How to Clean a Bathroom Extractor Fan?
A bathroom extractor fan is very useful for anybody, besides the fact that it helps with keeping the bathroom fresh and odor free, it also helps to keep the moisture out, therefore it will prevent the mold and mildew formation.
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Why do you need to clean your bathroom extractor fan?
In general, dusty and dirty places are perfect places for bacterias and mold to grow. Besides that, the dirt and dust accumulated on the fan can affect its performance. This is why you should clean your bathroom extractor fan regularly. Cleaning the bathroom vent fan at least once per month will prevent the buildup of dirt and dust.
If you do not clean the the bathroom extractor regularly you can have one or more of the following problems:
Bad smell in your bathroom
The bathroom extractor fan will be noisy
You will waste a lot of energy since the fan is not working properly but its consumption stays the same
The fan will overheat and it can cause a fire
It can spread the bacterias and the dirt all around the bathroom
Overall the bathroom extractor fan will have a shorter lifespan
In this article we will present to you the best way for cleaning a bathroom fan, in order to avoid the problems that a dirty bathroom extractor fan can cause and tips on how to clean extractor fan filters in a step by step guide.
Step 1 - Identify the type of bathroom extractor fan that you have:
There are two main types of bathroom extractor fans:
- The first type of bathroom extractor fan is the vented type. This type of bathroom extractor fan is the most common vent used. The main characteristic of this type of bathroom fan is that it is connected to the outside through a duct or a hole in the wall.
- The second type of bathroom extractor is the recirculating type. This type does not need any ducts or holes, because it recirculates the air inside the bathroom.
Once you have identified which type of bathroom extractor fan you have, you can start the next step.
Step 2 - Turn off the power supply in the bathroom:
Before you start the bathroom exhaust fan cleaning, you need to turn off the power supply. This is a very important safety measure, because if you do not do this, you can electrocute yourself. So make sure the power supply is off before starting the actual bathroom fan cleaning.
Once you turn off the power supply you can start the next step.
Step 3 - Remove the bathroom extractor fan’s cover:
The next step is to remove the cover of the fan. In most cases, the cover is held in place by screws. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws and then carefully remove the cover.
Once you have removed the cover, you can go to the next step.
Step 4 - Clean the bathroom extractor fan’s blades:
Take a look inside of the fan, if you see that the blades are not so dirty, you can clean them with a cloth. However, if the blades are very dirty you have to use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attached to it. Be careful though to not bend the blades.
Once you have cleaned the blades, you can go to the next step.
Step 5 - Clean the bathroom extractor fan housing:
For cleaning the bathroom extractor fan housing you do not need special detergents or solutions. The housing of the fan can be cleaned with a brush and a bowl of water mixed with white vinegar. Scrub the housing with the brush and then rinse it with clean water and let it dry.
Once you have cleaned the housing of the fan, you can go to the next step.
Step 6 - Clean the filter
For cleaning the bathroom extractor fan filter you can use a toothbrush or a vacuum cleaner with a brush attached to it. It all depends on how dirty it is. After you have cleaned the dirt, scrub the filter with water mixed with white vinegar and then rinse with clean water and let it dry.
Once you have cleaned the fan’s filter, you can go to the next step.
Step 7 - Clean the bathroom extractor fan’s ductwork:
Usually the dirt is not collecting on the fan’s duct, therefore you can simply vacuum the ductwork.
Once you have vacuumed the ductwork, you can go to the next step.
Step 8 - Assemble the bathroom extractor fan:
Once you have finished cleaning the bathroom extractor fan you can start putting everything back in its place. But be careful, all the parts have to be dry, so double check that.
As the last step, after you are sure everything is properly put back in its place, you can restart the power supply in your bathroom and put the bathroom extractor fan on.
For avoiding any unwanted situation, we recommend you clean your bathroom extractor fan at least once per month. Of course, this depends on the place you leave and the type of fan you have.
The bathroom extractor fan cleaning might not be as simple as it seems, so if you are not sure that you know how to do it, we recommend you contact a specialist.
On HomeRun.co.uk you can find a big number of professionals ready to help you. Make a request and receive their offers!
Visual Source: pinterest.com
