Replace a Bathroom Exhaust Fan
Category: Electrical ·
Difficulty: Intermediate ·
Time: 1.7h ·
Estimated cost: $130
Tools needed
- Voltage tester
- Drywall saw
- Phillips screwdriver
- Wire strippers
- Dust mask
- Ladder
Materials needed
- Quiet bath exhaust fan (1.5 sone) (1 ea)
- Insulated flex duct (4" x 6 ft) (1 ea)
- Foil HVAC tape (1 roll)
- Wire nuts (1 pk)
- Drywall screws (1 pk)
Execution steps
Cut power and remove grille
Flip the bathroom breaker. Pop the grille off. Confirm dead with voltage tester at the fan housing.
Duration: 10 min
Disconnect wiring and duct
Open the fan's wiring junction box, untwist wire nuts. Pull duct off the fan outlet (it may need tape cut).
Duration: 15 min
Remove old housing
Unscrew the housing from joists. Drop it out through the ceiling hole. If hole doesn't fit the new fan, enlarge with the drywall saw.
Duration: 25 min
Install new housing
Lift the new fan into the hole, screw the side flanges to the joist. Reconnect the duct with hose clamps and seal with foil tape.
Duration: 30 min
Wire and test
Match black-to-black, white-to-white, ground-to-green. Cap with wire nuts. Snap grille on. Restore power and run the fan.
Duration: 20 min
Safety first
- Wear a dust mask — old fans dump decades of bathroom dust on your face.
- Always vent to the outside (not the attic) — venting into the attic causes mold and rot.
- Insulated duct only — uninsulated duct causes condensation that drips back into the fan.
When to hire a pro
If your fan currently dumps into the attic with no roof or wall cap, hire an HVAC contractor to add a proper vent termination.
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