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Bathroom fans need some love too!

By
Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Bathroom fans need some love too!               Wenatchee Home Inspections Services

 

I must thank some fellow Home Inspectors for this subject matter.

 

One of the most neglected devices in a home is the bathroom exhaust fan. Like anything else they do need their maintenance. Most manufacturers require or recommend yearly cleaning.

 

 

Many of these older fans may not be thermally protected. This was a safety feature that really came to be common in the early 1990’s though they have been available since the 1970’s. The thermal protection is usually provided by a fuse/link that opens around 260 degrees.

 

So let alone they are very important that you have them working properly for exhaust purposes if they are older they most likely will have a higher risk for fire.



According to the National Fire Prevention Association, faulty bathroom fans were responsible for 1,850 fires a year from 2003 to 2006. Those incidents resulted in eight deaths, 63 injuries and about $47 million in property damage.

 

 

Fans in general between 2006-2010 were involved in an average of 3,880 home fires per year, resulting in an average of 130 civilian injuries,13 civilian deaths and around $77 million in direct property damage.

 

 

So as part of your yearly “To Do” list cleaning your fans should part of it.

 

Here is a few interesting links:  

Travelers Risk Control article-  Bathroom fans

Fan fire investigation- Bathroom fan fires

 

“If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”

Red Adair

 

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

 

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

 

www.ncwhomeinspections.com                                               509-670-9572















Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Sometimes I see them so caked with dust that air can't move!  But it's working hard!

Aug 14, 2014 06:00 PM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Jay, I have seen that also. The one in the photo actually was very dirty though you could not really see it in the photo.

Aug 14, 2014 11:16 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Yuk. I can't imagine not maintaining the systems in one's home. I guess people forget to look up. Lol. Thanks for the reminder, Donald.

Aug 19, 2014 04:47 AM