Christopher McKitterick

Family Thanksgiving is done. We kept it low key and just got BBQ from a good local place that does some good smoking. We have so much meat left over, but I can't be mad at that. I also introduced my family to the delights of Rumchata. And then I slept for 11 hours, which I sorely needed based on how much I think I was (and was told I was) snoring.

Today I decided I wanted to look into replacing at least one of the bathroom vent fans, cause they're pretty loud. I started out just trying to get to where I could measure the opening, but ended up digging all the way into the hall bath one to clean it. I learned how to take it apart, and discovered that it was installed pre-sheetrock, which would make replacement harder. I also found out why we get a cold draft out of that fan all winter, too - I'm pretty sure the check valve housing was installed upside down, so the weighting on the flapper was causing it to tend to stay open instead of closed. The flapper was designed in such a way that I was able to stick 3 little washers to it, just enough to make it want to fall closed rather than open. Between the cleaning and the flapper, it's less rattly, if not much quieter. Turns out they sell a replacement motor and fan assembly that moves 10 more CFM with 1 less sone of noise, and Lowe's has them, so I picked up 2 and that'll be a project for my 4-day weekend next week, including cleaning out the housing of the master bath fan before putting the new guts in. Just measured in the hall bath, and my phone says it's running about 60 dB. Ostensibly the new one should be closer to 50 dB, though I also noticed a pretty sharp turn in the flex duct right outside the check valve that will cause some back-pressure and likely a little extra noise. Less than now will still be good, though.