Seriously, this is a true story.
I know this is not a sexy topic, but it is necessary. This is a true story written in first person from an undulating-lowgrade-migraine point of view.
We recently found out that our quasi new home was equipped by the builder with $10 bathroom fans. So, I ask. How in the world does a $10 bath fan do an adequate job? It doesn't.
Broan 688 Exhaust Fan $10
My second question, what are these builders thinking?
They justify paying market price for the product they pump out by citing "quality" especially if the location is not premier. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, the average cost of a house is $620,000 in 2010. That's a hefty sack of cash.
These professionals labor over design, constantly negotiate services, material, and land acquisition, promote quality, and then outfit their houses with a bunch of poor performing, mold inducing $10 bathroom exhaust fans. Does anyone else see the problem here?
Naturally, all builders are not created equal AND all builders are not the same. There is an enormous difference between a development builder and a contract builder. In any event, some stand out. Shapell and Toll Brothers are examples of upscale development builders.
Our house was built by neither.
We had no problem whatsoever ignoring our bathroom fans. They were too darn LOUD. We hated turning them on. The sones (sound level) on that thing sounded like it was 128. A 128 sone rating is a jet engine. Therefore, we did what any self-respecting human being wanting to preserve hearing would do, don't turn it on.
Next thing we knew a little black spot appeared on the ceiling. Did we turn that dratted fan on? Nope. A couple of family members took up residence a little while later. Some fourth removed cousins moved in after that. Okay. Now, we turned the fan on and complained every day about the jet engine idling in the master bathroom. Finally, well 3 or 4 days later after using the fan, we decided to call an electrician to install a low sones powerful exhaust fan.
The electrician came in and installed a super quiet Panasonic bath fan. We were in Love the moment we hit the "on" switch.
Panasonic WhisperQuiet Fan $100
Problem solved. We thought. We set out to send this unwanted, spotty family packing. The family was not huge, but they were there. I was outfitted in the complete clean room gear and applying an assortment of rid mold tools to remove them.
"Houston we have a problem." Mold is a pest that is like that old stubborn, cranky, curmudgeon that refuses to give way on anything especially progress. Most of it was eliminated, but there were a handful of spots that refused to budge.
Now, we were annoyed.
After a few attempts to remove the pesks, I heard those magic words "Let's do it," eminating from my spouse. "Let's remodel the bathroom," he continued. I thought I heard violins.
A $10 fan became the catalyst for a major bathroom renovation. Funny how things get started.
I was thrilled to get the "green" light to renovate the entire master bathroom. It was equipped with builder's grade products through and through. This opportunity gave me a chance to conceive, design, and shop! (Yum, Yum, Yummy!)
We had saved to do some moderate renovation; the mold sent us over the edge.
We entered the mysterious-wondrous-nerve-wracking journey of home renovation. I am pleased to pronounce we went into the home improvement tunnel and have come out the other side. Of course, we had post worthy issues. Of course, some contractors made me want to use power tools on them, which are more post worthy stories. Perhaps, one day I will recount them for a laugh. Not today.
We are 90% done and the master bathroom looks FABULOUS!
Back to those fans. My spouse and I debated over which of the other two fans to upgrade. My stance - ALL of the them. His stance, only the one he uses the most. The debate started because we were woefully over budget because somehow upgrading all the toilets sneaked into the plan.
I believe if you're going to hire an electrician to install 1 fan go ahead and do 2.
By the way, how do you know if you have a cheap, bottom of the barrel fan?
1. You cannot find it at Home Depot and Lowe's.
2. Everything at Home Depot and Lowe's is at least 25% larger in size than your fan.
3. You cannot find it at a specialty electric store.
4. The electrician tells you he needs to buy more supplies to install your new unit (because the existing exhuast pipe/duct is too small).
5. When the electrician pops out the old fan, you look up the model # on the internet and calculate builder's discount.
The irony of this story is the builder for the house supposedly has a high reputation for quality. It does make you wonder if they cut corners on something as important and simple as a fan, what else? What else SummerHill Homes?
Ahhh.... The true hum of a quiet bathroom fan is simply devine. I got my way and had the other two fans upgraded. All now agree that it was the right decision. :-)
No more jumbo jets.
And most importantly fans that prevent pesks with true purr-power. Priceless!
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