This morning’s job took me downtown to a condo where the bathroom fan wasn’t doing its job. The homeowner thought it was time for a full replacement. Fair assumption — most folks do. But once I got in there, I could tell the fan itself was solid. It just needed attention.
That’s something I’ve learned over years of doing this work: not everything that stops working needs to be replaced. Sometimes, what it really needs is someone willing to slow down, take it apart, clean it up, and put it back together right.
I pulled the old fan housing down and set it on the counter for a closer look. Dust buildup, dry bearings, and a bit of neglect — that’s all it was. I disassembled it completely, cleaned every component, wiped down the fins, and re-lubricated the moving parts. Once everything was reassembled, that fan spun smooth and quiet, just like the day it was installed.
There’s a quiet kind of satisfaction in that — saving a working piece of equipment from the trash and knowing it’s good for another ten years or more.
A clean and lubricated fan doesn’t just sound better. It performs better, moves air more efficiently, and saves energy over time. If you notice your bathroom fan getting louder or weaker, it might just be packed with dust or have dry bearings. Cleaning and lubricating it can bring it back to life without spending extra on parts you don’t need.
Too many people toss out equipment that still has life left in it. In a world where “replace it” is the easy answer, there’s value in keeping what works — especially when a bit of elbow grease and know-how can make it right again.
If you’re handy and want to maintain your own fan, here are a few quick tips:
Jobs like this remind me why I enjoy what I do. It’s not about rushing through replacements or upselling something new. It’s about fixing things the right way — with care, patience, and respect for the homeowner’s space.
I’ve always believed that being a handyman isn’t just about tools and repairs. It’s about being the person a homeowner can trust to tell the truth — even if it means saying, “You don’t need a new one.”
That honesty builds something money can’t buy: trust, loyalty, and a good reputation that stands the test of time.
If your fan’s been noisy or struggling lately, don’t assume it’s done for. It might just need a little cleaning and attention.
Serving Downtown condos and most of San Diego.