Homeowner urged to replace 50-year-old bathroom fan after it gives off 'burning smell'

A homeowner trying to decide whether to keep using a 40- to 50-year-old bathroom fan got a stark reality check after noticing a faint burning smell.

Their big question was whether the old fan was likely to just quit, or whether it could become a fire hazard first.

Here's what to know

After a shower, the owner of a roughly 50-year-old fan said in a post on Reddit's r/HomeImprovement forum that the unit had been running for about three hours when "I smelt a tiny amount of burning/overheating smell."

The homeowner then asked, "how realistic is the fire risk if it lasted this long?"

Commenters said the smell shouldn't be ignored. One commenter warned, "Motors that old are ticking time bombs, the wiring insulation gets brittle and cracks over decades, dust builds up inside and now you got a nice little fire starter in your ceiling."

The same user added, "The burning smell you noticed? That was warning sign number one, not something to shrug off."

Several other commenters said replacing the fan before it fails would be the safer choice. One succinctly said, "as others wrote, get rid of the old… motor."

More background

Bathroom fans can go unnoticed for years with little attention. However, commenters noted that age changes the equation. Older motors can seize, dust and lint can collect inside the housing, and worn insulation can make overheating more dangerous.

As one commenter explained, "Probably 30% of the house fire restoration jobs I worked on involved a fire starting in a bathroom exhaust fan due to an overloaded circuit and a bad breaker." That commenter said long run times can let dangerous heat build up, especially if the shaft locks up or the motor windings overheat.

Replacing a noisy or failing fan may feel like an annoying expense, but commenters repeatedly framed it as far cheaper than dealing with fire damage. One commenter even boiled it down to "a $100 fix" versus the risk of burning the house down. Others pointed out that an old fan may also be doing a poor job of moving air.

Where can I learn more?

If your bathroom fan is old or showing signs of trouble, these stories dig into related ventilation issues, fire risks, and safer home upgrades.

• One renter discovered a fake bathroom vent that appeared to exist only to satisfy code.

• Scientists created a hydrovoltaic fire sensor that can detect danger and even generate power.

• Doctors warned that gas stoves pollute homes and may be making millions sick.

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