Jayco Fan Upgrade: How To Replace RV Bathroom Fan, Motor
To keep rooms fresh and cool, you need a lot of airflow. While there are a lot of good exhaust fan designs out there, not all of them can deliver that needed airflow. Make sure the design you are looking at can perform up to this level and give you great airflow
This is a fair to middling task as you will have screws to remove, a screen to take off but the good part is that the fan blades should slide right off without any hassle. New fan motors usually come with new brackets and all you have to do is crew the parts back into place once you have attached the new motor.
To get more details on how to replace a bathroom fan, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to know about as this is a task you can do yourself with ease. Take a few moments to learn how to do this task right
RV Fan Upgrade 101
RV Bathroom Fan Stopped Working
There may be many causes to this situation. One of the main ones is that you may have neglected to clean it. Dirt has a way of piling up and getting in the way of fan operation. Just give it a good cleaning.
If the cleaning doesn’t start your fan again, then check the connections. Wires may be loose, or there may be a break or short somewhere. Make sure to use a meter to do the testing to make sure power is getting to the motor.
Then, the fan motor may have gone bad. Like all mechanical parts, fan motors can and do break down on you. If power is getting to the motor and the fan blades are not turning, then you have a bad motor that needs replacing.
Also, check for blown fuses or tripped breakers before you check the motor out.
How do You Fix an RV Bathroom Fan?
The fix will depend on what is wrong with the fan. If it is dirty only, then all you need to do is clean the fan up and put it back. That is all there is to that fix. But before you do, check for tripped breakers or blown fuses.
Those items indicate a bigger problem in your wiring. If the fuse is blown, etc., then you may have a short, frayed wire or loose connection, and so on. You have to check the connections and wires, replacing any that are frayed or broken.
Then tighten up any loose connections or remove any corrosion or rust you may spot at this time. When this is done, then you can replace the fuse or put the breaker back in action.
Replacing the fan motor will take more time but it is an easy task as all you have to worry about is connecting a couple of wires correctly and putting screws back in their proper place. Do this work with the power shut off.
RV Bathroom Fan Noise
Some fans are just noisy. That is how their motors were made. You can put some noise dampening material nearby to help cut the noise level down but it may not do the trick completely.
Some noises the fan will make will be the fan blades hitting the screen or rubbing against it. This noise can be stopped y placing a washer on the screw between the screen and the bracket.
Lowering the screen will give the fan blades more room to work and should stop the banging or the rubbing. Also, do not forget to lubricate the spindle to the fan blade is attached to. Metal rubbing against metal does create a lot of noise and a little lubrication goes a long way.
The last resort would be to replace the old fan with one that has a quieter motor. This is a little costly but it is worth the expense to have a little peace and quiet in the bathroom.
How To Clean RV Bathroom Fan
There are different methods you can use and a combination of those methods would probably be the best way to keep your fan nice and clean. The first step would be to shut the power off to the fan.
Second, you would need to remove the screws, the plastic frame, the screen, and the fan blades. keep all the crews in a secure container so they do not get lost. Third, take a can of compressed air and blow the air up into the fan area including the motor. You want to spray off any loose dirt or dust that is there.
After that, clean those brackets, screens, and fan blades with some soapy water, and a clean cloth. After washing, let them dry before putting them back inside the ceiling. Once you are done turn the power back on and give the fan a test.
This is just one method and you can pick the one you think is better if you want. Just make sure you get all the dirt and dust out. While you have the power off, go up on the roof of your RV and check the outside vent.
You never know when a bird or a rodent gets access to that area and starts to build a nest. Clean those areas as well and make sure you cut off any access to your venting system the small animals can use.
Jayco Bathroom Fan
These fans, for the most part, are not that powerful. Many owners try to and do replace them with more powerful versions as the standard ones just are not up to the workload.
The stock fans are okay but for most RVs and travel trailers they just do not have the power nor the airflow to do a great job of cleaning out the room. When you buy a used or new RV, etc., check the fan out. It may have been upgraded already or you can ask if there are more powerful options available.
How do I Upgrade my RV Vent Fan?
Most owners that we have read while researching this topic, are not satisfied with the stock bathroom exhaust fan and look for other models to replace the ones in their rigs. It is a time-consuming task but if you are good with tools, it shouldn’t take too long to make the change.
Also, it has been said that the current vent dimensions in your RV or travel trailer are a one size fits all setup. What that means is that any fan made for an RV will fit into the current openings and ducting system. No adjusting of those sizes is needed.
The first step in the process is to buy your replacement fan. The box should have all the hardware you will need. The next step will be to remove your old fan. This repair work will require you to get on the roof of your RV, etc., so make sure to bring everything with you.
That will save you about a dozen trips up and down the ladder. On some fan models, you will get instructions on how to connect the new fan so follow those. Take your time as this is not a rush job.
What is a FanTastic Fan For an RV?
This is one of the upgrades you can go with when you are shopping for a new fan. It is wired for 12-volt use and comes with 10 blades that help replace the air inside your room in minutes.
