Finally a realistic home reno video. As soon as you went in the attic and the vent pipe wasn't connected I was like, "YES!" I don't know how many times I've run into garbage installs. I often stare in amazement wondering how the install could not have failed and surprised half the house isn't flooded or laced with mold.
11:50 The problem I have had with my NuTone fans, and I see it at 11:50 with your fan, is the housing which has numerous metal holes stamped in it. Additionally, the open areas around the frame where it cuts into the ceiling is also quite porous. They represent giant air leaks into the attic. I covered all the holes with either tape or latex sealant, and then from the attic I sprinkled loose insulation around the entire housing. After this additional work, my 3 fans are now air tight.
Thanks Jeff! I replaced our noisey 10 year old bath fan with a NuTone no attic access model. Your easy to follow suggestions made the install smooth. My older model was larger so I then had to follow your California ceiling patch video! Thanks again. You saved me $500.
Saw this and as an electrician who has installed hundreds....thousands???? of fans over the last 3 decades I was curious. Awesome job Jeff and thanks for stressing the use of the box connectors and pre-twisting your conductors before putting the marrette on. I don’t know how many bad connections I’ve repaired over the years done by people who didn’t ensure the marrette connection was twisted properly it has exposed copper. Two big thumbs up!
Thanks Geoff, Glad to hear you liked the vid. We are trying to help homeowners who can't afford contractors to do a better job than hey could otherwise.!
Absolutely one of the greatest How to video guys around. Clear, shows steps and like me discovers problems that happen in homes that are not only 5 years old. We have a house built in 1940 that was flipped. (Kinda). So surprises abound. And thank you for showing the "manhole" crawl space that so many old homes have. This attic looks just like mine! So appreciate the indepth details, and easy explanation. Well done!
Thank you for using a configuration that needed the attic addressed. Too often we get the "everything is right where it should be" video, only to discover WTH on the other side of the "simple" repair/replace video. At the least, it informs us to check the other side, before starting.
I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one who goes to install something and find that it's more involved than it was supposed to be. Another great job... 👍👍👍👍
Doing this type of update in an old house: fixing sinful DIY can be frustrating, but once done properly, the end product is so rewarding with a wrong made right. Thanks again for another great DIY update vid.
Enjoyed your video - went to Home Depot and got the 'no attic access' unit 100 CFM for $119. The instructions provided never referred to the installation of the L-shaped piece with the electric knock-out (it looked different than the one that you installed) in it. It was 81 today and I ended up having to go into the attic too in order to find the 3-wire that my electrician fished up from an old single switch so that I could run the fan and light independently. Thanks for giving me (50+ woman) the confidence to tackle this!
I always found it funny how there are exhaust fans that are bragging about being quieter. I always appreciated louder fans so you could do you #2 business without worrying about someone outside the bathroom hearing the sound effects.
Kevin J. A. That is exactly what I think of every time a new quiet vent fan is mentioned...to have the fan make its noise is half the job I expect it to do when I turn it on....and the noise is just as important as the air movement.
I have no fan yet (which is why I am watching the videos) I Had to put alexa in the bathroom to play tunes hands free. Also fun to have her play fart sounds when someone else is in the bathroom!!
You have become my favorite home improvement guy on RUclips. I am surprised by some of your competition at times that really do suspect installations and I never see you cut corners. You really are a good teacher, because you typically explain why you do what you do and short cuts even. I am a DIY probably middle of the road talent and I usually read up and study every project I take on if I haven't done it before, but your channel is like shooting fish in a barrel. Thank you!
First-time homebuyer here. I found your videos when we first started looking for a home to buy almost 7 months ago and didn't know exactly how much work the house we wound up in would need. We finally found a place and will be moving in soon, and this project is one of the first ones we plan to try and take care of ourselves (including replacing non-insulated ducting going out of the roof!). We have a pretty cramped attic space, as well, and since I'm the "small one" at 5'2" I'll most likely be doing a lot of the work up there. All of the information in this video has me feeling a lot more confident to tackle that! :) One of the other projects we have planned for this year is to improve the insulation in the attic. We're in Michigan, so there are plenty of pretty hot and cold days to go around! Currently, there is existing blown-in insulation, but it's uneven, missing in spots, and there is not a large volume of it overall. An inspection found that it likely below an R40 value. Do you have any recommendations on how to best improve the overall "insulation situation" up there? Would just adding additional blown-in insulation be enough? Thanks again for all of your helpful videos. I really appreciate you taking the time to walk through every step, even the "simple" things!
I bought a house that's a lazy handyman nightmare! I'm thinking my bathroom fan might not be installed properly as well. Thanks to your videos, I know what to look for and how to fix it! I have learned so much from your videos! So many issues with my house have been explained! Just want to say thank you to you and your family for all the information to help people like me who can not afford to have it done by someone else!
I used the version of these fans with lights in both of the bathrooms in my mobile home which has vaulted ceilings througout, so there is no access to void above the ceiling. The master bath didn't have an exhaust fan as that bathroom had a window and code says an opening window negates the need for a fan for some reason. In that bathroom I was able fish wire from the GFCI to a new switch and into the ceiling, then cut the hole in the ceiling, cut a hole in the gable end about 2 feet away and run flex duct over and connect it all without opening up the ceiling more than needed for the fan. The other replaced a noisy 1980s mobile home fan/light and I was able to connect up to the existing roof vent. These are great products for this purpose and saved me from having to put in much noisier and ugly "mobile home" quality fans. Love the videos!
