The dog days of summer are barking and Labor Day is just around the bend, signaling the end of yet another epic season in the sun. But before you give your flamingo pool float one last hurrah, take a break with some home maintenance prep for the changing season ahead. Why worry now about what you can do next month? Well, as it turns out, some home maintenance tasks are best tackled in August, before temperatures start dipping.
Running a bathroom vent fan during and for 10-20 minutes after you shower or bath is important to remove excess humidity and prevent mold or mildew from forming. Cleaning the vent fan annually will keep it running quietly and efficiently.
To clean a bathroom vent fan:
- Turn the power off to the fan.
- Remove the cover (on most fans you pull down on the cover to extend it, then compress the spring wires on each side to take it off).
- Use a brush or vacuum to remove dust from the cover, then scrub it in soapy water.
- Vacuum out the dust from inside the fan box and wipe off the blades.
- Spray the moving parts with silicone lubricant to help it run smoothly and quietly.
- Replace the vent fan cover.
- Turn the power back on.
Check to see if the fan is working properly. If not, you’ll need to remove and replace the vent fan motor.
Wait, before you go, while you have the stepladder in the bathroom, remove any cobwebs, scrub mildew off the ceiling or walls, and replace burned out or old inefficient light bulbs with energy saving LED or CFL bulbs.
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Photo Credit: ucchie79 / Shutterstock.com
