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Remodeling Guide

Remodeling Home
Remodeling Intro
Kitchen Colors
Kitchen Styles
Kitchen Layouts
Designing around Limitations
Tips for Hiring a Contractor
Shopping for Accessories
A Feng Shui Kitchen
Kitchen Redo For Less
Fireplace Accessory Info
Preparing Your Fireplace
Designing a Home Bar
Increase Kitchen Storage
Organize Your Laundry Room
Creating Your Own Wine Cellar
Bathroom Storage Options
Kitchen Islands and Kitchen Carts
Accessorizing Your Bathroom
Outdoor Living
Outdoor Kitchens
Cabinet Hardware
Kitchen Sinks and Faucets
Bathroom Ventilation
Create Your Own Mudroom
Baker's Racks
Keeping Trash in Order
Bathroom Sinks and Faucets
Father's Day Gifts
Feng Shui For the Garden
A 4th of July Celebration
Choose the Right Bar Stool
Choosing a Countertop
Pot Racks
Range Hoods
Choosing a Bath Vanity
Turn Your Closet Into a Pantry
Cabinet Lighting
Installing a Bathroom Fan
Choosing a Medicine Cabinet
Outdoor Fireplaces
Built-In Ironing Boards
Lazy Susans

  
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Installing a Bathroom Fan
 by Shannon McMahon Bruchal

Reducing or eliminating bathroom moisture is necessary for health and aesthetic reasons. A bathroom fan will accomplish this for you. Once you have found the right fan for your bathroom, you will need to install it. Here are some instructions to help you.

1. Shut off the power.
Make sure the power to the circuits where you are working is shut off. It's a good idea to test the wires before you begin your work.

2. Choose the spot where you will install your fan.
If there is an existing light fixture in your bathroom ceiling, that is the logical choice, and the easiest one, because the wiring is already in place. If not, your fan can be mounted on the ceiling or the wall, if necessary.

3. Place the fan housing so that you can fasten it directly to the ceiling joist.
If this is not possible, install wooden braces between the joists to provide a solid point of attachment for the fan housing.

4. Hold the fan housing against the bathroom ceiling and trace around it to define the shape of the hole you will need to cut.

5. Once you have cut the hole, secure the fan housing in place.
Make sure the housing is flush with the surface of the ceiling.

6. Run a cable from the existing light switch to the fan unit. If you have separate switches to operate the fan and the light, use a 3-wire cable. Additional cables may be necessary if your unit has a heater and/or a timer. Also, if you are replacing an existing fixture and do not require an independent switch for the fan operation, this step is not necessary.

7. Make your electrical connections are secure at the fan unit by using wire nuts. Follow the diagram from the manufacturer for the configuration. Attach ground wire to the grounding clip and push the wires into the wiring box and attach the cover.

8. Connect the duct to the fan housing. Ductwork should always be vented to the outside, either straight out the wall, via a soffit, or through a roof vent. Most city codes require an outside vent.

9. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer to determine how far away from the unit you will need to place the insulation.

10. Install the unit cover.

11. Wire the cable into the electrical circuit at the wall switch.