Been watching for 2 years. Videos getting better. You're a natural behind the tools and the camera. Thanks for the great vids and keep them coming. I"m an investor and its great to see videos that provide options for "older" homes.
Jeff, I'm about to do a huge reno on my first apartment...and I've been spending all my spare time watching your videos! They are so helpful! And I'm in Vancouver, so the fact you're in Canada using things I can find is even better. Can't wait to get started!
Pro tip: when you move the attic access lid out of the way, use the back of your hands and you won't leave dirty fingerprints. (Same concept with drop ceiling tiles)
Soooooooo I immediately fast forwarded to 7:06 as I read this comment!! The mother of all evil bathroom fan installations!!! And, I'm laughing with you when I say the sweat dripping from your face made it so much funnier!! Hope all is well bud, Dirty Jersey out!!! Oh, P.S. Once again, I learned something new.
Excellent video. My dad was an electrician which meant I got to spend a lot of time in attic & crawl space areas... can't tell you the number of times I encountered DIY situations similar to the install you replaced. Thanks for sharing the proper install!
This guy knows everything building-related. I have watched so many of his videos, and I never fail to be impressed with his depth of knowledge and attention to detail.
I just installed a similar fan this week, but didn't know the option to install without cutting sizable drywall from around it. I don't recall that being in the instructions. But I also had to move the fan because the electrical was too short for the way the exhaust was oriented, so I would have had to open up the ceiling regardless. The homeowner chose the fan, but I probably would have bought the same one for the space and budget. It's good to know there's a product out there that can be installed without accessing the space above or slicing out several inches -- or feet -- of drywall. Thanks for the great tutorial.
As a guy who does air sealing and insulation for my business I appreciated your pain in the attic. I have one additional step that I recommend with bath fans. In the attic side use a fire blocking foam I.e. Great Stuff around the base and caulk it from below to prevent the conditioned space air from having an easy route to get into the attic’s cold space.
Eric Muller Yes, that is why the sealing of bypasses is so important. If cold enough for any length of time it can go so far as to make icicles that when melting will discolor the ceiling and as mentioned can allow mold to grow. I’m going to make $11K in three days later this month because of that very issue.
Fixing our house for resale. We replaced one fan in our kids' bathroom... what a nightmare! We're too old to be stooped down in a cramped attic for an hour! LONG run from the fan to the exterior of the house..which was disconnected and full of nesting material. We're avoiding the other two fans til later... maybe the buyer won't complain about the noise... Love your channel!
Hi. Montreal here. I vry much enjoy your expertise and vocal delivery. Max does it right too ! Ii ve done a few houses of my own. We are now on month 9 of our own place. Doing a second bathroom. Had a helluva time properly venting the fan outside. Looking forward to finally installing the fan itself. The ducts, the hole, the electrics, the ceiling, joints, paint. Patience grasshopper
Another option can be to buy the same model fan as the existing one, and just swap the motors out. Easier said than done but not a terrible job. You may need a multi tool with a carbide blade to cut the old motor and mount off the new and old units. You may need metal drill bits to drill out rivets to remove the motor/ mount. You will need self tapping metal screws to install the new motor and mount into the old housing. Not too tough and it's way easier than trying to remove an existing unit. Edit: It's also an excellent option if you don't have a space to access the old fan's attachment points.
You're right -- that was a crazy bad "original" install! The installer only gets points for using rigid ducting which causes the least amount of air turbulence, so less noise and a bit more air flow. I suspect that the dripping was 99% caused by condensation rather than water intrusion. That's why you're adding the insulated flex duct, after all. You didn't stress the condensation issue as much as water intrusion. Nice to see that manufacturers are coming up with designs that allow easier replacing of existing fans! Good video as always -- it checks (ticks) all the boxes -- good production value, covers the topic well, and enjoyable to watch. I would give you extra points if you had used tuck tape to cover all of the housing's unused holes, but I'm happy to see that you taped the larger gap at least.
This is a job that begs for protective eyewear. That hole is gonna sprinkle stuff into one's eyes. I've had fiberglass get stubbornly stuck into a tear duct.
Great video. Just goes to show ya, any job can end up leading you down the “another” project to be done path. Fan, duct work, electrical, dry wall.....
I agree that a 1 sone level fan is just fine. It's not annoyingly loud, but also not so quiet that people might think it's not working. A bathroom fan is one example where having at least a little sound is probably a good idea.
Just started an upstairs remodel on my duplex. Found out the 1st floor bathroom vent fan vents to exactly.... nowhere lol. I'll try and skip the step where you break the new plastic critter guard on the outside vent though ;-) Appreciate all of your videos!
@@OriginaIJuke Thanks for the advice. Makes sense when I think about it. If I bend them flush it will be a pain to replace anything that they hold in place.
This is the EXACT problem I have in my bathroom! Thank you for this video so next week when the Lead pipe is replaced , I know that the bath fan is next. I’m grateful for you sharing this!
If your fan is fine except the motor is dying (noisy), you may be able to buy a replacement fan motor for $25. This is much easier to install. Mine seems to die every 8 years or so. The fan he is showing looks pretty nice.
Im a little late to the party on this one, but I think you'll get a kick out of this.... We renovated both the bathrooms and replaced the fart fans in both. Turns out the "duct work" for the old ones were corrugated drain pipe that went from the fan to the top soffit.... or just into the attic itself. Fun times..... Needless to say between your videos and this old house, I was able to do it right myself. Cheers sir!