Plus, it is designed to fit all RV and travel trailer exhaust venting so you do not have to do any modifications. You will need to leave a window open slightly to get the full benefits of what this fan option can do for you.
Also, it is said to be powerful enough that you can give your air conditioning a break.
RV Bathroom Fan Upgrade
It is not a well-kept secret that RV makers use the cheapest parts available when putting your RV together. This fact drives many RV owners to the hardware store or to Amazon, or other big box stores to find a replacement fan system.
The good news is that the marketplaces are filled with lots of models that would be considered an upgrade to the stock fan in your travel trailer, etc. The hardest part of this project will be deciding how much you want to pay and where you will buy the fan from.
Installation is not hard and should only take a few hours at most. Since all RV fans are made to fit the same dimensions, you do not have to worry about upgrading the vent system or the openings.
How To Replace RV Bathroom Fan Motor
Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts to this problem. You will have to remove the frame, the screws, the fan blades, the brackets before you can get working on the fan motor.
New motors should come with brackets, screws, and wires. The frame and blades from the old fan should be used again. Once you have everything disassembled, you need to make sure the power to the fan is shut off. Double-check to make sure.
Then remove the wires from their connectors and then remove any screws holding the fan motor in place. Replace the old wires with the new ones, screw the new motor into position and connect the wires to the motor.
Once that is done, you just reverse your removal steps and put everything back the way it was. The difficult part will be reaching the motor to remove it and you should come from the top down removing the cover first.
RV Bathroom Fan Wiring
The wiring system is simple. The motor itself should only have 2 to 3 wires attached to it and those wires are generally black, white and if there is a third, it may be green colored.
The key will be to connect the wires to their proper counterpart to make sure you do not short the system or have the blades run in reverse. You should have instructions included in the box when you buy the new motor and follow them.
If you have any questions talk to the people where you bought the motor or call the manufacturing company.
Jayco Bathroom Fan Motor
There have been a lot of complaints about these stock fan motors in Jayco RVs and travel trailers. Most owners are not happy with the ones they get and look to replace them as soon as they can.
They are also prone to difficult-to-diagnose issues like a clicking sound in the motor itself. Not the fan blades but the motor itself. The biggest recommendation we saw was other owners suggesting the person with the bad product replace it.
They did not try to diagnose it or say what caused the problem. In other words, the Jayco bathroom fan motor is not respected and is not high on anyone’s recommendation list.
Most likely, you will want to change the fan motor or the complete fan out. If you have a problem and you are still under warranty, have Jayco do the work for you.
How To Replace RV Bathroom Fan Blade
Not a difficult task to do. The work involved is a little more than one would expect but that is because you need to remove the frame, the screen and screws before you get access to the fan blades.
The blades should slip off when you firmly but gently pull on them. Then the replacement blades should slip right on smoothly. Then you just replace the screen, the frame, and the screws, and your work should be done.
You can opt for a blade system that has more blades than your old unit. Upgrading from a 4 to a 6 to a 6 to a 10 blade should not overwork your fan motor. The more blades you have the better the air movement.
But double-check with the people selling you the fan blades to make sure more blades will work with your motor.
RV Bathroom Fan Cover
There are a variety of designs, brands, and models to choose from. These plastic covers should work on all RVs and travel trailers and you can get them wherever RV supplies are sold.
The type you get will depend on the clearance your RV has as you do not want to go too tall when you have a tall trailer or RV. The costs of these units are reasonable, except for the Maxx Air style. That one is over $300 while the rest are under $100.
What you need to do is check and compare the CFM and the speeds on the fans inside the covers to make sure you will get the airflow you need. Remote power is optional and a luxury you may not need.
Finding RV Bathroom Fan Switch Replacement
Not a hard task to do. If the brad of your RV or travel trailer has the ability to sell directly to its customers, then you just need to contact them. They will have a lot of parts on hand but the price may be a bit more than you are willing to pay.
If that isn’t an option, then check Amazon, the big box stores, and similar outlets to get the best price possible. These retail stores have a large selection on hand and you just have to pick the price you want to pay.
Electrical stores should have some options available for you as well. Their prices are probably a little more than Amazon, etc., but at least you know you are getting quality replacement parts.
How To Replace The Bathroom Fan Switch
The first step is to shut off the power to your bathroom. While it is possible to do this repair with the power on, it is not always a smart idea. The next step will be to remove the cover and unscrew the switch.
Keep the screws in a container so they do not get lost. Once you have removed the holding screw, pull the switch out and remove the wires from their connectors. Pick up the new switch and attach the wires to their proper connectors.
Then put the switch back in place and screw in the holding screw. Do the same for the cover. Once that is all done, turn the power back on and do a test. If the fuse blows or a breaker trips, you wired something wrong or something is touching another part that it shouldn’t touch
Turn the power back off and correct the problem.
Some Final Words
Replacing your RV’s bathroom fan seems to be a good idea as too many owners are complaining about the stock fan. It is your call to replace the fan or not but it sounds like a great idea.
