Tricia noticed that the downstairs bathroom exhaust fan groaned and grunkled when we started it. It got on my list of project cards and sat there for quite a while. Finally it got just too hot to work up on the tall ladder trimming the arborvitae this morning so I got to it. First we found it making this noise:
Time for a look. So after turning off the electricity to the bathroom (# 23):
We took off the cover (clips) and found 41 years of coagulated dust
Today was the first time we removed this cover since we moved in 41 years ago!
Step one was to remove the dust. Then remove the exhaust motor unit and its attached “blower wheel”. They too were dustbound.
We ran the motor without the fan attachment and it hummed perfectly.
So we added a bit of WD 40 to the shaft and looked for the problem in the fan or “blower wheel”.
As we looked closely we realized that the shaft had a flat spot that was to align with the flat spot in the opening of the fan. When we spun the fan alone we realized that that flat spot did not hold the fan onto the shaft. The flat spot on the plastic opening which should look like the new one on the right, in fact was warn down and was allowing the shaft to spin without it, slipping.
What to cure it with? Something that would fit into that flat spot in the shaft and snug it tightly, preventing slipping or free spinning — retying the blower wheel to the shaft.
What would be a very thin piece of steel that could wedge in to that flat spot? Enter Red Devil’s Glazing Pins!
We reattached the blower wheel with this added fix, then inserted the entire unit back up into the housing and tested it. It Ran perfectly.
So with lots of vacuuming and scrubbing of fan parts, we are back in smooth quiet operation.
Update – August 15 (3 Weeks Later)
A grinding noise returned. The makeshift glazier’s pin fix did not hold up.
Luckily it appears to be a common part. Amazon carried it. We had ordered the Blower Wheel replacement part and held it on hand for just this eventuality.
New part installed and fan working quietly again.
Here's What I Found 