PSA: check your tenant's bathroom fan before winter hits

Had a guy move out of my duplex near Boston last October. Place looked fine on walkthrough. First cold snap came and the bathroom ceiling above the shower was black with mold. Turns out the fan was just blowing hot air in a circle for 3 years. Cost me $400 to rip out drywall and treat the joists. Anyone else find hidden mold after a tenant leaves?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor_hayes2527d agoMost Upvoted

This is why I always run the fan with a tissue test before handing over keys. If the tissue doesn't stick to the vent cover, you know the ductwork is blocked or the fan isn't pulling air right. A lot of people don't realize that loose insulation can fall into the duct and choke off the airflow. Also worth popping the cover off to wipe down the fan blades - dust bunnies will stop a motor dead. I feel your pain on that drywall bill though, that's a brutal lesson.

hayden70927d ago

Tissue test is good but it doesn't tell you much if the fan is just weak and not actually blocked. Loose insulation falling in is real though, especially in attics with blown-in stuff. Dust on the blades is usually a bigger deal than people think, a thick layer can really bog down the motor.

jessicac2827d ago

Nah, dust on blades barely slows them down. It's the motor bearings that give out.