Q: The exhaust fan in my bathroom has begun to make considerable noise and no longer removes the steam from the windows and mirrors in the room. It’s about 25 years old. How do I find a replacement fan or parts to fix my current fan?
Today, it is easy to find efficient and quiet bathroom fans. For selection guidance and to help ensure a fan will perform as promised, review the searchable Certified Products Directory on the non-profit Home Ventilation Institute (HVI) Web site.
All major manufacturers have customer service numbers for assistance in ordering parts or replacement fans, but first gather some important information:
- Brand name – Find this on the grille or label inside the fan housing (Note: the majority of bathroom exhaust fans sold in North America display labels indicating they are HVI-Certified. HVI is an independent trade association which certifies the performance of residential ventilating products, not a manufacturer. So, if the first label you find on your bathroom fan is HVI’s, keep looking for the manufacturer’s label.)
- Model number – If the model number is not easily visible, remove the motor from the ceiling and search for the number. Often the motor model number, as well as grilles or lens covers, can be cross-referenced to a specific fan.
Once you have this information, visit the manufacturer’s Web site for customer service numbers and technical help. Web site addresses for many manufacturers are listed on the HVI Web site at www.hvi.org. If you want to replace the entire fan and housing with a modern, quieter, and more energy-efficient fan model, the HVI Web site provides an extensive list of manufacturers.
If you can't determine the brand and/or model number, contact HVI for assistance. HVI may be able to determine the possible manufacturers using the CFM or sone rating from the HVI label. HVI can also provide customer service and technical assistance numbers for many manufacturers. Contact HVI by e-mailing cpd@hvi.org or calling 847-526-2010.
The Healthy House Institute (HHI), a for-profit educational LLC, provides the information on HealthyHouseInstitute.com as a free service to the public. The intent is to disseminate accurate, verified and science-based information on creating healthy home environments.
While an effort is made to ensure the quality of the content and credibility of sources listed on this site, HHI provides no warranty - expressed or implied - and assumes no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product or process disclosed on or in conjunction with the site. The views and opinions of the authors or originators expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of HHI: its principals, executives, Board members, advisors or affiliates.
