How to Install a Roof Vent Exhaust Fan
Bath fans improve a bathroom's air quality by sucking stale air, foul odors and excess moisture from the bathroom and venting them outside. Stale air and foul odors are unpleasant inconveniences, but excess moisture, in addition to fogging windows and mirrors, promotes mold and mildew growth and causes peeling paint. Newer bath fans are energy-efficient and run silently. Hardware stores, home improvement and general market retailers sell exhaust fans in a range of colors, sizes and prices to meet every decor and budget. Do-it-yourselfers are capable of installing them. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Flexible duct
- 4-inch duct elbow
- Roof vent hood
- Drill
- Layout square
- Jigsaw or drywall saw
- Hammer
- Caulk gun
- Roofing cement
- Tape measure
- Drywall screws
- Stainless-steel screws
- Wire nuts
Instructions
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1
Install a switch and run an electrical cable from the switch to the attic. Turn off the power to the bathroom.
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2
Drill a reference hole through the ceiling. Climb into the attic and clear the area around the hole. Measure the vent fan housing, and position the fan between two joists near your reference hole. Leave the attic.
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3
Outline the fan's intake port on the ceiling, using the framing square. Cut along the outline with the saw. Return to the attic.
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4
Attach the 4-inch duct elbow to the outlet port of the vent fan housing. Slide the four metal brackets into the tabs protruding from the sides of the vent fan, center the fan on the ceiling hole and lower it into place. Extend the brackets to the joists, and secure each bracket end with the drill and a drywall screw.
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5
Secure one end of the flexible duct to the elbow with duct tape. Feed the electrical cable through the housing's connector, and tighten the connector screw to secure the cable. Drive a nail through the roof with a hammer to mark the vent location.
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6
Clear an area 4 1/2 inches in diameter after locating the nail on the roof. Cut through the roof decking and into the attic with the jigsaw or drywall saw. Lift the upper layer of shingles to fit around the roof vent.
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7
Slip the length of rigid duct through the hole, screw it to the roof with a stainless-steel screw and seal around it with roofing cement. Slide the vent hood over the duct and underneath the shingles; cement the shingles to the hood, and fasten the lower edge with roofing nails. Go back into the bathroom.
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8
Connect the other end of the duct running from the fan to the vent hood and secure it with duct tape. Climb out of the attic, and close the attic access.
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9
Unscrew the fan motor from the vent fan housing. Unscrew the housing's built-in receptacle to expose its wiring. Use wire nuts to join the fan wires with same color wires from the electrical cable (white to white, black to black, copper to green ground screw).
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10
Reattach the receptacle, plug the fan motor into the receptacle and screw the motor in place. Slide the fan's grille mounting wires into the housing. Push the grille tight against the ceiling.
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11
Turn on power to the bathroom. Flip the switch to test the fan.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Have a licensed electrician install the switch and run an electrical cable from the switch to the attic.
Think safety first. Clear your work area, and keep kids and pets away until you are finished.
Run the flex as straight as possible.
Stay on the joists while in the attic; the ceiling sheetrock will not support your weight.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit bathroom plant image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
