A fan is essentially an electric motor with a propeller or drum-like blades. With bath and range-hood fans, the easiest fix for a motor that has burned out or stopped running is often to shut off the power, open up the fan, and replace the fan motor. A project like this usually doesn’t involve doing any electrical wiring—most fan motors simply plug into a receptacle mounted inside the housing.

If your bathroom fan stops working, it's an easy fix that you can do yourself in under an hour. A replacement motor will save you time and headache, as you don't have to remove the whole fan unit to make the repair. A new motor may cost as much as a new fan, but you can change it out easily without having to do major ceiling surgery or crawl around in the attic.

Begin by opening up the fan. Remove the grille and clean away any dust with a cloth or vacuum. Then write down the fan's model number, which can usually be found on the unit's housing. Turn off the power to the unit at the electrical circuit box, and use an electrical tester to make sure the unit is not receiving power. Then disconnect the fan from its electrical source. If the motor has a simple plug inserted into a receptacle behind the fan unit, simply unplug it. If it is hard-wired to the electrical system, disconnect the fan motor from the electrical wiring, making sure to remember where each wire goes when you put in the new motor. Remove the motor plate by removing any screws and prying on or squeezing the side of the unit.

You will then have to remove the blower from the motor shaft. It may have to be unscrewed or simply slid off the shaft if it's not fastened in place. If the blower gets damaged in the process, it's not the end of the world. An inexpensive replacement can be ordered easily.

Then install your new fan motor, just reverse this process. Again, make sure power to the unit is shut off at the main circuit breaker before working with any of the wiring. Fasten the fan grille plate, turn the power back on and give it a test!