There’s NO reason water should be getting into the duct. There should be a sealed roof jack and a vented cap on the roof preventing water from entering inside or outside of vent. Ducting is not a P-trap and shouldn’t be installed that way. Any unnecessary bends in the ducting makes it harder for air to flow and the positive pressure in the pipe will make the fan noise louder as well as reduce CFM’s. A toto small diameter duct will do the same. Also excessive bends in flexible duct create pockets for lint to collect and will eventually block air flow. Don’t even bother with 3” duct, Always run 4” for 70-150CFM or 6” for 150+CFM. Always run as much rigid duct as possible and keep entire duct as short as possible to reduce inside pipe pressure. Good rule of thumb match CFM’s to sq ft of room. A 50sq ft or 5x10 1/2 bath gets a 50CFM A 10x10 full bath gets 100cFM, and I always round up and over size them but get 1/2-1 some devices. Panasonic whisper is the bees knees. I’ve installed well over 100 fart fans.
Glad to see an early comment about as much rigid duct as possible to reduce static pressure yielding more air flow when compared to a flexible duct of same length.
This is why I do my own work. Ripped out the 4 inch flexible lines. Upgraded vents to 6” rigid, insulated R8, 2 backdraft dampers (one on each end) per line, strapped and secured vents, caulked and sealed around fan, installed timer on switches. Immensely superior to the cheap builder install. As the homeowner, I want to prevent problems, save energy and improve comfort for the family. Plus, working with my hands gives me a satisfaction that I don’t get with my office job.
Agreed! That "P trap" style duct bend idea is pretty misguided. The bends will cause extra resistance to the flow, and the resulting air velocity changes will cause turbulence inside the duct. Especially with a flexible duct, all those ridges and sags will cause turbulent flow and unnecessary resistance and energy loss. In the end, this adds up to lower fan efficiency and potential for condensation & water collection points. Both of these are undesirable. References: web.archive.org/web/20191025165356/www.nachi.org/bathroom-exhaust.htm web.archive.org/web/20191025165124/www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-science-of-sag-flex-duct-and-air-flow web.archive.org/web/20191025165158/www.energyvanguard.com/blog/74831/The-2-Primary-Causes-of-Reduced-Air-Flow-in-Ducts
Great video for DIYer. I'm doing this project but a new install. I'm using aluminum tape, aluminum flex line [super tight run] and went from 4" to 6" pipe.
I was planning on replacing my fan this past winter because it was only a 70cfm and sounded like a jet engine. Got myself an nice 110cfm fan/light combo but when I pulled out the existing fan guess what I didn't find? Ducting. Turns out the fan was being vented directly into the attic (which shouldn't have surprised me based on the other half-assed things I have found done in this house) Let me just say, it isn't fun installing a roof vent in the winter. Love your videos, very entertaining and informative not to mention getting to see you use products I can actually get in Canada
Thanks Robin, First let me say Thank You for your service. Sometimes i feel like we really miss it in Canada with our lack of Honoring our Service men and Women. In regards to the fan, you are a real man to do that in the winter. Way to go. Let me know if you ever have a question. Cheers!
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY Thank you for your support. Most of us are just happy to have a coffee bought for us :) I look forward to your next series renovating your house. I just purchased my home last year and it was built in 1910 so I have a feeling I will be running into a lot of "stuff". I have already had to deal with a cracked shower stall base, due to it not being supported properly, and discovered the old knob and tube wiring was only removed where it could be seen. Not to mention the fan. Adventure awaits.
Personally I think a more preventative exterior vent cover would be the best option. Later down the road when that duct fails from age or rodent damage, you can have a constant leak into the attic where it may go undetected. Not everyone uses their exhaust vent regularly, especially the elderly.
Thank yous for the video, two suggestions for you, first use Wago 221-412 connectors for the connection, after one use you will be sold to them, second thing, use an Oscillating tools to fine cutting, you will be able to cut very easely without making a mess. Keep going, I love your video !!!
Thank you so much for the advice, especially the extra wiring tutorial. About to do this on my first house flip, and I'm much more comfortable doing it now. Great video sir!!
Thanks for an excellent description in this how to and the very good warning about the attachment of the grill to the ceiling. I would add that instead of using the little M shape wire mechanism, I made two little holes in the plastic and attached with 2 little screws, it took a couple of minutes and easy to do now and later, no fuss. Thanks !
Best to get a inline fan installed by a electrician, don't cost much, the wire connector is called a ideal wings, marette or a cap, you can get em in the UK, but they are not upto the regulations or as they say in North America, code,
I just bought a couple of the Panasonic Whisper Remodel fans from Home Depot in Kanata for $130. Great fans. Probably easier to install this one, has two speeds 80/110CFM and very quiet. Replaced the main floor bathroom fan already. Just waiting for a little warmer weather to do the second floor en-suite. Lots of blown in insulation I have to deal with. Great video!
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY Oh hear ya! No I won't be going up there in the summer. When we finally reach double digit temps here in Ottawa, that I find is the perfect time to get up there. I do have really good ventilation in the attic. Pretty close the same temps as outside, on a cloudy day of course.
Dang, wish you would have shown the electrical connection as that is my weakest areas of home DIY, a side from that will follow this when I fix my own fan in a few weeks when I get to it!
