Look out for these signs regularly
We all have a seemingly endless list of jobs to complete in our homes but, when we think of regular chores, checking your toilet exhaust probably doesn’t come to mind. Bathroom ventilation is often overlooked in residential homes and even more so in public places such as motels and care homes.
Is your bathroom ventilation in good condition? Below are some signs that your toilet exhaust fan needs repair or replacement.
What is a bathroom exhaust fan?
A toilet exhaust fan is a mechanical ventilation device installed in a wall or ceiling to draw out impure air and circulate clean air. For example, when showering, the steam from the hot water exits through the bathroom exhaust. The same goes for toilet odours, when you flush. There are four main reasons why builders install exhaust fans in the bathroom.
- To remove impurities in the air such as smells, smoke, moisture and heat.
- To improve air circulation in the bathroom.
- To transfer warm and cool air from one place to another.
- To prevent condensation that would create mould and other moisture-related issues.
Bathroom exhaust fans can be wired together with the room light, so they both turn on or off with just one switch. Since the exhaust fan is an electromechanical device, it is subject to wear and tear and needs to be replaced regularly.
6 signs your toilet exhaust needs to be replaced
1. It’s louder than usual
It is standard for exhaust blades to make noise while turning. However, if you notice that the noise is louder than usual, this could be a sign that the motor is nearing its end of life. Turn the exhaust fan on and off and listen for any odd sounds.
When the bearings make a clanking sound, it means that they are out of alignment or have quit working. Unfortunately, bearings cannot be repaired, so it is best to just replace the entire fan.
- If you hear a squealing sound, the problem is the fan motor.
- If you hear a scraping sound, the fan blade could be broken.
- If you hear a humming sound, the motor is probably having a difficult time spinning the blade.
2. The blade won’t spin or is slow to turn
Pay attention to how the fan powers up. If the fan doesn’t start as quickly as before, or when the fan seems sluggish, this could mean that failure is imminent.
3. The fan won’t turn on.
When you hit the switch and the fan does not turn on, it means that there are problems with the wiring. Test the switch with a multi-meter to see if the problem is the switch itself and not the fan.
4. Moisture is taking over your bathroom
Anywhere there is water, there’s a high chance of mould growth. The running water from your shower, toilet and lavatory creates the perfect environment for mould to breed. If the air in your bathroom feels humid and stuffy, try cleaning your bathroom exhaust. To prevent a serious mould problem, replace your worn-out toilet exhaust fan to draw out moisture effectively.
5. Stubborn odours
In addition to removing moisture, the bathroom exhaust fan also pushes foul smells out the wall or ceiling. Every home should have a clean and fresh bathroom, but sometimes the odours linger despite your best cleaning efforts. If you can’t seem to remove odours even with the strongest air fresheners, then a new bathroom exhaust fan could be the solution.
6. The toilet exhaust is more than ten years old
Many homeowners have had the same bathroom exhaust fan since the house was built. However, like most mechanical systems, toilet exhaust fans do not last forever. The average lifespan for a bathroom exhaust is about 10 years. So instead of waiting for your exhaust fan to give out, a more proactive approach is to replace the vent fan every 10 years.
Older fans are also more expensive to maintain since they consume more electricity. They can also become a fire hazard since old fan motors can overheat relatively quickly.
Modern vent fan motors are designed with thermal overloads that automatically shut the fan off when it starts to overheat.
Toilet fan maintenance
Cleaning your bathroom exhaust fan regularly should be a part of home maintenance. When dirt and grime build up inside the fan, the blades have a more difficult time turning which could add stress to the motor. Be sure to give your toilet fans a deep clean once a year to remove all the dust, grime, hair, and particles accumulated inside.
Is it time to replace your toilet exhaust? Speak to Coles Air Conditioning
How long a bathroom exhaust fan lasts depends on fan quality, maintenance, and frequency of use. But as mentioned earlier, consider replacing your toilet exhaust fans every 10 years.
Here at Coles Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, we understand that bathroom ventilation issues can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. In addition, it can be a health risk to the occupants of the bathroom when mould starts to grow. Steam from a shower also requires you to frequently wipe down fixtures such as mirrors and benchtops to keep them functional.
Coles Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Service has been providing efficient and reliable service for more than 80 years. We have installed, repaired, and maintained residential and commercial air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, cooling rooms, and kitchens all over Newcastle, Hunter, and the Central Coast regions.
In addition to HVAC services, we can help meet all ventilation requirements for toilet exhaust, kitchen exhaust, car park exhaust, and fresh air systems.
Our fleet of qualified, fully licensed, highly skilled, and experienced technicians can provide you with a solution to any kind of breakdown. And with a 24/7 emergency hotline, we can deliver same-day response and a thorough resolution of your electrical issues.
If you need assistance right now or want to schedule routine HVAC maintenance, call us on (02) 4957 0221 or click here to send us a message and we will contact you back as soon as we can.