How to Fix a Bathroom Fan Vent
Your bathroom vent fan removes moisture, heat and odor from the air in your bathroom. Over time your fan can become worn from use. Once the fan vent is repaired, you can keep your bathroom ventilated. The best way to repair a bathroom fan vent is to replace the motor and housing. Measure the size of your current unit, and purchase a new one at your local hardware store. Purchase a unit that is close to your current size to minimize extra cutting to your ceiling. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Turn off the circuit breaker to the bathroom vent fan. As with any electrical appliance, you do not want electricity running to it while you are making repairs.
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Pull the cover off the bathroom vent fan with your fingers. In some instances your bathroom fan vent cover may be secured with a retaining screw. Use a screwdriver to remove the screw, and remove the cover.
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Use a screwdriver to remove the retaining screws that secure the bathroom fan motor and cover plate to the housing. Carefully lower the housing while not causing stress on the attached wires.
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Unscrew the plastic wire caps that connect the wires.
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Go into the attic, and disconnect the duct work from the bathroom fan vent housing. The duct work will either be taped on or secured using a clamp. Use a screwdriver to loosen the clamp that secures the electrical cable through the housing, and pull the cable out.
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Use a screwdriver to remove the securing screws that mount the old housing to the joists. Remove the housing from the attic.
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Go inside the bathroom, and lift the new housing to the ceiling over the existing hole. Trace an outline of the housing box on the ceiling if it is larger than the previous unit. When tracing, be mindful of where the ceiling joist is located so that the new fan will attach to the joist.
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Use a reciprocating saw to cut the ceiling drywall according to your tracing of the new housing. Take the housing and mounting hardware up to the attic.
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Attach the mounting brackets to the floor joists inside the attic according to the instructions that came with the unit. These most often secure by screwing 1-inch drywall screws that come supplied with your new unit.
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Attach the fan duct work to the housing either by re-taping it or tightening the securing clamp. Insert the electrical cable through the housing, and tighten the holding clamp on the housing to secure the cable.
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Go back into the bathroom, and lift the motor assembly up the housing. Connect the wires from the attic to the bathroom fan motor using plastic wire nuts.
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Use a screwdriver to secure the motor assembly to the housing with retaining screws. Attach the bathroom vent cover according to the instructions for your particular model. Turn the circuit breaker back on to power the bathroom fan vent.
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Tips & Warnings
Always disconnect power before working with electrical components.
