Whole House Fan Louvres are Stained and Ugly - Is there a Solution?

Question

I would say the previous owners smoked; the plastic louvers and casing for the whole house fan are very yellowed, very ugly. As the ceiling is repainted and pretty light fixtures are installed, this whole house fan casing is standing out uglier and uglier. It sits right above the staircase, so reaching it is problematic.

Can this plastic be painted, covered, treated, replaced?

Answer 1

We had the same problem but ours were metal. I planned to replace with a new one but it turned out ours was a non standard size so I had to restore it or try to make the opening in my ceiling smaller and still look normal.
I removed by taking out several screws and carefully pressure washed (at the quarter car wash if you don't have a pressure washer) to get paint to stick.
For yours Rustolium makes a spray paint for plastic. I have only used it once but it seemed to stick real well. I used flat white as it tends to hide defects better than gloss.
Those "W" shape folding type ladders seem to work well above stairs.

Answer 2

Now there is paint for plastic but take it from me when I moved in the house I am the previews owner smoke inside the house and everything was yellow even the frames of the windows ,and I clean it with vinegar and water it does not smell so great but after you clean it you can use anything else just to get the smell out
Good luck hey if that does not work do paint ,,,,

Answer 3

Yes it can be painted I would first take it down if you can and wash it completely and thoroughly with TSP or Oxy clean. I think that you would be surprised at how clean it can be if it is just from smoking.

If you choose to paint it go to a local paint store and find someone with experience. More that half of them do not have any.(surprise,surprise)
tell them what you are wanting to do. They will be able to look at the subject and be able to identify what type of plastic it is. Then they would be able to recommend the appropriate primer and a paint for you.

Answer 4

Meguairs is an auto cleaning line at your local auto store. Find the plastic cleaner. If that doesn't work.........and the fan housing really is bad, replace the unit. You can replace the fans, but if the housing is bad, junk it.

Answer 5

I have the same problem. We all smoke. I washed them in bleach water. Then I got fancy & had some stencils, painted on them & pictures cut from wall paper, put on the blades of another.

Answer 6

yup it can be painted.. just get a student in who will do the job cheap. there is colleges who have hire a student. try that or just a handy man. also to get rid of smoke smell from old owners , get a few smalll bowls and oput vinigar in the bowl in each room it will get ridof the smell in a few days. you can use vinigar to wash the walls of nicotine to , warm water of course, also you should check the furnace for b uild up ,, just in case............ good luck

Answer 7

Yup, take them off and soak them in Orange Clean. It's probably a combination of smoke and grease.

Answer 8

Take it down & use strong bleach water on it. This will strip the yellow & bring back the white.

Answer 9

Use full streangth simple green. Works great. I know I am a smoker.

Answer 10

thats great