[Stephen13]

When I replaced mine, I purchased the same brand because the upgraded unit fit perfectly because the housings were the same size. That way I didn't have to cut drywall. If I could fix the existing by only installing the motor, that's what I'm doing. It's just a bathroom exhaust fan.

[Paulgjr]

I have an exhaust fan without a light, so I simply removed the fan from the enclosure took it to Home Depot and found the replacement. You do not always have to replace everything.

[NoMoSno]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I am looking at the same project as a DIY, so if anyone has done this, some words of wisdom?

Do it in the winter if you have to go in the attic.

[richrjones]

Originally Posted by graybuckle

I need to replace my bathroom exhaust fan. I can’t replace it myself. I got a $290 price from Lenhart ro replace it. That seems high. Has anyone had theirs replaced lately and for how much. Can anyone recommend another company or handyman for the job

Jeff will do it in a reasonable time frame and at a fair price.
Call 352-702-6376.

[Rrout]

Originally Posted by graybuckle

I need to replace my bathroom exhaust fan. I can’t replace it myself. I got a $290 price from Lenhart ro replace it. That seems high. Has anyone had theirs replaced lately and for how much. Can anyone recommend another company or handyman for the job

In the last year I have replaced all the exhaust fans in my Village home and my home in PA. Panasonic models are hands down the preferred units due to low noise levels as measured by decibel meters and reliability reviews.

I have used Lenhart for other electrical projects and found them to be technically competent and reasonably priced. The only caution is the standard exhaust fan they use in their quotes is not a Panasonic and not of the same quality in my opinion. I have both and would love to replace the one non-Panasonic model I have, as soon as I can rationalize the cost of replacing a fairly new unit hardly ever used in a guest bathroom.

[scottiesrgreat@gmail.com]

Sounds reasonable!

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by DLJ1657

Have an appointment for an electrician to replace mine next week. Purchased model he felt was good and more than adequate for a small bathroom for $135 and his charge to install is $250. Had another estimate from a company for $380 including the fan but the model they were going to use wasn’t the same grade as what I purchased.

Could you please share the name of the electrician?

[Chi-Town]

Lenhart is the reasonable choice. Trying to find a fan that is an easy fix may be frustrating.

[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by graybuckle

I need to replace my bathroom exhaust fan. I can’t replace it myself. I got a $290 price from Lenhart ro replace it. That seems high. Has anyone had theirs replaced lately and for how much. Can anyone recommend another company or handyman for the job

If we continue to pay it & it doesn’t make any difference if a few people think it’s to high or if people think it’s a good deal, as long as we pay it it’ll manage to keep going higher & higher. You can bet it’ll eventually continue to keep going up. That’s why I repair anything that I can! All I can say is if you can’t do it or find someone to do it for you, & if you want a fan you’ll have to pay it or do without. In this day & age nothing is getting cheaper!

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by graybuckle

I need to replace my bathroom exhaust fan. I can’t replace it myself. I got a $290 price from Lenhart ro replace it. That seems high. Has anyone had theirs replaced lately and for how much. Can anyone recommend another company or handyman for the job

I’m very handy. I installed two Panasonic ultra quiet fans in my Villages home last fall, replacing the weak and noisy ones that came with the house. The fans are virtually silent, though there is a whisper noise from the 110 cubic feet per minute of air being sucked out.

I recommend this one: Panasonic WhisperChoice-Pick-a-Flow-80-110-CFM-Ceiling-Bathroom-exhaust-Fan. $134 at Home Depot.

I do NOT recommend the one with the built in motion detector that turns on the fan and keeps it on for a certain number of minutes. I put in one of those, but that feature hasn’t worked well. In the other bathroom, I installed a timer in the switch box. That has worked great. The fan with timer and tax was maybe $165. It’s definitely worth the extra money to get one of these. Mine doesn’t have a light in it. I already have lights in my bathroom. Lights add to the cost.

BUT, this is NOT an easy project. I’m glad I have an 8’ stepladder because a 6’ ladder would have been scary at my age. The new fan is much larger than the cheap, poor quality original fan. After removing the original fan and wrestling it out of the hole, I used a template to cut a hole for the new one. Drywall dust and fiberglass showered down. The new fan fits into an expandable bracket that has to be screwed into the roof trusses on both sides. It isn’t easy, even with a good electric screw gun, to reach through a 12” hole, around the corner, holding the drill in one hand and the screw in the other, and get that screw in the wood. The bracket is necessary because the new fan weighs about 10 pounds. Then, I discovered that the electricians had followed code and driven a sturdy steel staple to hold down the electric cable close to the fan. To get enough cable to rewire, I had to loosen that staple, from below, working through a hole. That was really hard. Then I had to tape the metal exhaust hose to the outlet on the fan from below, before attaching the fan to the bracket. Everything else was pretty easy, but would I gladly pay $290 to an electrician plus the cost of the fan to get it put in professionally? You bet! It was exhausting work. It would have been easier if I were doing it in the attic with a helper, but have you ever tried kneeling on roof trusses surrounded by fiberglass in a hot attic with roofing nails in the sheathing just above your head? Pay the money and get the best fan on the market. Money well spent

[BEETHOVENMIKEY]

I use to do replacements for a living, as part of my job.
Some bath fans cost that much. Depends on what you need.
However, the exhaust fans used in the older homes and villas in TV are the low-end models.
Good news, is on most models, you can just replace the motor, in that is what usually goes bad, and can be easily replaced. Motor and time could be $150 or so.
However, if the entire unit needs to be replaced, opens a whole can of worms, especially if the air duct is not the same size as the old. Then, you have to get up in the attic and replace duct work. Even for an inexpensive fan, time, ducting and fan can easily be your $250 or more.
So... least expensive... just replace the motor of the existing fan and get another quote. If the whole thing needs replaced, try to replace with a fan that has the same size duct.

[4JRKR]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I am looking at the same project as a DIY, so if anyone has done this, some words of wisdom?

You will likely be able to replace the fan motor, without changing the existing fan housing, vent tube, and trim cover.

How - Do a YouTube search for your bath fan brand.

Or - Take the light cover off and remove the bulb. There is normally a screw or nut right under the bulb. Take off that nut to remove the fan trim cover. There may be a tension spring on each side of the trim cover holding the cover to fan housing. You will now be able to see the fan blades and mounting sheetmetal.

There will likely be a screw on one side of the fan mounting sheetmetal. Take off that screw and the fan can be removed. Most fans normally use a regular wall plug to electrically connect the fan to the fan housing. So no special wiring is required.

Remove the fan (with its mounting Sheetmetal and plug) and take it to a DIY store to find a replacement (Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, etc). If they don’t have a replacement, do a web search for the brand of fan you have. Broan is a common brand.

Reverse the above process to install the replacement fan and mounting sheetmetal.

While your at it change the light bulb to a daylight LED.

[Villages Kahuna]

I bought a replacement from Home Depot (can’t remember price, but maybe $25-35). Then for $25 a handyman removed the old one and installed the new, in less than 30 minutes.

[DLJ1657]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

Could you please share the name of the electrician?

Volthom Electric Inc. 352-789-2454

[doecats]

See if you can take the old fan down yourself or have a handyman do it.purchase a replacement fan from loses or home depot and install