I have a Broan-Nutone exhaust fan / light in the ceiling of my
bathroom. The round light cover is surrounded by an "apron" (call a
"reflector" in the manual) with fluted slots for the exhaust. (See the
fan he http://parts.broan-nutone.com/nutone...00&IID=8663NLM
)

Unfortunately, every month or two the slots plug up with dust and
lint, and then I have disassemble and disconnect everything to scrub
it out. Everything else works flawlessly -- so I hate to replace the
whole thing -- but I'm spending more of my life that I care to messing
around with a bathroom fan.

Has anyone run into something similar? Maybe a different "face" for
this unit or some other option that would make it less prone to
getting plugged up??

TIA! -CT

X-No-Archive:
Do you have a vacuum cleaner with a hose?

I do, but it doesn't help. The gunk is damp (this is in a bathroom
near the shower) and stringy so it sticks in place, and the angle/
curve of the housing doesn't allow the hose end to fit tightly over
the slots to get good suction.

I've also tried using pressurized air... which only serves to blast
bits of the gunk up into the light cover, leaving most of it in the
edges.

The only solution I've found is to disassemble everything and scrub
the gook out with water pressure, soap and a stiff brush.

Thanks! -c

On Sep 2, 11:19 am, Cloy wrote:
I have a Broan-Nutone exhaust fan / light in the ceiling of my
bathroom. The round light cover is surrounded by an "apron" (call a
"reflector" in the manual) with fluted slots for the exhaust. (See the
fan hehttp://parts.broan-nutone.com/nutone...=1:21000&IID=8...
)

Unfortunately, every month or two the slots plug up with dust and
lint,

snip

Quit attacking the symptoms and go after the problem. Assuming that
you are not the world's most slovenly housekeeper, consider getting
rid of your Dyson Whoopee Vac and get an old fashioned machine that
really cleans (check Consumer Reports). Then look at your household
air filtration appliances, like the air filter in your HVAC system(s).
Other sources of debris are the ubiquitous cheap carpet in too many
homes. Get rid of all you can and install wood or composite, whatever,
flooring. Even bedding could be part of the problem as well as long
haired active pets. The end result may well be that you stop sneezing
for inexplicable reasons.
Of course, if you are downwind from some industrial plant that
processes recycled cardboard or makes cellulose insulation you may
have to move or seal up the house better. Good luck.

Joe

On Sep 2, 12:19 pm, Cloy wrote:
I have a Broan-Nutone exhaust fan / light in the ceiling of my
bathroom. The round light cover is surrounded by an "apron" (call a
"reflector" in the manual) with fluted slots for the exhaust. (See the
fan hehttp://parts.broan-nutone.com/nutone...=1:21000&IID=8...
)

Unfortunately, every month or two the slots plug up with dust and
lint, and then I have disassemble and disconnect everything to scrub
it out. Everything else works flawlessly -- so I hate to replace the
whole thing -- but I'm spending more of my life that I care to messing
around with a bathroom fan.

Has anyone run into something similar? Maybe a different "face" for
this unit or some other option that would make it less prone to
getting plugged up??

TIA! -CT

What size fan is it? And what size is your bathroom? It is possible
your fan is too big for the bathroom and is pulling everything into
it.

X-No-Archive:
On Sep 2, 2:36 pm, Mikepier wrote:
What size fan is it? And what size is your bathroom? It is possible
your fan is too big for the bathroom and is pulling everything into
it.

Well, I've wondered why my hair was getting thinner! :-)

I don't think it's getting drawing too much -- the bathroom is
probably 6 x 10 and 8-feet high.

Part of the problem is that the slots are rough around the edges, so
they make an ideal place for dust and lint to catch and start to
accumulate.

I ran across another individual who had the same issue with this fan.
He sliced through the metal behind the slots and bent them back to
open up the air flow. That would probably work, but will make the vent
look pretty rough.

-CT

X-No-Archive:
On Sep 2, 12:52 pm, Joe wrote:

Quit attacking the symptoms and go after the problem. Assuming that
you are not the world's most slovenly housekeeper, consider getting
rid of your Dyson Whoopee Vac and get an old fashioned machine that
really cleans (check Consumer Reports). Then look at your household
air filtration appliances, like the air filter in your HVAC system(s).
Other sources of debris are the ubiquitous cheap carpet in too many
homes. Get rid of all you can and install wood or composite, whatever,
flooring. Even bedding could be part of the problem as well as long
haired active pets. The end result may well be that you stop sneezing
for inexplicable reasons.
Of course, if you are downwind from some industrial plant that
processes recycled cardboard or makes cellulose insulation you may
have to move or seal up the house better. Good luck.

Joe

Thanks for the suggestion, Joe.

I'm working in the direction, but a major overhaul of air flow in a
three-story house isn't cheap or quick. In the meantime, I'd like to
find a fix for this den of dust bunnies that continues to accumulate.

-CT

"Cloy" wrote in message
ups.com...
X-No-Archive:
On Sep 2, 2:36 pm, Mikepier wrote:
What size fan is it? And what size is your bathroom? It is possible
your fan is too big for the bathroom and is pulling everything into
it.

