Fan above shower

DieHard

I have two fans in my bathroom, one located directly above the shower unit and the other one is on the outside wall next to the toilet.

The fan directly above the shower does not extract the steam, it doesn't seem to do anything. Is it possible that this fan is supposed to bring fresh air in? Or is it more likely that it is just not working?

ariba10

Probably not working.

Is it on a separate switch?

Can you get to the area above the fan to see what is there?

docmatt

It could be a low voltage rubbish thing. Does a piece of paper stick to it when it's supposed to be running?

DieHard

There is an isolator but it is not on a separate switch. I tried a piece of toilet paper and it doesn't stick. There is a spotlight in the centre of the fan. When the isolator is switched on the other fan works and the spotlight in the middle of the shower fan comes on but like I say not even a piece of toilet paper will stick to it.

st999

Does the fan blade turn? If it doesn't then the fan isn't working.

ali-t

Are you sure it is a fan? I have what looks like a fan above my shower but it is just a vent with an extractor hose and no fan. The vents on it open when someone is in the shower and there is steam and then close once the steam is gone but there was never a fan there. I then had a fan put in but it was rubbish and didn't do any good anyway and then broke so waste of time. We now just stick with opening the windows.

greyteam1959

If it is a fan could it be wired through a humidistat that has packed up ??
Shine a torch up the hole ( !! ) to see if there are any fan blades ???

googler

Do you have access to the area above the 'fan' ? Attic space? If so, go up there and see if there's a duct attached to it.

As said by others, can you see fan blades turning, hear noise from its motor, etc etc?

If you blow smoke or steam at it, can you see it extracting? To generate localised steam, run a long extension lead into the bathroom and operate a kettle below it. For safety, stand the kettle on a stable platform rather than holding it in the air above you.

RichieHall

Sounds like the fan motor or the transformer have gone, the spotlight runs of a complete different circuit, and to be honest should be wired independently of the isolation switch.

Replacing the fan assembly shouldn't be difficult, the awkward bits are already in place, the downside is you might struggle to buy the fan / transformer without the ducting, spotlight etc.