I'm really not handy, but I decided to tackle replacing our bathroom fan. I managed to get the cover off, but I'm completely stuck now! The fan seems firmly attached, and I can't figure out how to access and remove all the bolts. It's starting to feel like this is more complicated than I expected. Does anyone have advice on how to get this fan out? I lack drywall skills and don't have a sawzall, so am I going to have to hire someone for what feels like a simple job?
4 Answers
Those tabs on the sides can be tricky, but you should be able to wiggle them out and slide the housing down. Things embedded in the ceiling can be tough to pull out, but once you manage to do that, putting in a new one is generally easier. You might want to check out some DIY videos on YouTube; they can be super helpful!
Replacing these fans can be a real challenge since they’re typically installed before the drywall goes up and secured to the framing. If you don’t have a sawzall and proper drywall tools, I'd recommend hiring someone. I have a sawzall and still hate replacing mine because it gets messy with all the cutting. It’s definitely easier just to live with the noisy fans than do that work yourself.
If you’re not equipped with tools, it’s best to stop for now. I can see several screws that need to be removed to take the whole housing out of the ceiling. But, once you’re at that point, you’ll definitely need some tools to pry out the stretchers. Are you planning to replace the whole fan or just the motor?
1) First, make sure the breaker is OFF! 2) Disconnect the wire nuts and separate the wires. 3) I can see a couple of drywall screws in your picture. Back those out. 4) The whole assembly should drop down, but there might be an exhaust hose that you’ll need to detach. 5) Installing the new fan is basically the reverse of removing the old one. It might seem tricky since everything’s overhead, but technically it’s manageable as long as you’re replacing it with a unit of the same size.