Home & Garden

Replacing Bathroom Fan

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  • Aug 11th, 2023 1:39 pm
Sr. Member
Sep 13, 2007
758 posts
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Toronto
Ya I was able to find the fan motor, it's one of the obsolete ones....it's 115 bucks for. 10-12 year old product that's discontinued

The Asian in me, is thinking for 30 bucks more I can a much better fan that's a lot more quieter and better


On the other hand, I am starting to realize replacing a new fan unit can be challenging (ducts, mounting etc)
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Feb 11, 2007
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noobienoob wrote: Ya I was able to find the fan motor, it's one of the obsolete ones....it's 115 bucks for. 10-12 year old product that's discontinued

The Asian in me, is thinking for 30 bucks more I can a much better fan that's a lot more quieter and better


On the other hand, I am starting to realize replacing a new fan unit can be challenging (ducts, mounting etc)
You can probably swap the motor unit out of a $20 upgrade kit. Otherwise there are $60 Broan fans that are 0.5 sones.
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
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Oct 3, 2011
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engineered wrote: Funny, I actually tried that today on an old fan I have. The motor is very similar, but new one has a longer shaft and different plastic impeller design. Most of the parts were interchangeable but but there wasn't enough height in the box for new motor assembly. The new motor also fouled slightly on the old motor bracket, but I probably could have bent the sheet metal away.
Yes, the length of the shaft is different. I remember the centrifugal fan is taller too for the existing housing. Thus after switching the motors, I installed the old centrifugal fan which is shorter.
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engineered wrote: You can probably swap the motor unit out of a $20 upgrade kit. Otherwise there are $60 Broan fans that are 0.5 sones.
Guess installing a new fan would be a challenge for OP, as his first post was looking for a "licensed handyman" to install a fan. He may not be so handy.
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Rockymountain wrote: Yes, the length of the shaft is different. I remember the centrifugal fan is taller too for the existing housing. Thus after switching the motors, I installed the old centrifugal fan which is shorter.
Yea, I tried that too, but the new motor's shaft was still too long even with the old fan pushed down on it. I even tried the old motor rotor/shaft and put it inside the new motor stator/winding and bearings. It worked but it did slightly rub. I'm just going to get the Broan unit and cut a larger hole.
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
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Oct 3, 2011
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engineered wrote: Yea, I tried that too, but the new motor's shaft was still too long even with the old fan pushed down on it. I even tried the old motor rotor/shaft and put it inside the new motor stator/winding and bearings. It worked but it did slightly rub. I'm just going to get the Broan unit and cut a larger hole.
I would go with Panasonic.
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Oct 3, 2011
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engineered wrote: Yea, I tried that too, but the new motor's shaft was still too long even with the old fan pushed down on it. I even tried the old motor rotor/shaft and put it inside the new motor stator/winding and bearings. It worked but it did slightly rub. I'm just going to get the Broan unit and cut a larger hole.
I was at Home Depot about 2 weeks ago, I noticed they were carrying a bathroom exhaust fan of about 7.9"x8". The brand is ReVent, and the sones is 1. If the size is right, then you do not have to enlarge the existing hole.
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Jan 9, 2011
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I’m going to want to do this in a few washrooms. Anyone got recommendations on someone in the GTA who can install the Panasonic ones along with the modifications/patching as required?
Sr. Member
Sep 13, 2007
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Toronto
Rockymountain wrote: Guess installing a new fan would be a challenge for OP, as his first post was looking for a "licensed handyman" to install a fan. He may not be so handy.
ya...i have my limits....i can try to climb the attic to figure out where the roof leak is, and maybe change a few bulbs, but i'm not comfortable nailing a few bathroom fans together....

i took a look at the youtube/online instructions, then look at the fan, and it doesn't make sense to me.....

i definitely wish i wasn't in this predicament...but somethings are simply not me...
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Oct 3, 2011
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noobienoob wrote: ya...i have my limits....i can try to climb the attic to figure out where the roof leak is, and maybe change a few bulbs, but i'm not comfortable nailing a few bathroom fans together....

i took a look at the youtube/online instructions, then look at the fan, and it doesn't make sense to me.....

i definitely wish i wasn't in this predicament...but somethings are simply not me...
OP: I was just like you at the very beginning. You will gain more experience with time.
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Rockymountain wrote: I would go with Panasonic.
I'm shying away from them as they are much more costly.
Rockymountain wrote: I was at Home Depot about 2 weeks ago, I noticed they were carrying a bathroom exhaust fan of about 7.9"x8". The brand is ReVent, and the sones is 1. If the size is right, then you do not have to enlarge the existing hole.
I tried to use a Nutone 690upgkit that's 8-1/16 x 7-3/4, but it doesn't fit my 8-1/16 x 8-1/16 current fan box. It's also too tall to fit the housing.
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/nutone ... 1000741263

I think I have an old version of the F675.
http://www.broan.ca/products/product/a6 ... bee515308e
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
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Oct 3, 2011
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engineered wrote: I'm shying away from them as they are much more costly.


I tried to use a Nutone 690upgkit that's 8-1/16 x 7-3/4, but it doesn't fit my 8-1/16 x 8-1/16 current fan box. It's also too tall to fit the housing.
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/nutone ... 1000741263

I think I have an old version of the F675.
http://www.broan.ca/products/product/a6 ... bee515308e
May be you look/google around to buy a new motor with a shorter shaft.
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Rockymountain wrote: May be you look/google around to buy a new motor with a shorter shaft.
Maybe. Unless it's $10, it may not be worth it. The blower design is also outdated, but I could 3D print a new modern design to increase efficiency and quiet it down.
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
Sr. Member
Sep 13, 2007
758 posts
341 upvotes
Toronto
we were able to find a replacement fan motor, the motor is almost as expensive as the panasonic whisper

but given we didn't want to tear open the roof....i guess is worth it....

btw, i'm lucky to have some help....but next time not sure how i'm gonna install the fan myself
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Feb 25, 2015
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noobienoob wrote: we were able to find a replacement fan motor, the motor is almost as expensive as the panasonic whisper

but given we didn't want to tear open the roof....i guess is worth it....

btw, i'm lucky to have some help....but next time not sure how i'm gonna install the fan myself
If you don't mind me asking, where did you buy the replacement fan motor? I was just looking at my noisy bathroom fan and it's the same exact DX90 model. I cleaned it up good and it sounds better now. Keeping my fingers crossed
Sr. Member
Sep 13, 2007
758 posts
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Toronto
bacalhau4me wrote: If you don't mind me asking, where did you buy the replacement fan motor? I was just looking at my noisy bathroom fan and it's the same exact DX90 model. I cleaned it up good and it sounds better now. Keeping my fingers crossed
send you a PM
Newbie
Feb 21, 2017
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noobienoob wrote: send you a PM
Apologies for resurrecting an old thread, but I just discovered we have an old DX90 and would appreciate the info as well in terms of a compatible replacement (be it complete fan kit or just motor) that would avoid widening the existing hole. Thanks!

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