The red and black are separate power switch legs for combo fan-lights. One is for the light the other is for the fan. Usually your fan will have a separate blue wire that controls the light and that is what you connect the red wire to. But if you dont know what your doing call a professional
As a homeowner and home handyman who used to own a construction company and has probably made every rookie mistake in the book (and lived to tell about it), I appreciate the way you broke the video down for everyone. Still, the snob in me cringed when you stepped up on the toilet (you did step up on the toilet, didn't you?) omighosh, how many times have i done THAT? And, when you looked behind you and said, "make sure the switch is off".. .lol.. that's why my cousin used to call me Sparky! never turned a breaker off in my life! Great vid, bro!!
did this in my house couple years back, catch was that it was a mansard type roof, had barely 3 feet of space in the middle of the roof, and had to change the ducting as well which was all the way at the edge, I literally had to put pieces of plywood down to slide over to the roof vent, where i prayed I only had longer arms, boy was that a hard install, and yeah them nails are no joking matter. great job as always.
Ed P He’s got a show.... this one. Much more accessible to everyone on the planet, and HE controls what he does and when he does it. Sounds ideal to me.
I enjoy your sense of humor over something so frustrating!! I'm replacing my kids bathroom Broan-Nutone fan/light with mine as theirs stopped working. The problem is there is no ducting hose, actually a broken piece @6 in. long and I have reach in and felt around to wall and couldn't find the rest of it or where it goes. Just tons of lint/dust...in joist. In the masterbath, from which I'm replacing their fan/light with, the hose is attached up until the wall then seams to be heading downward but not sure to where?? I've checked soffits outside and there isn't any lint or vent outlet, just sewerage vent tube in roof. These are not attatched to that. I think they're just vented to the wall. I"m going to go thru a very narrow crawl space in my attic that I finished and already took extra insulation I put in at the time and hopefully see if the hose/hoses are attached to anything before I put in my fan. We bought the house new 23 years ago in a few days and replaced these already. I appreciate any light you can shine on this very frustrating situation that I'm not taking any near as well as you!!! Thank You in advance!!
Beautiful. I love your no-nonsense directions. I have a metal roof and don't fancy cutting through it but I have a home with NO exhaust fans in either bathroom. Can these be installed through an outside wall up high close to the eaves?
I love your videos! Just bought our forever home. I'm going to be on this channel quite a bit! Your painting videos helped me sell my house! Thank you!!
My old fan was simply vented to the attic! Do you have a video showing how to install a roof vent? I understand that running it out to the soffit is a no-no.
Into the attic is super bad (mold!), into the soffit is not good because it's not made to be a vent (backpressure among other problems). There may be a soffit vent you can install, but generally speaking, roof vents will come with their own installation instructions, the key is to follow them properly and ensure the vent is installed into the existing roof system (membrane, shingles, etc.) properly. Maybe there are retrofit vent installs though?
Wow. this represents actual reality.. this is what real houses are like. YES.. most video's have little basis in reality.. This guy is great for posting this.. and for about as hundred other reasons.
U are an awesome dude. I love it wen there’s sweat n laughter fixing some dumbasses installation.😅😅 great job for your hard work n effort to teach the things u know.👍👍
Got up in the attic - bathroom fan is not vented to the outside - just blowing into the attic - Hoo-effing-ray!! Do you have a video about installing a duct line from the top of the fan out the side of the house?
I installed one last year and had no idea I could remove the inside. Had to make a bigger hole in the ceiling cause I had no idea you could remove those side flaps! Thanks... now I'll be ready to replace it.
Good Video. I know mine had water come in. I looked and it is a straight shot out of the roof. I will have to change this now. My attic space is much smaller that what you worked in and I will to lie on my belly to get to it. Thanks for the info.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom, it is of great help to us, especially me, because I have to replace my fan in my bathroom. Thank you for your advice.
Sometimes I think that you're stalking me, because every DIY project I'm about to start, you release a video right at the perfect time to help see my project through to success. I just unboxed my new exhaust fan April 1st. Slightly creepy with the timing, but I thank you very much for this channel and providing so many excellent DIY tips. :)
Good informative video. BUT always remember to wear EYE PROTECTION when doing projects like this. I cringed as I saw you looking up and moving .twisting and sawing.
If you have a kind of a S loop in the vent, will the water possibly damage the vent hose? I assume in most cases, it will just evaporate. Thanks. Keep up the good work. I learned many things but mainly that you can use a flexible vent house. I have metal ones in my attic.
My home has the same problem as in the video, except; they just put the piping on top of the insulation and didn't vent it to anything. I have (2) bathrroms separated by a wall. Can I run both out of the same roof vent? (assuming I am supposed to punch a hole in the roof). Thanks for a great video!
In the future I would wear a mask in the attic. You don't realize how much insulation you just breathed in. Take a picture with flash on your phone if you don't believe me, micro particles are entering your lungs as you made this video.
Thanks for this video. It finally motivated me to replace my noisy fan. Thanks to this video I only glanced over the instructions. Everything went just as you showed. Perfect! Thanks.
Haha, I had the playback set to .75 speed from another video and then when this started, I was pretty sure you were stoned...
This is the funniest thing. I just watched a little and my family can't stop laughing. Cheers for that!
This is the funniest thing on the internet!!!!!
Cheers Dan, If a man can't laugh at himself then the rest of the world surely will. Better laugh along with everyone!
Saw this and had to play the beginning back slowed down. About fell out of my chair laughing at the "and that is just nasty!"
