Introduction: How to Replace a Bathroom Exhaust Fan

They say zip is positive but end and taxes, but I'd equal to bring a tierce: repairs! In one week alone, three things broke depressed on us that had to be repaired. When you'atomic number 75 a do-it-your-selfer and a blogger, you cause to look on the bright side and call that a good week: repairs alone can commit you a ton of things to indite astir!

For the Home Improvement contest, I'm sharing a DIY on how to put back a bathroom fan. 'Hidden' repairs are ones that die down unnoticed, simply they can be the most of the essence DIYs you'll do because they protect the investment in your home - and your wellness. A comfortably operative (and installed) bath exhaust fan will help prevent mold ontogenesis which can trigger asthma and allergies. If you notice moisture stains on your walls or ceilings, metal corrosion, visible mold, peeling blusher or wall paper, cloudy Windows and high levels of humidity, IT's time to change that fan. Other than the tight and strained quarters you have to mould in, information technology's a fairly straightforward revive - and well worth the effort to know that it's done letter-perfect.

We weren't sorry to consider our old devotee go; It was so loud that my wife could barely try me singing rubber darling to her but outside the bathroom doorway. We really should have replaced IT drawn-out before it conked out though: every bit (bad) luck would have it, ours stopped working when the hottest and most humid unfold of weather hit us. Ironically, that was the similar morning that our air conditioning broke down too, sol by the afternoon our domiciliate was atomic number 3 hot as you know what and the attic was even hotter! Mouth astir sweat equity!!

Step 1: You Leave Need

  • substitution fan
  • ducting (several lengths and configurations)
  • tyvek coverall
  • safety mask
  • gather tape
  • duct insulation (just if you crapper't reuse the old stuff)
  • gloves (to break off while moving insulation)
  • drill
  • drill bits
  • sheet metal screws
  • tin snips
  • electric cylindrical lining
  • cardboard box to helper tape drive supplies all at once
  • portable light (and university extension cord to run to nearest electric outlet)
  • run
  • plywood (to put between the joists to help you walk around the attic)

Mistreat 2: Take off the Old Fan

To offse, I cut the power to the can indeed I could disconnect the wiring safely without peril of electrocution! I then removed the old buff and then I could find a replacement that would conniption without having to cut a bigger hole into the drywall. I temporarily taped a plastic bag over the hole after removing the fan.

Since the fan is likewise connected to the promiscuous, and in that location isn't a window in the bathroom, I piece a work light outside the threshold.

I protected entirely the surfaces in the bathroom by taping plastic to the walls and on the floor to catch whatever insulation/mess that might drop down pat when I was working in the Classical Greek later.

Measure 3: Inspect What You Get So You Can Purchase Accordingly

I inspected the stipulate of the old ducting in the attic and discovered that the original 4″ pipe attached to the give vent was sick installed and there were much of gaps. I besides discovered that the builder cut besides big a kettle of fish into the roof – which boost explained the gaps. The picture shows what the old channel (and fan) looked suchlike.

I found a specialty fan store that sells to the building industry, but is open to the public. I took the old fan with me to get the very dimensions to suitable the cakehole in the ceiling, but I upgraded to a whisper quiet fan (only 1 sone). Any devotee under 1.5 sones is thoughtful to be quiet so hold over that in mind when shopping.

Some other matter to keep in mind is the diameter of the duct connective on the new housing. To maximize performance, try to correspond your epithelial duct diameter to the new fan. Our duct was originally 4″ wide just because of the larger pickle in the roof leftfield by our builder, I opted to use a 5″ gasket in order to nosepiece the gaps at the roof ventilate and replace the 4″ ductwork with 5″ fittings. However, the replacement fan was 4" so I bought a duct reducer (installing the 4″ end onto the fan and the 5″ destruction onto the newborn ductwork). There's nothing wrong with increasing the size of the ductwork, but don't ever so do the opposite or you will restrict the exhaust from the fan!

All-in, it be about $125 for the fan and supplies.

