Terminology Tuesday (Tricks of the Trade) – Fixing a Bathroom Ventilation Fan

Stories and adventures about my experience investing in mobile homes.

Terminology Tuesday (Tricks of the Trade) – Fixing a Bathroom Ventilation Fan

(Note: I think it’s important to know the terminology and words used when learning any new business including mobile home investing. I came up with ‘Terminology Tuesday’ as a way to go over the terminology used in the mobile home business. It’s important to know the terminology when talking to people in the business so you’re all on the same page).

**** Tricks of the Trade is a new series I have started that will be included with “Terminology Tuesday” posts. The goal of this series is to share with you the “tricks of the trade” I have learned in the mobile home business.

Recently, I had to fix a bathroom ventilation fan. Many times, these fans will go out after awhile. So, it’s a good idea to know how to fix and/or replace these items.

(Note: On the buying side, always make sure these fans work in all bathrooms in each home when doing your inspections. There have been times I have overlooked these items and it has cost me both time and money — definitely something to bring up in negotiations.)

For me personally, this is an important item to fix due to the moisture levels that can add up over time in a bathroom. Without proper ventilation, moisture can occur and build up over time sometimes causing mold and other harmful bacteria to form.

In order to fix and/or replace a bathroom ventilation fan, I highly recommend using a licensed electrician. Though it may seem like a minor job and possibly one that can be fixed by a “do-it-yourselfer,” electrical issues should not be taken lightly. This is why many contractors who do not specialize in this area do not attempt to tackle electrical repairs.

(Note: Another reason why it’s important to have a strong network!)

Usually, the bathroom ventilation fan will have a cover. In order to get to it, the cover will need to be removed. Here’s a pic:

Cover removed

Many times there can be a lot of dust and/or lint build up in the area where the fan is located. Sometimes just blowing out the debris and cleaning the fan will do the trick. If there is a lot of dust and debris, this can cause a fan to be unmovable.

Dust and debris build up underneath cover and fan

Cover and fan cleaned

If after cleaning the debris the fan is still not working, another possible problem could be a bad motor. Replacing a motor on an existing fan is one solution.

(Note: When it comes to hiring contractors, I usually use those who are familiar with and work on mobile homes. Most times, these folks are more knowledgeable about existing issues and how to fix things related to mobile homes.)

New motor replacement on existing fan

Sometimes it’s very hard to find a part needed for a specific item in mobile homes. If a motor goes out and a replacement motor cannot be found, the next thing to do would be to replace the entire fan.

There have been others who have attempted this route. Though, sometimes replacing an entire fan may require having to do some drywall work especially if the exact type fan model cannot be found. For those interested, here’s a video on how to do it:

Video Link

I hope this “Terminology Tuesday” post has been helpful and has given you some useful information – it definitely has for me.

Happy investing!

p.s. Feel free to leave comments on any post either here and/or my Facebook Page. Comments are always welcome, thanks for reading!

(Disclosure: Some posts may contain affiliate links.)

Terms of Use and Privacy Policy