The DIY thread - DIYourself

So two weeks after replacing the Attic thermostat/humidistat the 20 year old motor started squealing and stopped spinning yesterday. Grabbed a replacement from Lowes (which had horrible reviews, but was available.) Spent two hours installing it due to various issues then flipped the breaker in the basement. I could hear it screaming 3 floors up. 91.5 decibels.

New motor is on the way direct from Air Vent which hopefully will be better quality.

Additional playing around with a live fan spinning at 1050RPM and I think it actually might be a fan balance issue. I probably did bend it a bit getting it out. I was able to quiet it down just by bending some of the blades but it's still not perfect.

Any tricks to trying to rebalance the blade?
 
So two weeks after replacing the Attic thermostat/humidistat the 20 year old motor started squealing and stopped spinning yesterday. Grabbed a replacement from Lowes (which had horrible reviews, but was available.) Spent two hours installing it due to various issues then flipped the breaker in the basement. I could hear it screaming 3 floors up. 91.5 decibels.

New motor is on the way direct from Air Vent which hopefully will be better quality.

Additional playing around with a live fan spinning at 1050RPM and I think it actually might be a fan balance issue. I probably did bend it a bit getting it out. I was able to quiet it down just by bending some of the blades but it's still not perfect.

Any tricks to trying to rebalance the blade?
Can’t help with balancing blades, but it’s worth adding a service switch before the t-stat while you’re doing this. Saves a lot of up and down.
 
IMG_4877.jpeg
I have to say the spacing on the numbers is driving me a bit batshit.
Dry fit of the stencils looked okay, but I should have done a test run on scrap.
There is a non-zero probability I sand it down and re-do it.
 
I have to say the spacing on the numbers is driving me a bit batshit.
Dry fit of the stencils looked okay, but I should have done a test run on scrap.
There is a non-zero probability I sand it down and re-do it.
I didn't want to say anything but since you came out...I could not sleep last night thinking of that odd spacing!

For you reference, I sanded and resprayed 3 times one of the dummy panels I made to install AC exhaust kits on our out-of-date Anderson windows. Thing is, it's solid white...
 
Came home to a drip in the basement coming from the kitchen above. Think it's the waterline to the fridge. Uses a saddle valve but the leak is not from the valve. Went upstairs to pull out the fridge and expecting a pool of water, unfortunately no. Maybe somewhere between the floors? Buckets are going to have to do the job tonight, I'm too tired to tackle it now. Going to push up the line tomorrow morning to see if there's a leak under the floor. It's a hard area to work with with all the ducting and joists. Arrows are where it is dripping off the duct.
PXL_20250727_000150361.jpgPXL_20250727_000006750~2.jpg
PXL_20250726_235953172.MP.jpg
 
Came home to a drip in the basement coming from the kitchen above. Think it's the waterline to the fridge. Uses a saddle valve but the leak is not from the valve. Went upstairs to pull out the fridge and expecting a pool of water, unfortunately no. Maybe somewhere between the floors? Buckets are going to have to do the job tonight, I'm too tired to tackle it now. Going to push up the line tomorrow morning to see if there's a leak under the floor. It's a hard area to work with with all the ducting and joists. Arrows are where it is dripping off the duct.
View attachment 265378View attachment 265380
View attachment 265381
Plugged condensate drain?
 
Condensation from the duct itself?
Too much dripping, but found the problem. A bad water inlet valve switch. It's basically not shutting off so a leak developed. Its in the back corner so likely a slow leak going behind the trim boards and never saw water in the kitchen. I pulled the fridge out last night, and found water this morning, which meant it was the fridge, which I was glad than trying to chase down the source. Temporarily diverting the water to the drip tray till the part arrives later today or early tomorrow. Oddly the condenser is very hot as well, the fan is working but I've read that the condenser get hot if the valve is broken, though my amateur fix it skills can't figure why. Was hoping to hold on to this till we sell the house in about 2 years. PXL_20250727_122923813.jpg
 
Attic fan saga is done.
Got roofers in to install a new one from the roof side.
Feeling/ hoping like they are good at roofing, they found a vent that needed caulking and hit it up even though it wasn’t their problem.

Electrical connects?
Well that’s another story.

This is what electrical work looks like when all you have is a hammer. lol
IMG_4887.jpeg

Didn’t fight them on it because I had a working fan, just knew it would require a little time from me.

Better like this
IMG_4964.jpeg

IMG_4965.jpeg
Man that was sweaty work
 
Attic fan saga is done.
Got roofers in to install a new one from the roof side.
Feeling/ hoping like they are good at roofing, they found a vent that needed caulking and hit it up even though it wasn’t their problem.

Electrical connects?
Well that’s another story.

This is what electrical work looks like when all you have is a hammer. lol
View attachment 265449

Didn’t fight them on it because I had a working fan, just knew it would require a little time from me.

Better like this
View attachment 265450

View attachment 265451
Man that was sweaty work
I’m hoping when I get home tomorrow my new fan is working and not squealing. That should save me from having to install the warranty motor until the weather improves.
 
Attic fan saga is done.
Got roofers in to install a new one from the roof side.
Feeling/ hoping like they are good at roofing, they found a vent that needed caulking and hit it up even though it wasn’t their problem.

Electrical connects?
Well that’s another story.

This is what electrical work looks like when all you have is a hammer. lol
View attachment 265449

Didn’t fight them on it because I had a working fan, just knew it would require a little time from me.

Better like this
View attachment 265450

View attachment 265451
Man that was sweaty work
I replaced mine last year. I woke up at 6am to beat the heat. Didnt work. I was soaking wet in 20 minutes.
 
Too much dripping, but found the problem. A bad water inlet valve switch. It's basically not shutting off so a leak developed. Its in the back corner so likely a slow leak going behind the trim boards and never saw water in the kitchen. I pulled the fridge out last night, and found water this morning, which meant it was the fridge, which I was glad than trying to chase down the source. Temporarily diverting the water to the drip tray till the part arrives later today or early tomorrow. Oddly the condenser is very hot as well, the fan is working but I've read that the condenser get hot if the valve is broken, though my amateur fix it skills can't figure why. Was hoping to hold on to this till we sell the house in about 2 years. View attachment 265395
Yeah, it's never cookie cutter when it comes to diy, the water supply hose to the dispenser crumbled into pieces when I went to remove the valve.PXL_20250728_104713368.MP.jpg
 
Took the hint from @iman29 - picked-up some condenser coil cleaner from HD and had at it.
Of course I went with the foaming spray bottle, which had a nozzle that shot a stream, so had to dump it into a pump sprayer.
Much better.

Two units for the house - lots of dirt, no rodents. Hope this saves a few $$ cause wow.

The instructions indicate that high pressure spray is a no-no. well the shower setting got limited results.
Set the nozzle on flat, which provided a good velocity spray without a bunch of volume.
Success!


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Took the hint from @iman29 - picked-up some condenser coil cleaner from HD and had at it.
Of course I went with the foaming spray bottle, which had a nozzle that shot a stream, so had to dump it into a pump sprayer.
Much better.

Two units for the house - lots of dirt, no rodents. Hope this saves a few $$ cause wow.

The instructions indicate that high pressure spray is a no-no. well the shower setting got limited results.
Set the nozzle on flat, which provided a good velocity spray without a bunch of volume.
Success!


View attachment 265589

View attachment 265590
Did this on the hottest day of the year?
 
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