Step 4: Determine Your CFM Evaluation

With respect to performance, a fan's ability to act air is measured in blockish feet per min (CFM), and so seek a CFM rating that testament meet your needs by moving enough send for the sized of your bathroom. To determine your CFM rating, use the chase pattern:

Length x width x height of room x .13 = the minimum CFM rating

In addition to the fan, I purchased a variety of newly fittings. Get more than you think you need and return what you don't use; in that respect's nothing worsened than existence cragfast in the attic and so realizing that you have to extend out to buy in something you didn't get!.

Step 5: The Real Work Begins

I suited astir in a white Tyvek coverall, like-minded the unmatchable visualised, to protect against the spotty insulation. I likewise wore a heavy responsibility mask: if you've ever had mice in the territory, breathing in littler particles from the mess they leave alone can make you sick. You need to take the caution of wearing a mask so you don't breathe in whatsoever toxins.

This is off issue, but if you brawl find signs of mouse activity when you deck out there, you can toss bags of Coumadin pellets (if you can smooth leverage them) around the margin of the bean to abolish them (that's all extermination companies do). If you don't exercise IT all up atomic number 4 sure to lock it away where kids and animals buns't gain access to it for open reasons.

Step 6: Gather Supplies

I located a ravel beneath our Classical Greek approach and removed the panel (ours is in the bedroom closet). I took whol my equipment up in a box to keep IT all at once and do the trip only once. This included a drill, screws, screw driver, tin snips, duct fittings, fan, physical phenomenon bushing, silver gather tape, etc. I also took a bright light on an extension electric cord up with me to see (the light was run to another electrical power ply that was soundless working).

If you oasis't previously done work in the attic, you should place some moon curser strips of plywood across the joists so you can walk about without risk of falling through the drywall! I had already ripped mastered some plywood for this aim a hardly a years ago sol I was good to spell. Once in the attic, I pushed aside whol the blown in insulation so I could locate the electric wiring and hole in the ceiling of our bathroom (this is where covering the hole with a brightly clothed bag came in handy; it was easy to spot). Don some gloves when handling the insulation - it can be itchy.

Step 7: Installation

I removed the plastic suitcase, positioned the new fan body o'er the hole in the cap and then screwed IT into the joists. A metal strip (shown in the first picture) was attached to the back to help weatherproof it further to the joist (information technology can reduce side to side vibration). Depending on where your hole is positioned betwixt the joists, you may bear to set u anyplace from one to 4 of these strips to secure it.

Our sports fan was positioned right beside the joist so I only when needed one late strip at the back.

Next, I installed the electrical cylindrical lining onto the lover (it protects the wire) and then fed the wire through and connected information technology. I used insert tape to seal altogether along the edges of the winnow.

Footfall 8: Join Gasket and Dry Fit

At the roof line, I victimized a 5" gasket with a Navy SEAL around it for the connection to the roof give vent. This is a some better solution than the straight course with unloose cuts the builder previously installed because information technology seals any gaps. I used tin tinsnips to cut away one slope of the gasket to appropriate it flush against the joist in order to line information technology up with the roof outlet. Once fit, I peeled the tape off the gasket and pressed it up onto the underside of the roof. I pre-drilled and inserted screws altogether more or less the gasket.

I dry fit the gold ducting, starting with the reducing agent at the fan, until I one of these days got it all to describe up with the roof vent-hole.

As you bottom see in the last picture, one of the pieces of ducting is jointed so it can atomic number 4 artful into just about any position to describe the duct work out with the roof vent.

Step 9: Link up to the Roof and Seal off

With all the dry fitting realized, I pre-drilled a golf hole into each duct collective and installed a a couple of 8 x 1/2"screws to hold the sections into position. Then I wrapped each joint with silver tuck tape to seal IT.

Step 10: Test Electric Connection and Isolate

Before finish the insulation, I turned the power back happening to make sure everything was running smoothly. And then I turned the power back off over again as a caution and went back into the attic to wrap the bagpipe with insulation and tie IT on with cord (I reused the old insulation that was originally there).

The last step is to return all the blown-in insulation to its original position between the joists.

Pace 11: You're Done

I brought all my tools back down and closed the attic access panel.

The last step is to install the plastic ceiling cover over the fan to finishing it remove; information technology attaches with alloy clips. Now the fan purrs like a kitten; bring out the rubber ducky!

Step 12: Delight Balloting

If you base this Instructable reformatory, delight vote for it in the home improvement contest!

1 Person Made This Project!

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