How to Install a Bathroom Extractor Fan - Complete DIY Guide Made Easy, by The DIY Guy on YouTube. 14 min 51 s.
- Video length
- 14 min 51 s
- Time to do it
- 3 to 4 hours
- Difficulty
- Takes practice
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Switch off the lighting circuit at the consumer unit and prove it is dead with a voltage tester before touching any wiring.
Drill a 102mm hole in the bathroom ceiling with the holesaw, using the ceiling vent as a template for position.
Mount the inline fan in the loft on a joist or solid board, close enough to reach the ceiling vent with a short duct run.
Cut the soffit vent hole outside and fix the vent, then run insulated ducting from the fan to the soffit.
Connect the ducting to the fan and vent with jubilee clips or duct tape so the joints are airtight.
Fit the ceiling vent over the hole and push the duct end onto its spigot.
Run cable from the fan to a fused spur outside the bathroom and fit the isolation switch so the fan can be turned off for servicing.
Wire the fan to the switch and lighting circuit following the fan instructions, then refit the covers.
Restore power and test that the fan runs when the light is switched on and stops on the timer.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep the duct run as short and straight as possible, since long bends cut airflow.
Fit a backdraught shutter or the fan will let cold air and draughts back into the bathroom.
Never work on the wiring until you have proved the circuit is dead at the fan itself.
Check the fan's airflow rating suits the room size before you buy.
Questions
Do I need a qualified electrician?
Bathroom fans are in a special location, so in many areas the work must be notified or done by a registered electrician. Check your local rules first.
Can I fit the fan in the loft instead of the ceiling?
Yes, an inline fan in the loft is quieter and easier to reach for servicing. You still need a ceiling vent and a duct run to outside.
Where should the duct vent to?
Vent to a soffit or wall grille that leads outside, never into the loft space, or you will get damp and condensation.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
