Sticky goo problems with Panasonic LED bath exhaust fans

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electricguy61

electricguy61

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Remotely running business in Bay Area, CA from Med
I had a customer complain that they were getting a sticky, thick substance oozing onto the Panasonic LED fanlight I had installed. The stuff was so thick on the lighting lens they had to use goo be gone to remove it. After cleaning it two times, the GC asked me to replace it under warranty. He’s a great customer, so I didn’t hesitate to do so.

Now in my own home, I’m having what appears to be the same problem: yellowish goo appearing on the light lens. Never had this problem with the 10 year old Panasonic fan with the fluorescent lamps, but the wife hated the blinking on startup, so we installed the much more expensive LED style

I’m theorizing the goo is vaporized soap and or shampoo that is re-condensing somewhere in the fan and dripping back to the lens.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone else that has had a similar problem.

Thanks
 
Could it be dripping from the LED driver module or motor when they get hot? First thing I would suspect. Take it apart and see where it's coming from. You have to replace it anyway.

-Hal
 
Soap or shampoo is going to be water soluble, even hair spray will be. Since you seem to be having the same problem as your customer, it would be a real coincidence for it to be caused by the same external condition. If you are sure it's not the electronics or motor, perhaps the plastic is breaking down?

-Hal
 
Is this using an LED bulb that looks like a regular incandescent lamp? Those have been know to leak their glue when they are enclosed and get too warm. The glass part is actually not that necessary, so it’s just glued on.
 
Jraef said:
....
... The glass part is actually not that necessary, so it’s just glued on.
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For some white LEDs in which a UV emitter excites colored phosphors, the outer envelope may serve to block stray UV. This would only be a concern if the lamp is used in an open fixture.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 
mivey said:
Do they smoke in the house? Is the fan close to a kitchen used for frying food?
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Also burning candles or use of those plug in heated liquid air fresheners, who knows what may be in some of those.

GoldDigger said:
For some white LEDs in which a UV emitter excites colored phosphors, the outer envelope may serve to block stray UV. This would only be a concern if the lamp is used in an open fixture.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
May be there to more less randomly scatter light instead of just being a directional light source.
 
Bath exhaust ducting ideally should be sloped similarly to drain plumbing for condensation reasons.

I would think one easily could ascertain the source of the goo by pulling the lens cover from the fan.
 
If you had this issue on 2 fans then I would call Panasonic. Did cleaning the first one take care of the problem or is it still gooing????haha
 
LarryFine said:
Bath exhaust ducting ideally should be sloped similarly to drain plumbing for condensation reasons.

I would think one easily could ascertain the source of the goo by pulling the lens cover from the fan.
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I agree, but at same time if you are having condensation draining from the ducting back to the fan, it usually just runs down side wall of fan housing and onto finish grille then drips out the grille, doesn't ordinarily make it's way into any light that is a part of the unit.
 
Taste the goo

Taste the goo

Just kidding..seriously though does it smell like shampoo/soap? Look at rating of led some say install vertical with end down. Not sure it’s bulb as we use LED’s in almost all bedroom lights and they are enclosed and burn sideways. I’m interested to hear what is actually causing the problem
 
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