In this video, This Old House host Kevin O'Connor works with a professional electrician to install a ventilation fan in a bathroom. (See below for a shopping list and tools.) SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse Kevin O'Connor and electrician Brian Bergeron helped a homeowner install a new fan in her bathroom. The fan exhausts the humid air created by the shower to the outside of the house. Brian determined that the easiest way to power the fan was to use the electricity from an existing light switch. With the power shut off, he disconnected the light switch. Next, he enlarged the hole in the wall so he could make the existing electrical box bigger to accommodate a separate switch for the fan. Up in the attic, Brian and Kevin drilled a hole through the top of the wall and "fished" new wire for the fan down to the switch box. Downstairs, Brian connected the wire to the new fan switch, which has a built-in timer. Next, Brian cut a hole in the ceiling between two joists and fastened the fan in place. Then, he connected the new wire to the junction box on the fan. Finally, he cut a hole through an exterior wall and installed a louvered vent on the outside. He then installed flexible ducting between the fan and the wall. Later, up in the loft, Tom recommended that for colder climates, it's a good idea to use insulated ducting to prevent condensation inside the duct. Shopping List for How to Install a Bathroom Fan:

bath ventilation fan [https://amzn.to/2jF4ose], used to exhaust air from bathroom
metal elbow, flexible duct and vent [https://amzn.to/2l5seh5], for exhausting air from fan to outdoors
duct tape [https://amzn.to/2jAhAP3], for sealing duct and vent connections
nonmetallic electrical cable [https://amzn.to/2NP7eJp], for connecting fan to switch
twist-on wire connectors [https://amzn.to/32jFLCV], for joining together wires
metal electrical switch box [https://amzn.to/2jDoRO1], for housing new fan control
fan control, wall-mounted switch [https://amzn.to/2xH5ZkH], for operating fan

Tools for How to Install a Bathroom Fan:

drill/driver [https://amzn.to/2xMFxWQ] fitted with a 5/8-inch auger bit [https://amzn.to/2l6VuE7], 3/8-inch drill bit [https://amzn.to/2l5WmJg], and 4-inch hole saw [https://amzn.to/2jFvPSG]
drywall or keyhole saw [https://amzn.to/2jCUPK8], to cut hole in wall and ceiling
fish tape [https://amzn.to/2l8P5Z3], for snaking electrical cable down through wall
pliers [https://amzn.to/2l2JraV] and wire strippers [https://amzn.to/2jFwwvg], for installing and stripping wires
screwdriver [https://amzn.to/2XMTy1k], for tightening wire connections

Special assistance by Bergeron Electric. [https://www.bergeronelectrical.net/] Brian installed a new bathroom fan manufactured by Panasonic. [https://bit.ly/3iKQ1w7] Brian also installed Electronic Auto-off Timer (model #EI210WD89) by Intermatic Inc. [https://www.intermatic.com/] to control the fan. About Ask This Old House TV: Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House INSIDER to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pages/st... Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: / asktoh http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG For more on This Old House and Ask This Old House, visit us at: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseWebsite How to Install a Bathroom Fan | Ask This Old House / thisoldhouse

run the wire from the switch location to the fan

0:49

located the wire from the switch to the existing light

0:56

take eight inches of sheathing off

1:23

secure it with this clamp

1:30

Transcript

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This Old House

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How to Install a Bathroom Fan | Ask This Old House

Key moments View all

run the wire from the switch location to the fan

run the wire from the switch location to the fan

run the wire from the switch location to the fan

located the wire from the switch to the existing light

located the wire from the switch to the existing light

located the wire from the switch to the existing light

take eight inches of sheathing off

take eight inches of sheathing off

take eight inches of sheathing off

secure it with this clamp

secure it with this clamp

secure it with this clamp

slide the new box into the wall next to the old

slide the new box into the wall next to the old

slide the new box into the wall next to the old

connecting to the common neutral in the back of the box

connecting to the common neutral in the back of the box

connecting to the common neutral in the back of the box

fold the wires back into the box

fold the wires back into the box

fold the wires back into the box

tap a series of holes along the joist

tap a series of holes along the joist

tap a series of holes along the joist

This Old House

How to Install a Bathroom Fan | Ask This Old House

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Key moments

run the wire from the switch location to the fan

run the wire from the switch location to the fan

run the wire from the switch location to the fan

located the wire from the switch to the existing light

located the wire from the switch to the existing light

located the wire from the switch to the existing light

take eight inches of sheathing off

take eight inches of sheathing off

take eight inches of sheathing off

secure it with this clamp

secure it with this clamp

secure it with this clamp

slide the new box into the wall next to the old

slide the new box into the wall next to the old

slide the new box into the wall next to the old

connecting to the common neutral in the back of the box

connecting to the common neutral in the back of the box

connecting to the common neutral in the back of the box

fold the wires back into the box

fold the wires back into the box

fold the wires back into the box

tap a series of holes along the joist

tap a series of holes along the joist

tap a series of holes along the joist

threaded onto the bottom of the clamp

threaded onto the bottom of the clamp

threaded onto the bottom of the clamp

attached a 90 degree elbow and some flexi duct

attached a 90 degree elbow and some flexi duct

attached a 90 degree elbow and some flexi duct

apply silicone to the outside of the vent

apply silicone to the outside of the vent

apply silicone to the outside of the vent

slide the vent in place

slide the vent in place

slide the vent in place

connecting our exhaust hose to the outside

connecting our exhaust hose to the outside

connecting our exhaust hose to the outside

put the insulation back around the fan

put the insulation back around the fan

put the insulation back around the fan

install this decorative trim on the fan

install this decorative trim on the fan

install this decorative trim on the fan

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Key moments

Key moments