Well, I've wondered why my hair was getting thinner! :-)

I don't think it's getting drawing too much -- the bathroom is
probably 6 x 10 and 8-feet high.

Part of the problem is that the slots are rough around the edges, so
they make an ideal place for dust and lint to catch and start to
accumulate.

I ran across another individual who had the same issue with this fan.
He sliced through the metal behind the slots and bent them back to
open up the air flow. That would probably work, but will make the vent
look pretty rough.

-CT


Replace the fan.

Cloy,

Where does this fan exhaust, the attic, a roof vent? Have you checked the
duct work all the way up to the roof or where ever? I suspect that the fan
can't exhaust because of crud.

Dave M.

Unfortunately, every month or two the slots plug up with dust and
lint, and then I have disassemble and disconnect everything to scrub
it out. Everything else works flawlessly -- so I hate to replace the
whole thing -- but I'm spending more of my life that I care to messing
around with a bathroom fan.

Has anyone run into something similar?


We have the same one in this house we built 3 years ago..NO Dust in slots.
We had the same one in our 1998 house too..No dust..

Do you have a filter in your home's heating/cooling system ? Is your home
vacuumed ?
Where is all this dust coming from ?

I do, but it doesn't help. The gunk is damp (this is in a bathroom
near the shower) and stringy so it sticks in place, and the angle/
curve of the housing doesn't allow the hose end to fit tightly over
the slots to get good suction.

Ours is RIGHT INSIDE the shower..No GUNK
Where is this stuff coming from ?

X-No-Archive:
On Sep 2, 11:07 pm, "Rudy" wrote:
We have the same one in this house we built 3 years ago..NO Dust in slots.
We had the same one in our 1998 house too..No dust..

Do you have a filter in your home's heating/cooling system ? Is your home
vacuumed ?
Where is all this dust coming from ?

It's an older home with forced air heating, lots of farmland / prairie
in this area so lots of dust and pollen. Yes, we have a good quality
furnace filter and we change it regularly. We do have a couple short-
haired cats, but the gunk in the vents is primarily dust -- not cat
hair.
-Cloy

X-No-Archive:
On Sep 2, 4:27 pm, "David Martel" wrote:
Where does this fan exhaust, the attic, a roof vent? Have you checked the
duct work all the way up to the roof or where ever? I suspect that the fan
can't exhaust because of crud.

Dave M.

Dave,
The exhaust goes out the wall just below the soffit. No indication
that the fan or exhaust portion is plugged. In fact, the system clears
the bathroom quite nicely when the intake slots are clear.
One issue seems to be that the edges of intake slots are quite
rough, which catch detritus and start the accumulation process. Of
course, because of the placement (and size) of the slots, there's no
way to get in and smooth them... and that would probably wreck the
finish anyway.
-CT

"Cloy" wrote in message
oups.com...
X-No-Archive:
On Sep 2, 4:27 pm, "David Martel" wrote:
Where does this fan exhaust, the attic, a roof vent? Have you checked the
duct work all the way up to the roof or where ever? I suspect that the
fan
can't exhaust because of crud.

Dave M.

Dave,
The exhaust goes out the wall just below the soffit. No indication
that the fan or exhaust portion is plugged. In fact, the system clears
the bathroom quite nicely when the intake slots are clear.
One issue seems to be that the edges of intake slots are quite
rough, which catch detritus and start the accumulation process. Of
course, because of the placement (and size) of the slots, there's no
way to get in and smooth them... and that would probably wreck the
finish anyway.
-CT


Sounds like it's time for a new fan. This time, at the store, take it out of
the box and make sure the vent slots are smooth.

On 9/2/2007 11:19 AM, Cloy wrote:
I have a Broan-Nutone exhaust fan / light in the ceiling of my
bathroom. The round light cover is surrounded by an "apron" (call a
"reflector" in the manual) with fluted slots for the exhaust. (See the
fan he http://parts.broan-nutone.com/nutone...00&IID=8663NLM
)

Unfortunately, every month or two the slots plug up with dust and
lint, and then I have disassemble and disconnect everything to scrub
it out. Everything else works flawlessly -- so I hate to replace the
whole thing -- but I'm spending more of my life that I care to messing
around with a bathroom fan.

Has anyone run into something similar? Maybe a different "face" for
this unit or some other option that would make it less prone to
getting plugged up??

TIA! -CT

I had a problem similar to that. Problem disappeared when three hair
spray users moved out. One of the few benefits of a divorce.

Seriously though just how much hair spray does the SWMBO use? Is the
exhaust fan above and behind someone standing in front of the mirror?
High pressure aerosols can put most of the spray in the air instead of
on the coiffure. If so, you might *ask* her to try the same brand in a
pump.

A really good fan can try to exhaust the lacquer cloud instead of
letting it settle on everything in the room.

--
Ted
I wasn't born in Texas but
I got back here as soon as I could


No matter how great and destructive your problems may seem
now, remember, you've probably only seen the tip of them.