How To Replace And Install A Bathroom Exhaust Fan From Start To Finish For Beginners! | Easy DIY, by Fix This House on YouTube. 13 min 31 s.
- Video length
- 13 min 31 s
- Time to do it
- 2 to 3 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Turn off the fan at the wall switch, then at the breaker. Hold a voltage detector against the wires in the old fan to confirm the power is dead.
Remove the fan cover, then unscrew the fan housing from the ceiling joists. Lower it carefully and disconnect the duct and the wires.
Check the size of the old opening and the duct. Buy a new fan that fits the same hole, or plan to enlarge the opening with a drywall saw or hole saw.
If you are venting through the roof, install the roof vent cap and seal the flashing with roof sealant. Clamp the flexible duct to the cap.
Slide the new duct onto the fan's duct connector and tighten a hose clamp. Seal the joint with HVAC foil tape.
Wire the fan to the house cable: connect black to black, white to white and ground to ground using WAGO connectors. Match the wiring diagram on the fan.
Push the housing into the ceiling opening and screw it to the joists so it sits flush and does not rattle.
Fit the fan grille or cover, restore power at the breaker and test the fan on low and high speed. Check that air flows out of the roof cap.
Tips and common mistakes
Never trust the wall switch alone. Confirm the power is off with a voltage detector before touching any wire.
Tape every duct joint. Leaky ducts push moist air into the attic and cause mold.
Check your local building codes and the fan's airflow rating (CFM) before buying.
If the old fan is glued in or the wiring looks damaged, call a licensed electrician.
Questions
Do I need to replace the duct too?
Not always. If the old duct is intact and the right size, reuse it. Replace any torn, sagging or uninsulated duct so moist air does not leak into the attic.
Can I put a humidity sensor fan in the same hole?
Yes, if the new fan fits the opening. A humidity sensor model like the Panasonic WhisperSense runs on its own when the bathroom gets steamy.
How do I know the fan is venting outside?
Go outside and feel for airflow at the roof or wall cap while the fan runs. If you feel nothing, check the duct connections and the cap flap.
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.
