The exhaust fan seems to be on its way to failure in the master bathroom. It works ok sometimes, and then other times it makes all sorts of noises that sound like its dying a slow death. I think I found the replacement, but I'm trying to figure out the process for replacing it. Some quick internet research shows that I need to get in the attic and some shows that its as simple as unscrew, pop out and pop new one in.

It is a light/exhaust fan combination, but it looks like I can just buy the fan. Should I replace the whole thing or just the fan/motor?

Any tips before I waste a whole day on a simple job that takes me forever? Thanks in advance!

If you have have access to the attic, just replace the whole unit. Trying to get that thing open to replace the fan motor will be a big pita. Most of the larger units like combo light units are fastened to the supports in the attic so you cant just pull them down. You will need to kill the power, unhook the exhaust pipe and then pull the unit up into the attic to remove it.

Also great time to make sure you actually have exhaust ducting ran from motor to exterior while you are rolling around up there.

Agree with above, just replace the whole things and be done.

Brand ?

Can post a pic ?

The difficulty is changing the bracket that is typically attached to the joists that holds the fan in place. That is virtually impossible unless you are in the attic or willing to do sheetrock replacement and patching from below.

Like responses said, replace just fan if possible. If not, and you need to be in the attic, do it while the weather is cool, have all your tools ready to do bracket removal (could be nailed or screwed in?), new bracket install, electric, and duct reattachment. You'll need a few hours. Good luck.

I have replaced the entire vent/heater/light and didn't need access to the attic
Get the part number and Google it.

I did replace on the heater part previously but it failed within 2 years.. got the whole thing the next time and its been 10 years of working.

Mine was common model available at home depot

Here's the exhaust fan I have:
https://www.broan-nutone.com/en-us/product/ventilationfans/668rp

It looks like buying just the motor is the same price as buying a complete replacement. I'm thinking I'll try to take out the fan/motor out of the replacement and just swap it out in the old one. I'd really rather not have to go up in the attic for this because this bathroom is all the way in the corner of the house and I think space to work above it in the attic will be very tight.

I had to replace my ceiling fan/heater in the bathroom of my previous house. I found the same unit online, but found it had changed somewhat over the years.

I had access to the attic from the MB closet. I removed the old unit from the attic side. It was nailed to the ceiling joists. Once I placed the new unit in the same spot, I noticed that the electrical connection box on the fan unit was on the opposite side of the unit as opposed to the original unit. As a result, the electrical line was too short to reach the electrical connection box (by a few inches). I had to go buy a new junction box, mount it next to the new fan unit, and run new wiring from there to the new unit. It was a pain in the neck, but all was well afterwards.

I thought the new unit would be an easy swap out, and it would have been it the fan unit electrical connection box had been in the same location as the original.

baldandbeautiful said:

---

Here's the exhaust fan I have:
https://www.broan-nutone.com/en-us/product/ventilationfans/668rp

It looks like buying just the motor is the same price as buying a complete replacement. I'm thinking I'll try to take out the fan/motor out of the replacement and just swap it out in the old one. I'd really rather not have to go up in the attic for this because this bathroom is all the way in the corner of the house and I think space to work above it in the attic will be very tight.

---

You can buy that whole package, but you don't need to replace the "encasement".. that's usually nailed in the attic and would be a PITA to remove.
You can work in your bathroom and open it up and then remove the motor, fan, etc from inside and replace all the parts... just need a screwdriver

mine was nutone as well. you will throw away the metal encasement.

All the wires you need to unhook and hook up back up are all modular.
Don't need to be an electrician.

that looks like mine as well. it's easy peasy.
and see if your local home depot has it... mine did.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Broan-NuTone-70-CFM-Ceiling-Bathroom-Exhaust-Fan-with-Light-668RP/100052122

Thanks for the tips! I ordered from Home Depot. I just used the fan/motor and swapped it out, it was really easy. As a bonus, I used the light cover that came with the new one and replaced an old yellowed and cracked one in another bathroom!