How to Replace a Bathroom Exhaust Fan | How To Anything, by Lowe's Home Improvement on YouTube. 10 min 31 s.
- Video length
- 10 min 31 s
- Time to do it
- 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Switch the fan off at the wall, then turn off the bathroom circuit at the breaker panel. Hold a voltage tester against the wires to confirm the power is dead before you touch anything.
Run the old fan and listen closely. A rattle or scrape usually means a worn motor, while weak airflow can be a clogged grille or a stuck damper.
Pull the grille down and squeeze or unhook the spring clips, or remove the screws on older units. Unplug or unscrew the bulb if your fan has a light built in.
Unplug the motor's wiring harness and remove the screws holding the housing to the joist or mounting bracket. Support the housing with one hand as you lower it.
Measure the ceiling cutout and the duct diameter, usually 3 or 4 inches. Buy a fan with the same cutout size so you avoid cutting new drywall.
Dry fit the new housing in the opening. Check that it sits flush with the ceiling, the screw tabs reach the joist and the duct collar lines up with your duct.
Slide the duct over the collar and seal the joint with foil tape or a zip tie. Keep the duct run short, straight and free of sagging loops.
Join the wires with the supplied wire nuts: black to black, white to white and green or bare copper to the ground screw. Tuck the connections neatly inside the junction box.
Screw the housing firmly to the joist or bracket, then restore power at the breaker. Turn the fan on and check for strong airflow and quiet running.
Snap the grille into place and press the damper to make sure it opens and closes freely. Switch off the breaker again if you need to adjust anything.
Tips and common mistakes
Match the fan's CFM rating to your bathroom size, roughly 1 CFM per square foot, and add more for a tub or shower.
Use foil tape rather than cloth duct tape on the duct joint, since duct tape dries out and peels over time.
If the old fan hangs from a bracket rather than a joist, buy a remodel-style housing that clamps through the drywall.
Never rely on the wall switch alone. Always confirm the circuit is dead with a tester before touching the wiring.
Questions
How do I know which replacement fan to buy?
Measure the ceiling cutout, the duct size and the room's square footage. Then pick a fan that fits the same cutout and duct, with a CFM rating close to your room size.
Do I need to hire an electrician?
Not if your new fan uses the same wiring as the old one, which is usually a switched hot, neutral and ground. Call an electrician if you find no ground wire or unfamiliar cable.
Why is my new fan louder than expected?
A loose housing, a duct that is too small or a kinked duct run are the usual causes. Tighten the mounting screws and check that the damper swings freely.
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.
