How to install ductwork for a bathroom exhaust fan

This will avoid condensation accumulating inside the ductwork and dripping back into the building ceilings or insulation. We illustrate a down-sloped bath vent duct installation in this article. I have a brand new house that was built last summer. I noticed that the bathroom vents right below the roof line on the wall. The problem is there's an ice accumulation around the vent cover on the outside wall.

This does not seem normal to me, or is it? I should specify that I haven't even started using this washroom yet, since my shower has not yet been installed. I went up in the attic and they used a flexible vent and there's insulation on top of it.

Is heat loss normal when the fan is not operating? Could this be the cause of the ice buildup outside at the vent cover? Marc, it sounds as if warm moist air is exiting at the vent and you're seeing ice accumulation as a result. Also, place it far from the shower and faucets of the bathroom where water could not reach the fan. Though high-quality exhaust fans are water-resistant but keeping them away from water is a good practice.

After choosing the perfect place, carefully start to install a bathroom vent through a wall. At first, measure the length and width of the fan accurately. Then write these measurements on a paper. Now, take the maker and scale to draw the exact size on the ceiling.

Almost all fans are square or rectangular in size. So, a inch straight roller will do the trick for a 10X10 or smaller fan. Put the marks deeply so that you could easily follow them at the time of making the hole. This part of the installation process is very crucial and you need to be intensely careful while making a hole.

You should get a battery-operated reciprocating saw to start the procedure. After the reciprocating saw reaches its highest speed, slowly apply the saw on the hole mark. The saw will start doing its job. All you need to do is to guide the cutter flawlessly towards the marked line. After the first round of cutting, just use the hammer and pliers to take out the brick or wood from the hole.

Before inserting the fan into the hole make sure that you have properly cleaned the inside part of the hole so that you can easily see the attic through the hole. Tip: If the grille doesn't hold tight against the ceiling, spread apart its mounting wires to create more tension. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.

By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. How to Install a Bathroom Vent Fan. By Joseph Truini. Pinterest Email Pocket Flipboard.

For optimum performance, locate it between the shower and the toilet. Climb into the attic and clear away any insulation from around the hole. Now use the reference hole to determine the exact position of the fan. Measure the vent fan housing. Try to position the vent fan directly between two joists near your reference hole. Take into account any nearby pipes or other obstructions. Note the final position of the vent fan in relation to the reference hole. Use the reference hole as a landmark to transfer your measurements from the attic to the ceiling.

Use a layout square or framing square to draw the rectangular outline of the intake port onto the ceiling. When you're almost finished making the rectangular cutout, support the waste piece with one hand to keep it from falling and possibly taking some of the surrounding drywall or plaster ceiling with it.

Aim the elbow straight up and secure it to the port with foil duct tape. Smooth aluminum pipe has less air resistance than the previously used ribbed flexible duct.

All duct seams were sealed with aluminum tape and installed with the seams facing up. Two adjustable elbows were used to get the pipe to clear the insulation and ceiling joists. The pipe was then attached to the elbows with a slight pitch toward the outside sofit vent. Once the pipe was installed and attached to the sofit vent we covered the entire pipe with insulation. They make an insulation sleeve that insulates these pipes really well.

Installing a bathroom vent duct is a fairly straightforward project as long as you have access to the area above the fan.

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