How To Perform Exhaust Bathroom Fan Installation

By installing a ventilation fan in your bathroom, you will be able to reduce the likelihood of experiencing fogged-up windows, steamy mirrors, and musty odors. However, this is of the utmost importance; it will help prevent moisture-related issues, such as mold growth and mildew. Even though installing a bathroom exhaust fan is not the most straightforward of home improvement projects, the majority of the labor is focused on the physical challenges of working while perched on a ladder and working above one's head. Aside from the labor involved, installing a bathroom vent fan is not difficult to grasp.

See If You Are Required to Have a Permit

A permit is an official document issued by the government that grants a person or company permission to carry out a particular operation. Local governments commonly use it to ensure that any work performed on a home or commercial building is safe and appropriate. It considers the existing structure's age and condition, the electrical system's age, and local laws that may inhibit significant changes to a building.

To provide enough ventilation, a bathroom fan requires a dedicated electrical circuit for the fan itself and ducting that can transport moist air from inside the residence to the exterior. It's likely that this work will come under the mechanical and electrical categories, which typically require a permit. It is essential to keep in mind, however, that the rules governing permits can vary slightly from one municipality to the next; thus, you should get in touch with the government agency in charge of regulating this activity in your area to find out if you want permission for it.

Determine the Location of the Mounting

Mounting a bathroom exhaust fan can be done in one of two different methods.

Exhaust Fans That Are Mounted On The Wall In The Bathroom

A wall-mounted bathroom exhaust fan can be installed on an exterior wall in a bathroom if one is present. This fan draws air from the bathroom, pushes it through the ducting, and then releases it outside through an exterior wall of your home.

Fans Mounted on the Ceiling for Ventilation

The most typical exhaust fan found in homes is the ceiling-mount variety. This exhaust fan draws air from the bathroom, pushes it through the ducting, and then exhausts it through the roof.

Find the Right Dimensions and Style for Your Fan.

Fans for bathrooms are available in various sizes, ranging from compact models that remove about 50 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM) to bigger models that remove approximately 200 CFM. It is essential to select the correct fan size from among these many options. If the fan in your bathroom is too small, it won't be able to remove enough moisture or odor, which will leave your walls vulnerable to mold and mildew growth. A flue that is too large might, in certain circumstances, contribute to a dangerously low negative air pressure situation, which can drag potentially lethal carbon monoxide back through the chimney of a furnace or water heater.

Drill a reference hole on the ceiling

Drill a reference hole in the ceiling where you will be installing the fan using your power drill and an extra-long spade bit that measures 34 inches (1.9 cm) in diameter. The next step is to take the dimensions of the housing for the ventilation fan. Locate the reference hole in your attic and remove any insulation that is in the area around it.

Take into account the fan housing dimensions when determining whether the fan will fit between the joists. Proceed back inside the bathroom to take the dimensions of the fan's intake port. Create an opening for the air intake port in the ceiling. Utilize the jigsaw to remove the section of your ceiling that you have just marked. Don't forget to put on some safety goggles and a mask!

Adjust the position of the exhaust fan.

Attach a duct elbow with a 90-degree angle to the appropriate outlet port using foil duct tape before installing the bathroom vent fan in the hole. After doing so, slide the metal support brackets into position on the fan's housing and then thread a cable connector through the knockout hole on the housing's side. Position the fan so that it is centered above the opening in the ceiling, then lower it into place.

Be sure to fasten the fan to the joists.

After the fan has been placed in the appropriate position, extend each metal bracket so that they are parallel to the joists on either side of the housing unit. For the purpose of securing them, use drywall screws. To connect one end of the length of the flexible duct pipe to the 90-degree duct elbow that protrudes from the fan housing, take the flexible duct pipe and use foil duct tape. If your new fan has a light, you'll need a three-wire cable, and once you've done that, you can secure the connection by turning the screw on the connector to make it as tight as possible. This may be done with either an existing or new electrical line.

Find a spot where the duct pipe can escape the building.

The route that leads from the fan housing to the outside should be as direct and as short as possible, and the departure point should be the sidewall or the roof. Check that the duct pipe will not be stretched too tightly and is as straight as it may be.

Place the cap on the vent.

If your exit point is on the sidewall, choose a location that is in between two wall studs and take some reference measures on the inside of the building so that you can find the exact same point on the outside. After cutting a hole in the exterior wall with a hole saw measuring 4 inches, secure the bathroom vent fan cover in its new location.

If your exit point is on the roof, draw a circle on the inside that is the suitable size, and then use a reciprocating saw to cut it off. The next step is to climb onto the roof and remove the shingles covering the newly carved opening. First, use roofing cement and roofing nails to install the vent cap, then replace any loose shingles. Once you've done that, return to the loft and use foil duct tape to secure the end of the duct pipe to the connector duct on the vent cap.

Install the wires for the connections within the housing unit.

You might have to run the wires for the connections from the bathroom or the attic, depending on the kind of fan you have. Before you begin, make sure the power is turned off and read the manufacturer's instructions. Once the housing unit has been opened, the fan wires must be removed from the electrical splice unit. Remove a 1.6-centimeter-long strip of insulation off the rear of each of the wires on the fan cable and the electrical cable that you placed previously.

After twisting the wires of the same color together, apply the connections. Wrap the bare copper wire around the grounding clip or screw in green, and then tighten it to ensure that it is secure. Put the wires back where they belong in the electrical splice unit, then replace the cover.

Affix the grille to the frame.

Connect the blower motor to the electrical outlet, then use the screws to fasten it firmly. To install the grille, thread its mounting wires into the housing unit's vacant slots and tighten the screws. Check that it has a good fit against the ceiling. Ensure that the ventilation fan in the bathroom is operational after you have turned the power back on.

Great job! Your bathroom will have the right amount of ventilation now. Do you still have questions concerning your home's electrical system? Help is available from online electricians when you use the video chatting service Video Chat a Pro.