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY Anyone remember the "MicroMachines" commercials from the 80-90's? Turn him on 2x speed and it sounds just like one of those! :D
Finally a realistic home reno video. As soon as you went in the attic and the vent pipe wasn't connected I was like, "YES!" I don't know how many times I've run into garbage installs. I often stare in amazement wondering how the install could not have failed and surprised half the house isn't flooded or laced with mold.
I just loved it how he explain like a teacher with patience and very thorough. Great job sir, you are very good.
11:50 The problem I have had with my NuTone fans, and I see it at 11:50 with your fan, is the housing which has numerous metal holes stamped in it. Additionally, the open areas around the frame where it cuts into the ceiling is also quite porous. They represent giant air leaks into the attic. I covered all the holes with either tape or latex sealant, and then from the attic I sprinkled loose insulation around the entire housing. After this additional work, my 3 fans are now air tight.
Thanks Jeff! I replaced our noisey 10 year old bath fan with a NuTone no attic access model. Your easy to follow suggestions made the install smooth. My older model was larger so I then had to follow your California ceiling patch video! Thanks again. You saved me $500.
Saw this and as an electrician who has installed hundreds....thousands???? of fans over the last 3 decades I was curious. Awesome job Jeff and thanks for stressing the use of the box connectors and pre-twisting your conductors before putting the marrette on. I don’t know how many bad connections I’ve repaired over the years done by people who didn’t ensure the marrette connection was twisted properly it has exposed copper. Two big thumbs up!
Thanks Geoff, Glad to hear you liked the vid. We are trying to help homeowners who can't afford contractors to do a better job than hey could otherwise.!
Absolutely one of the greatest How to video guys around. Clear, shows steps and like me discovers problems that happen in homes that are not only 5 years old. We have a house built in 1940 that was flipped. (Kinda). So surprises abound. And thank you for showing the "manhole" crawl space that so many old homes have. This attic looks just like mine! So appreciate the indepth details, and easy explanation. Well done!
Thank you for using a configuration that needed the attic addressed. Too often we get the "everything is right where it should be" video, only to discover WTH on the other side of the "simple" repair/replace video. At the least, it informs us to check the other side, before starting.
I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one who goes to install something and find that it's more involved than it was supposed to be. Another great job... 👍👍👍👍
Cheers Ron, I like surprises but sometimes you just need to shake your head!
Doing this type of update in an old house: fixing sinful DIY can be frustrating, but once done properly, the end product is so rewarding with a wrong made right. Thanks again for another great DIY update vid.
That fan was the missing link to a lot of water damage in that house. Cheers!
Enjoyed your video - went to Home Depot and got the 'no attic access' unit 100 CFM for $119. The instructions provided never referred to the installation of the L-shaped piece with the electric knock-out (it looked different than the one that you installed) in it. It was 81 today and I ended up having to go into the attic too in order to find the 3-wire that my electrician fished up from an old single switch so that I could run the fan and light independently. Thanks for giving me (50+ woman) the confidence to tackle this!
I always found it funny how there are exhaust fans that are bragging about being quieter. I always appreciated louder fans so you could do you #2 business without worrying about someone outside the bathroom hearing the sound effects.
Kevin J. A. That is exactly what I think of every time a new quiet vent fan is mentioned...to have the fan make its noise is half the job I expect it to do when I turn it on....and the noise is just as important as the air movement.
Kevin J. A. No kidding! Plus if it’s not audible, I don’t think it’s working
I have no fan yet (which is why I am watching the videos) I Had to put alexa in the bathroom to play tunes hands free. Also fun to have her play fart sounds when someone else is in the bathroom!!
@@jeffharrison6059 waste water ur bad
fiber helps
This man is awesome. He makes me want to do home renovations. I love his work ethic. He is the best.
You have become my favorite home improvement guy on RUclips. I am surprised by some of your competition at times that really do suspect installations and I never see you cut corners. You really are a good teacher, because you typically explain why you do what you do and short cuts even. I am a DIY probably middle of the road talent and I usually read up and study every project I take on if I haven't done it before, but your channel is like shooting fish in a barrel. Thank you!
First-time homebuyer here. I found your videos when we first started looking for a home to buy almost 7 months ago and didn't know exactly how much work the house we wound up in would need. We finally found a place and will be moving in soon, and this project is one of the first ones we plan to try and take care of ourselves (including replacing non-insulated ducting going out of the roof!). We have a pretty cramped attic space, as well, and since I'm the "small one" at 5'2" I'll most likely be doing a lot of the work up there. All of the information in this video has me feeling a lot more confident to tackle that! :)
One of the other projects we have planned for this year is to improve the insulation in the attic. We're in Michigan, so there are plenty of pretty hot and cold days to go around! Currently, there is existing blown-in insulation, but it's uneven, missing in spots, and there is not a large volume of it overall. An inspection found that it likely below an R40 value. Do you have any recommendations on how to best improve the overall "insulation situation" up there? Would just adding additional blown-in insulation be enough?
Thanks again for all of your helpful videos. I really appreciate you taking the time to walk through every step, even the "simple" things!
I bought a house that's a lazy handyman nightmare! I'm thinking my bathroom fan might not be installed properly as well. Thanks to your videos, I know what to look for and how to fix it! I have learned so much from your videos! So many issues with my house have been explained! Just want to say thank you to you and your family for all the information to help people like me who can not afford to have it done by someone else!
Happy to help Dionne. Cheers!
