Installing a bathroom fan where one doesn’t exist can be a major improvement in a bathroom. This project can be completed in a short period of time. But major problems can happen if you cut corners. This article will show you exactly how to install a bathroom fan where one doesn’t exist.
Disclaimer: This project involves working with electricity, which can be dangerous if not done correctly. If you are uncomfortable with this type of work I recommend seeking help from a professional.
If you are handy with tools this project won’t be hard for you to complete. On average this job is around 1-2 hours. It’s best to do it all at once because the power will be turned off to your bathroom while you are working.Here is a list of the required equipment and tools for the job.
Equipment
Bathroom Fan
Tools
Drywall Saw
Will Adding A Fan Overload The Electrical Circuit?
There are ways to tell if the circuit is safe to add a bathroom fan. This is important to know because you don’t want the circuit to trip every time you turn the fan on.
This article does not cover the process of checking the circuit’s load capacity. A certified electrician can help you with this if needed.
Steps For Adding A Bathroom Exhaust Fan
Below are the main steps to installing a bathroom fan. They don’t need to be done in this order, but all these steps need to be completed in order for it to be completed properly. And one of the steps cant be done without preceding another step.
How To Choose The Bathroom Fans Placement
There are a few factors that go into choosing the fan’s placement. Below are some of the key factors that go into mounting and running the duct. The consideration of running the power to the fan will be covered in the “Installing The Electrical” section below.
The fan needs to be secured to a joist in the ceiling. Joists are pieces of lumber that run parallel to each other, that the sheet rock on the ceiling is secured to. One of the edges of the fan box will be flush against the edge of a joist for securement.
Use a stud finder to find a joist that is relatively close to where you want the fan to be. The joists should be running in the direction of an exterior wall to help with future steps. You will run the vent in that direction without drilling through the joists.
You want the fan to be somewhat in the middle of the bathroom. This generally looks good because its more symmetrical.
Placing it closer to the toilet or the shower will assist in moving unwanted air out of the bathroom quickly. Don’t place it tight against one of the walls because this will be worse for airflow.
If your fan has a light, keep that in mind when deciding on a location. You may want to have it slightly closer to the sink to cast the extra light in that area.
It helps with the installation process if you place it close to an arms length from the exterior wall. But this isn’t set in stone because there are drill extensions that can help with a future step if needed.
Hold the vent box up to the ceiling where you want the fan to go. Make sure one edge of the box is touching a joist before you trace its border with a pencil.
Use a drywall saw to cut the opening for the fan. You want to have your safety glasses on and a dust mask for this part. There will be quite a bit of drywall dust that will fall.
Run The Vent Duct
Once you have a hole cut in the ceiling, you now have access to work in the ceiling cavity.
Find the location the duct will vent outside. Get on a ladder and peek inside the opening to see what you are working with. Find a spot that is roughly equal distance from the top and bottom on the exterior wall.
Drill with a pilot hole in the exterior wall midway between the top and bottom of the cavity. You may need an extender on your drill, depending on how far your opening is from the wall. I am using a one foot drill extension for this part of the project.
Once you have a pilot hole you can take the drill outside. Here you will use the four inch hole saw to make a larger opening.
Use the pilot hole to guide your drill placement. Once this hole is completed you can move to the next step.
Install The Electricity
The fan will need its own designated switch to be hooked up to. Some fans have extra features that can be used by other switches. If your fan is one of these you may want to consider a switch that has multiple functions on it.
We covered fan placement above. But there is one thing to consider on the fan’s placement when considering the electricity. The electrical wire will need to be run from the switch to the fan. It’s easiest if the fan is in direct alignment between the joists with the switch. But you still can mount the fan where you want it even if it’s not lined up with the switch.
Any joist will need a small hole drilled through it for the wire. To do this you will need to cut a hole in the drywall near the joist. Usually this is done with a hole saw. I recommend a 4 inch one, because this is the same bit that is used for running the ductwork outside.
Connecting the electrical to the neighboring switch will give you power to the fan. This must be done in a specific manner, and this article will not cover this method. Working with electricity can be dangerous, and I recommend that if you are not comfortable with it you should reach out to a certified electrician.
Your fan comes with instructions on how to wire it up. Follow these instructions to safely and accurately wire the fan and get electricity to it.
Mounting The Fan
At this point you have a hole cut in the ceiling where the fan will go. The ductwork is connected from the fan to the exterior of your home. And the electricity is connected to the fan correctly. Now it’s time to mount the fan.
You will use a few wood screws and your drill to secure the fan in place. The screws should be at least one inch long, but don’t need to be much longer than that. It doesn’t matter exactly what size you use, as long as they fit through the mounting holes in the fan. Usually a size 6 or 8 screw will work well. I would go with one that is around 1-½ inches long.
Hold the box firmly against the joist, and line it up directly above the hole in the ceiling. The box should be flush with the bottom of the sheet rock. You don’t want it to hang down below the sheet rock where it’s in the bathroom. If it’s about an eighth to a quarter inch above the bottom of the sheet rock this will make the cover plate fit well without any gaps on it.
Once you have the box in the right position, you will drill one of the screws through a mounting hole and into the joist. Make sure this screw is secured well where you can let go of the box. Now put a few more screws into other holes so the fan is secured well.
Sometimes the mounting holes are in tight places. You may need to use a drill extension to get the screw into a tight spot like this.
After you have 3 to 4 screws in there, you can put the cover plate on. If your fan has a light on it this will need to be connected first. Do this by connecting the wires the same way you disconnected them in the beginning.
There are two wire “springs”, one on each side of the cover plate. You want to squeeze both together to fit them into the slots on either side of the fan box. These will pull the cover plate up tight to the ceiling drywall. If this is confusing, you can find a more clear example of this in the fan’s instruction manual.
How To Install a Bathroom Fan Without Attic Access
Some bathrooms don’t have an attic above to work in. Perhaps your home has a floor above your bathroom. Even though it would make the installation easier, you can still add a fan without an attic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install a bathroom exhaust fan myself?
Installing a bathroom fan is a job that can be done by the average homeowner. The most complicated part of this is connecting the switch to the power of a neighboring switch. If you are comfortable with that type of work, I am confident you can complete this job in a couple of hours.
Do bathroom exhaust fans need to be vented outside?
Although it is best to have the fan vented outside, it doesn’t need to be vented at all. There are ductless bathroom fans that do not require being vented outside.
Do you need an electrician to install a bathroom fan?
If you are new to these types of projects, I recommend getting an electrician to help you with this project. If you are comfortable with learning how to do it yourself, there are plenty of resources you can use that will teach you the proper method to do this type of job. I had an electrician hook up the electricity for my fan, where I did the rest of the work.
Now you know how to install a bathroom fan where there wasn’t one before. I hope this article helped you with this project. It really isn’t a hard project if you follow the process correctly. Just break it down into easy to complete steps and it will be an easier project than you think.
Thank you for visiting Remodel Upgrade. I am writing these articles to help you build your sanctuary. I believe you can do many of the home remodeling and repair jobs you are interested in.
Happy Remodeling,
Kevin
Kevin
I grew up in a family where my dad and several uncles were general contractors. They took me to the jobsites, and also taught me so much about home maintenance. I remember spending several summers in high school helping my father build houses. It gave me so much knowledge that I am excited to share!
