How to Remove Bathroom Exhaust Fans | Expert’s Money Saving Tips
Are you looking to know how to remove bathroom exhaust fans? The removal of bathroom exhaust fans isn’t all that difficult and can accomplish in a matter of minutes with the right tools. In this article, we will teach you how to remove bathroom exhaust fans with additional tips. So let’s jump into the main topic.
How to remove bathroom exhaust fans
Turn off power
The first step to take in removing from a bathroom is cutting off electrical power. The last thing you want to happen is to injure by a bathroom exhaust fan. I would suggest shutting off the breaker in the circuit box. If you’ve flipped the correct breaker and the bathroom fan should not start when you switch to the main switch. The bathroom light and outlets are likely not to powere as well. An additional way to ensure that power is not on is to utilize a non-contact voltage tester to ensure that the power is turned off. If you only get close to any electrical circuit (even not touching it), the non-contact voltage tester can be heard in a loud tone if there’s electricity.
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Remove cover
Once the power has gone switched off, the next task is to take off the cover for the exhaust fan. If the bathroom fan doesn’t include a light, then for most fans, you lower the grille or cover. After the grille falls just a quarter-inch away from the ceiling, it should be capable of getting your hands beneath it. It should be possible to pull it down one or two inches. There will be two steel spring clips that hold the grille in place of the housing. All homeowners need must do is press the clips using their fingers. After the clips have squeez, they’ll remove from their slots. Then, you will be able to take off the grille.
Remove light lens
If the bathroom fan you have an illuminated lens, removing the grille could be slightly different. With sure fans, it is possible to squeeze the light lens in the middle to let it unclip, and then you can take it out. After you have removed the cover for the light lens, There may be one nut that has to remove before being able to take off the rest of the grille. On other kinds of bath fans that light, the single nut is visible from the outside and is visible in the central point part of the fans. Once the nut remove, you can take off the entire grille and light lens together.
Remove the fan assembly
In the case of many bathroom exhaust fans, the fan assembly is a distinct element within the bath fan and must remove before taking off the housing. Most times, it is just necessary to disconnect your fan from the single outlet in the housing. However, if you have different bathroom fan models, you might need to remove your electrical connections ( wire nuts are commonly employed) and remove your fan’s assembly. In addition, if you don’t wish to replace the entire bathroom fan, you might attempt to change the fan assembly.
There is a model number in the unit, which is a match for an alternative unit. If it’s a pain to remove the electrical wiring, you might want to cut it off if you plan to replace the wire nuts in the future. Ensure there is enough room in the wiring for the new connections if you intend to cut it. The fan assembly is likely to comprise 1-3 screws that have to remove, and there are also several clips made of metal that have to be removed to remove the fan assembly.
Unfasten the metal housing
Once the fan assembly remove, you’ll left with the housing in metal and possibly the bracket. Some manufacturers attach an aluminum bracket to ceiling joists. Then, the housing of the fan attach to the bracket. In other cases, the housing attach straight to ceiling joists, and no bracket utilize. When the housing is securely secured and removed, the bracket will have to remove.
If you have access to your attic, It may be simpler to access the attic to remove the joists from the housing. However, if homeowners venture to the attic, it’s essential to be cautious as it could be a hazardous working space. It highly recommend that you wear a mask to prevent fiberglass from getting into your respiratory system. It’s also crucial to ensure that homeowners don’t touch or interfere with the insulation.
There are certainly some dangers of entering an attic-like falling down through the ceiling or creating hairline cracks in the ceiling (from falling on Joists). However, many homeowners can take the housing out of the bathroom. If it’s impossible to take the housing out of the bathroom, and you don’t have access to your attic or aren’t keen on going to the attic, you might be able to use a reciprocating saw to break the housing. In any case, once you’ve removed the screws or nails that held the housing in place onto the brackets (or bracket) and bracket, you’ll need to take off the duct.
