Moist air in a bathroom can cause a whole slew of problems. It can rot wood and cause mold to grow on drywall. To remove the moist air from the bathroom, install an exhaust fan in the ceiling and run the ducting to the exterior of the home. The fan should be wired into the light switch so that when the bathroom light is turned on, the fan is also turned on. You'll need a few tools to install the exhaust fan.
Instructions
1. Turn off the power to your bathroom electrical circuit, switching off the correct circuit breaker in your breaker panel.
2. Drill a 1/4-inch hole at the spot in the bathroom ceiling where you'll install the exhaust fan. Go to the attic and make sure the hole doesn't interfere with a ceiling joist or other object.
3. Measure the dimensions of your exhaust fan with a tape measure and cut a hole in the ceiling that is slightly larger than those measurements, using your drywall saw.
4. Place the fan in the hole so that the bottom of the fan is flush with the drywall ceiling. Secure the fan to the ceiling joists with a cordless screw gun and screws.
5. Install an electrical cable from the fan to the light switch. Refer to the wiring diagram that came with the fan and wire the fan into the electrical circuit as indicated.
6. Drill a 1/4-inch hole through the exterior wall as close to the fan as possible. Go outside and drill a 4 1/4-inch hole, using the smaller hole as the center point.
7. Slide the pipe on the back of the exhaust fan hood into the hole and secure the hood to the wall with the cordless screwdriver and screws. Caulk around the entire exhaust fan hood with a caulk gun and exterior caulk to make it weathertight.
8. Measure the distance with your measuring tape from the vent outlet on the exhaust fan in the attic to the connection on the exhaust fan hood. Add a few inches as a connection allowance and add 12 inches for each 90-degree turn you must make
9. Cut a length of 4-inch metal flexible ducting at the length you determined, using your utility knife. Cut the wire reinforcement with your wire cutter.
10. Slide a 4-inch metal clamp on to each end of the ducting. Slide one end of the ducting over the vent outlet of the exhaust fan. Tighten down the clamp with your screwdriver. Slide the other end of the ducting over the connection on the exhaust fan hood and tighten down the clamp with the screwdriver.
11. Install the grille on the fan in the bathroom. The grille may be held on by tension, or you may have to screw it on.
12. Turn the power back on to the electrical circuit and turn the light switch on. The fan should come on and begin venting air out of your bathroom.
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