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Replacing Bathroom Fan
- Thread starter keef32
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It's easy for me but I was once an electrician.
One thing I'd check if buying a different one to the one you have is the size of your extractor pipe and how it connects to the replacement fan. Other than that it's surely just a matter of isolating the electrical supply and swapping them over once you've picked one you think will do a better job.
I replaced ours last year. We had one that opened up like a lens aperture but the outlet pipe had been badly installed and was laid flat in the loft. It eventually filled with water which flowed back one day and poured through the fan blowing it up and frightening Mrs WW who was in the bathroom at the time. Once I'd got a roofer in to relocate the outlet so the pipe went more or less straight up and wasn't laid along the loft anymore it was just a matter of installing the replacement fan. I bought an identical one as I liked the old one.
One thing I'd check if buying a different one to the one you have is the size of your extractor pipe and how it connects to the replacement fan. Other than that it's surely just a matter of isolating the electrical supply and swapping them over once you've picked one you think will do a better job.
I replaced ours last year. We had one that opened up like a lens aperture but the outlet pipe had been badly installed and was laid flat in the loft. It eventually filled with water which flowed back one day and poured through the fan blowing it up and frightening Mrs WW who was in the bathroom at the time. Once I'd got a roofer in to relocate the outlet so the pipe went more or less straight up and wasn't laid along the loft anymore it was just a matter of installing the replacement fan. I bought an identical one as I liked the old one.
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On that very point.
Stuff can have a live wire in it even if it's turned off so turning it off/removing the fuse and checking there's no electricity present is essential... one of those light up screwdrivers may be adequate, it's what I use as a last confidence check.
Stuff can have a live wire in it even if it's turned off so turning it off/removing the fuse and checking there's no electricity present is essential... one of those light up screwdrivers may be adequate, it's what I use as a last confidence check.
MatBin
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I find a finger works quite well, it also lights up.
boogie man
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You might find it’s just choked up with dust and fluff and a clear out with a hoover would get it working better. 
kendo1
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Like WW says, there may be 4 wires in the fan supply - or there may be 3!
Not all fans use a switched live and a live. You're best to have a look and see, which would help with buying a replacement.
If the fan stays on when the lights are off then it's a fair bet that there is a permanent live wired in - that's why you have to turn the circuit off at the board.
Hopefully the live is connected to the lighting circuit, but I have come across fans that used a different supply for the permaent live! - hence double checking that it IS turned off.
Not all fans use a switched live and a live. You're best to have a look and see, which would help with buying a replacement.
If the fan stays on when the lights are off then it's a fair bet that there is a permanent live wired in - that's why you have to turn the circuit off at the board.
Hopefully the live is connected to the lighting circuit, but I have come across fans that used a different supply for the permaent live! - hence double checking that it IS turned off.
OP
keef32
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Thanks for the advice.
100% would have been slicking the circuit before going anywhere near it, but cheers for the heads up
.
The fan stays on for 5 minutes after the light is turned off so looks like its on a timer?
I'll be taking a look at what type it is etc before going out to buy one.
100% would have been slicking the circuit before going anywhere near it, but cheers for the heads up
. The fan stays on for 5 minutes after the light is turned off so looks like its on a timer?
I'll be taking a look at what type it is etc before going out to buy one.
tijuana taxi
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Have a look at the extraction rates, the more efficient and dearer ones clear the steam much quicker
Had one of the posh humidity sensing fans, supposed to switch on and off when needed, it didn't
Went back to the good old pull a cord for on and off, so much simpler and is on for as long as you require
One other thing is make sure you get the right size, sounds obvious, but the duct out comes in various similar sizes.
Had one of the posh humidity sensing fans, supposed to switch on and off when needed, it didn't
Went back to the good old pull a cord for on and off, so much simpler and is on for as long as you require
One other thing is make sure you get the right size, sounds obvious, but the duct out comes in various similar sizes.