Disconnect the duct
If you’re located in your bathroom, the most efficient method to remove the fan is to lift the fan’s housing and place it in the wall cavity. Once you’ve moved it up, you will be able to turn the housing to allow access to the vent. The vent duct may attach to the adapter housing or zip-tied. You can take off the zip tie or tape and take the duct out of the housing in either case.
Disconnect the wiring
After you’ve taken the duct out, The last thing to do is remove the wiring. The wiring to the electrical system will connect to the fan housing by a bushing. The plastic or metal bushing can remove by turning it counterclockwise. There could also a tiny wiring cover that has to remove. Once you have unbolted the electrical wire, you must disconnect the wire from the fan’s housing.
Remove the fan housing
Once the duct and wiring disconnected, You can now take the fan’s housing from the ceiling. If your home is wide for the hole in the drywall, you might need to use the keyhole saw (drywall saw) and cut out about 1-2 inches. Then, you can try lifting the housing at a more accessible angle for you to pass through the drywall hole.
How to remove bathroom exhaust fans: Additional ways
Remove the fan mechanism
Before working at ceiling fans, it is necessary to shut off the switch. It recommend to switch off the breaker on the fan circuit to prepare if someone gets in and switches on it while working. It’s possible to overdo it since all you need to do to remove the fan from its housing is disconnect it. However, it’s best to stay on the side of security.
After the power turn off, place a stepladder beneath the fan, ascend and take off the fan’s cover by pulling it towards you. The cover should be able to slide off easily and drop into your hands. However, if you don’t, grab the cover and press the metal claps which hold the cover to loosen the cover. This will expose the fan, and you’ll be able to see it connect to a receptacle inside the fan’s housing. Unplug it.
To take out the fan to remove it, look to find a tab a spring clip on the other side of the bracket that you can pull into the bracket as you pull the other side of the bracket towards you (some fans are fixed with screws, which you take off). When the fan’s edge is clear from the clip, the whole bracket will fall off, and with it, the fan. Bring the whole assembly to the local store so that you can buy a similar one or that has the exact dimensions that fit in the housing.
Removing housing with attic access
If you’re planning to install another fan model, you’ll have to remove the housing. Because it screwe or nailed to ceiling joists, this can be a bit more complicated than just taking out the fan. If you’re still climbing the ladder, begin by unbolting the receptacle’s cover plate and then disconnecting those electrical cables. The remainder of the process should do in the attic if you have access.
When you’re inside the attic, remove the electric cable, tie the wires for security, and remove the duct pipe out of the housing after removing the cable tie or tape that holds it in place. Housings support using brackets that attach to the joists. When you take off any screws or nails that hold the brackets, the housing is free, and you’ll be able to remove it.
Housing removal
If you do not have access to the attic or the fan is situated in the ceiling above another story in your home, it is still possible to remove the housing. However, it’s more complicated. When you’ve disconnected all the cables and pulled the circuit wires from your electrical cabinet, utilize the reciprocating saw to slice the fasteners that hold the housing. Because the installer did not have access to the attic, the housing was likely connected with nails or screws to the side.
If the housing becomes loose, then push it upwards to the cavity of the joist enough to let you access the vent hose or pipe, and then pull it away from the outlet for the housing. When it’s completely free, then lower the housing and take it off. If you’re not planning to replace the fan shortly, cover the electrical wires so that you can safely turn off the circuit breaker again.
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Conclsuion
Removing bathroom exhaust fans isn’t a difficult task. However, there are some critical steps to take to remove them quickly and efficiently. The most challenging aspect will likely be the disconnection of the fan housing from ceiling joists. Sometimes, the housing is screwed to the ceiling joists using tabs made of metal which means you’ll need to enter the attic to get it out. However, if you’ve got a circular saw that can reciprocate, it could be simpler to cut the housing loss from the joists rather than tampering with the attic. If you wish to remove the bathroom’s housing, it could also be necessary to cut the drywall by an inch or two to get rid of the housing.
