How to Install a Roof Vent Exhaust Fan
- 1). Install a switch and run an electrical cable from the switch to the attic. Turn off the power to the bathroom.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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. - 11
Turn on power to the bathroom. Flip the switch to test the fan.