I used the version of these fans with lights in both of the bathrooms in my mobile home which has vaulted ceilings througout, so there is no access to void above the ceiling. The master bath didn't have an exhaust fan as that bathroom had a window and code says an opening window negates the need for a fan for some reason. In that bathroom I was able fish wire from the GFCI to a new switch and into the ceiling, then cut the hole in the ceiling, cut a hole in the gable end about 2 feet away and run flex duct over and connect it all without opening up the ceiling more than needed for the fan. The other replaced a noisy 1980s mobile home fan/light and I was able to connect up to the existing roof vent. These are great products for this purpose and saved me from having to put in much noisier and ugly "mobile home" quality fans. Love the videos!
Been watching for 2 years. Videos getting better. You're a natural behind the tools and the camera. Thanks for the great vids and keep them coming. I"m an investor and its great to see videos that provide options for "older" homes.
Thanks Tony, glad to hear our efforts are working. Cheers!
Jeff, I'm about to do a huge reno on my first apartment...and I've been spending all my spare time watching your videos! They are so helpful! And I'm in Vancouver, so the fact you're in Canada using things I can find is even better. Can't wait to get started!
Pro tip: when you move the attic access lid out of the way, use the back of your hands and you won't leave dirty fingerprints. (Same concept with drop ceiling tiles)
My son just texted me. says to watch at 7:06 on .5 speed. He can't stop laughing. Cheers!
I'm partial to the 1.5 speed :) especially when you're pointing around and talking with your hands
Soooooooo I immediately fast forwarded to 7:06 as I read this comment!! The mother of all evil bathroom fan installations!!! And, I'm laughing with you when I say the sweat dripping from your face made it so much funnier!! Hope all is well bud, Dirty Jersey out!!! Oh, P.S. Once again, I learned something new.
Loving ti Steve Knox!
Cheers Mike!
But the intro at .5x man. Too much to handle.
Excellent video. My dad was an electrician which meant I got to spend a lot of time in attic & crawl space areas... can't tell you the number of times I encountered DIY situations similar to the install you replaced. Thanks for sharing the proper install!
Those must be some great and itchy memories. Cheers!
This guy knows everything building-related. I have watched so many of his videos, and I never fail to be impressed with his depth of knowledge and attention to detail.
Cheers my friend!
i appreciate the sweat. makes me feel better about being soaked after doing any home project.
I just installed a similar fan this week, but didn't know the option to install without cutting sizable drywall from around it. I don't recall that being in the instructions. But I also had to move the fan because the electrical was too short for the way the exhaust was oriented, so I would have had to open up the ceiling regardless. The homeowner chose the fan, but I probably would have bought the same one for the space and budget.
It's good to know there's a product out there that can be installed without accessing the space above or slicing out several inches -- or feet -- of drywall.
Thanks for the great tutorial.
As a guy who does air sealing and insulation for my business I appreciated your pain in the attic.
I have one additional step that I recommend with bath fans. In the attic side use a fire blocking foam I.e. Great Stuff around the base and caulk it from below to prevent the conditioned space air from having an easy route to get into the attic’s cold space.
Will the condition space air going to the cold attic air produce ice on the nails in attic during winter season?
yes it will, and mold on the plywood!
Eric Muller Yes, that is why the sealing of bypasses is so important. If cold enough for any length of time it can go so far as to make icicles that when melting will discolor the ceiling and as mentioned can allow mold to grow. I’m going to make $11K in three days later this month because of that very issue.
Fixing our house for resale. We replaced one fan in our kids' bathroom... what a nightmare! We're too old to be stooped down in a cramped attic for an hour! LONG run from the fan to the exterior of the house..which was disconnected and full of nesting material. We're avoiding the other two fans til later... maybe the buyer won't complain about the noise... Love your channel!
this world needs more of JEFF
Thank you, Very kind!
Hi. Montreal here. I vry much enjoy your expertise and vocal delivery. Max does it right too ! Ii ve done a few houses of my own. We are now on month 9 of our own place. Doing a second bathroom. Had a helluva time properly venting the fan outside. Looking forward to finally installing the fan itself. The ducts, the hole, the electrics, the ceiling, joints, paint. Patience grasshopper
Great advice, one of the most important tools in the tool box. Cheers!
Another option can be to buy the same model fan as the existing one, and just swap the motors out. Easier said than done but not a terrible job. You may need a multi tool with a carbide blade to cut the old motor and mount off the new and old units. You may need metal drill bits to drill out rivets to remove the motor/ mount. You will need self tapping metal screws to install the new motor and mount into the old housing. Not too tough and it's way easier than trying to remove an existing unit.
Edit: It's also an excellent option if you don't have a space to access the old fan's attachment points.
You're right -- that was a crazy bad "original" install! The installer only gets points for using rigid ducting which causes the least amount of air turbulence, so less noise and a bit more air flow. I suspect that the dripping was 99% caused by condensation rather than water intrusion. That's why you're adding the insulated flex duct, after all. You didn't stress the condensation issue as much as water intrusion. Nice to see that manufacturers are coming up with designs that allow easier replacing of existing fans! Good video as always -- it checks (ticks) all the boxes -- good production value, covers the topic well, and enjoyable to watch. I would give you extra points if you had used tuck tape to cover all of the housing's unused holes, but I'm happy to see that you taped the larger gap at least.
This is a job that begs for protective eyewear. That hole is gonna sprinkle stuff into one's eyes. I've had fiberglass get stubbornly stuck into a tear duct.
