot. Thanks!!
>
>
> Depending on the model fan that you have, Nutone/Broan makes a retrofit kit
> that is a little quieter than the existing cheap builders special. Check out
> the model 690 kit here:
> http://www.broan.com/display/router.asp?ProductID=100402 This is installable
> without going into the attic in about a half hour. My recommendation is to
> get rid of that Broan fan altogether and install a Panasonic model in its
> place. You will most likely need to go into the attic to install it, but it
> is worth the extra work and expense.
>
> As Nate mentioned, there could be other factors causing the fan to not perform
> well. A roof cap that no longer fully opens, a pinched duct, or the fan
> damper may be stuck. Also an exhaust fan does require make-up air to perform
> well so as Nate suggested an open window would help.

Don't forget the bird's nest in the duct problem.



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