Great video. Just goes to show ya, any job can end up leading you down the “another” project to be done path. Fan, duct work, electrical, dry wall.....
I agree that a 1 sone level fan is just fine. It's not annoyingly loud, but also not so quiet that people might think it's not working. A bathroom fan is one example where having at least a little sound is probably a good idea.
Just started an upstairs remodel on my duplex. Found out the 1st floor bathroom vent fan vents to exactly.... nowhere lol. I'll try and skip the step where you break the new plastic critter guard on the outside vent though ;-)
Appreciate all of your videos!
Your head was so close to a few of those nails in the attic, every time you moved I was like oh crap lol.
almost got me. Cheers!
I have a lot of those nails in the roof of my garage and I hate them. Can I just snip them off?
@@alexandrw1000 dont, and please dont bend them over either. I've had to tear off shingles where the home owner did that and it's a nightmare
@@OriginaIJuke Thanks for the advice. Makes sense when I think about it. If I bend them flush it will be a pain to replace anything that they hold in place.
@@alexandrw1000 Could always put some kind of cover over them, foam or something similar that can be easily removed if ever needed.
This is the EXACT problem I have in my bathroom! Thank you for this video so next week when the Lead pipe is replaced , I know that the bath fan is next. I’m grateful for you sharing this!
If your fan is fine except the motor is dying (noisy), you may be able to buy a replacement fan motor for $25. This is much easier to install. Mine seems to die every 8 years or so. The fan he is showing looks pretty nice.
Im a little late to the party on this one, but I think you'll get a kick out of this.... We renovated both the bathrooms and replaced the fart fans in both. Turns out the "duct work" for the old ones were corrugated drain pipe that went from the fan to the top soffit.... or just into the attic itself. Fun times..... Needless to say between your videos and this old house, I was able to do it right myself. Cheers sir!
There’s NO reason water should be getting into the duct. There should be a sealed roof jack and a vented cap on the roof preventing water from entering inside or outside of vent.
Ducting is not a P-trap and shouldn’t be installed that way. Any unnecessary bends in the ducting makes it harder for air to flow and the positive pressure in the pipe will make the fan noise louder as well as reduce CFM’s.
A toto small diameter duct will do the same. Also excessive bends in flexible duct create pockets for lint to collect and will eventually block air flow. Don’t even bother with 3” duct,
Always run 4” for 70-150CFM
or 6” for 150+CFM.
Always run as much rigid duct as possible and keep entire duct as short as possible to reduce inside pipe pressure.
Good rule of thumb match CFM’s to sq ft of room.
A 50sq ft or 5x10 1/2 bath gets a 50CFM
A 10x10 full bath gets 100cFM, and I always round up and over size them but get 1/2-1 some devices.
Panasonic whisper is the bees knees.
I’ve installed well over 100 fart fans.
Two words "handymen" don't understand, static pressure. I worked in commercial and industrial HVAC and we always did a hard run on fart fans.
Glad to see an early comment about as much rigid duct as possible to reduce static pressure yielding more air flow when compared to a flexible duct of same length.
This is why I do my own work. Ripped out the 4 inch flexible lines. Upgraded vents to 6” rigid, insulated R8, 2 backdraft dampers (one on each end) per line, strapped and secured vents, caulked and sealed around fan, installed timer on switches. Immensely superior to the cheap builder install. As the homeowner, I want to prevent problems, save energy and improve comfort for the family. Plus, working with my hands gives me a satisfaction that I don’t get with my office job.
I agree. Run rigid duct whenever possible. Less chance for moisture buildup. Don't understand why he would suggest his way. Just saying.
Agreed! That "P trap" style duct bend idea is pretty misguided. The bends will cause extra resistance to the flow, and the resulting air velocity changes will cause turbulence inside the duct. Especially with a flexible duct, all those ridges and sags will cause turbulent flow and unnecessary resistance and energy loss.
In the end, this adds up to lower fan efficiency and potential for condensation & water collection points. Both of these are undesirable.
References:
web.archive.org/web/20191025165356/www.nachi.org/bathroom-exhaust.htm
web.archive.org/web/20191025165124/www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-science-of-sag-flex-duct-and-air-flow
web.archive.org/web/20191025165158/www.energyvanguard.com/blog/74831/The-2-Primary-Causes-of-Reduced-Air-Flow-in-Ducts
Great video for DIYer. I'm doing this project but a new install. I'm using aluminum tape, aluminum flex line [super tight run] and went from 4" to 6" pipe.
This is one of the top items on my weekend to-do list right now, I'm so glad you posted this! Thanks man
Glad to help! Cheers!
I was planning on replacing my fan this past winter because it was only a 70cfm and sounded like a jet engine. Got myself an nice 110cfm fan/light combo but when I pulled out the existing fan guess what I didn't find? Ducting. Turns out the fan was being vented directly into the attic (which shouldn't have surprised me based on the other half-assed things I have found done in this house) Let me just say, it isn't fun installing a roof vent in the winter.
Love your videos, very entertaining and informative not to mention getting to see you use products I can actually get in Canada
Thanks Robin, First let me say Thank You for your service. Sometimes i feel like we really miss it in Canada with our lack of Honoring our Service men and Women. In regards to the fan, you are a real man to do that in the winter. Way to go. Let me know if you ever have a question. Cheers!
My uncle's house is done that way kitchen and bathroom - straight into the attic. His explanation "Back in the day as long as went somewhere... ."
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY Thank you for your support. Most of us are just happy to have a coffee bought for us :)
I look forward to your next series renovating your house. I just purchased my home last year and it was built in 1910 so I have a feeling I will be running into a lot of "stuff". I have already had to deal with a cracked shower stall base, due to it not being supported properly, and discovered the old knob and tube wiring was only removed where it could be seen. Not to mention the fan. Adventure awaits.
I would love to see your take on how to drill that 4 inch hole in an outside wall for a fan exhaust. Thanks!
Cheers Patrick. that is coming soon!
He makes thing simple and easy to understand. He is a good instructor/teacher who make learning fun. Appreciate him!
Personally I think a more preventative exterior vent cover would be the best option. Later down the road when that duct fails from age or rodent damage, you can have a constant leak into the attic where it may go undetected. Not everyone uses their exhaust vent regularly, especially the elderly.
Thank yous for the video, two suggestions for you, first use Wago 221-412 connectors for the connection, after one use you will be sold to them, second thing, use an Oscillating tools to fine cutting, you will be able to cut very easely without making a mess. Keep going, I love your video !!!
Thank you so much for the advice, especially the extra wiring tutorial. About to do this on my first house flip, and I'm much more comfortable doing it now. Great video sir!!
Thanks for an excellent description in this how to and the very good warning about the attachment of the grill to the ceiling. I would add that instead of using the little M shape wire mechanism, I made two little holes in the plastic and attached with 2 little screws, it took a couple of minutes and easy to do now and later, no fuss. Thanks !
"Don't send me any emails. I won't read it!" LOL Thanks for the upload! Cheers.
You make this really seem like a difficult problem to fix. This is what I call an IDEAL working situation......................................
"Woah!" I flinched when you almost drove your head into the nails or brads punched thru the ceiling @~ 4:39
Great to watch how Experts do DIY right. Never seen those wire caps before..very neat. Thank You from London for your clearly instructed videos 👍👍👍👌👌👌
You do get em in the UK, but its not up to much, use a wago or something, but, if you can get a electrician in, mores the better,
Best to get a inline fan installed by a electrician, don't cost much, the wire connector is called a ideal wings, marette or a cap, you can get em in the UK, but they are not upto the regulations or as they say in North America, code,
Hello,
Weird... I'm doing this in about an hour...
Perfect!
Timing is everything. Cheers!
I just bought a couple of the Panasonic Whisper Remodel fans from Home Depot in Kanata for $130. Great fans. Probably easier to install this one, has two speeds 80/110CFM and very quiet. Replaced the main floor bathroom fan already. Just waiting for a little warmer weather to do the second floor en-suite. Lots of blown in insulation I have to deal with. Great video!
You may want to reconsider that Todd. it is quite comfy up there this time of year. in the summer it will be upwards of 120 degrees up there
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY Oh hear ya! No I won't be going up there in the summer. When we finally reach double digit temps here in Ottawa, that I find is the perfect time to get up there. I do have really good ventilation in the attic. Pretty close the same temps as outside, on a cloudy day of course.
Very nice Todd, next week is starting to look good. Cheers!
Dang, wish you would have shown the electrical connection as that is my weakest areas of home DIY, a side from that will follow this when I fix my own fan in a few weeks when I get to it!
Hi Gilbert, white to white, black to black. Cheers!
First kill the power by flipping the circuit breaker.
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY yah but what if there's 6 wires and they're red black and white... Lol
The red and black are separate power switch legs for combo fan-lights. One is for the light the other is for the fan. Usually your fan will have a separate blue wire that controls the light and that is what you connect the red wire to. But if you dont know what your doing call a professional
I agree. My wires from old fan are too short. How do I add to wires to get additional length?
As a homeowner and home handyman who used to own a construction company and has probably made every rookie mistake in the book (and lived to tell about it), I appreciate the way you broke the video down for everyone. Still, the snob in me cringed when you stepped up on the toilet (you did step up on the toilet, didn't you?) omighosh, how many times have i done THAT? And, when you looked behind you and said, "make sure the switch is off".. .lol.. that's why my cousin used to call me Sparky! never turned a breaker off in my life! Great vid, bro!!
did this in my house couple years back, catch was that it was a mansard type roof, had barely 3 feet of space in the middle of the roof, and had to change the ducting as well which was all the way at the edge, I literally had to put pieces of plywood down to slide over to the roof vent, where i prayed I only had longer arms, boy was that a hard install, and yeah them nails are no joking matter. great job as always.
wow, That is a great story. Cheers!
"RUclips's favorite".. you damn right!!!! Love the videos and your personality. you need a TV show!
maybe one day, but I love being on RUclips. Cheers!
I totally agree...best DIY video and definitely the right guy doing it.
Thank you for posting this
Ed P He’s got a show.... this one. Much more accessible to everyone on the planet, and HE controls what he does and when he does it. Sounds ideal to me.
Thank you the tip about the trap on the ducting was very helpful.
I thought this was a channel about home improvement not a comedy hour. That piped moved like a trombone slide. 🤣🤣🤣
Cheers my man! Can do both at the same time once in a while.
I enjoy your sense of humor over something so frustrating!! I'm replacing my kids bathroom Broan-Nutone fan/light with mine as theirs stopped working. The problem is there is no ducting hose, actually a broken piece @6 in. long and I have reach in and felt around to wall and couldn't find the rest of it or where it goes. Just tons of lint/dust...in joist. In the masterbath, from which I'm replacing their fan/light with, the hose is attached up until the wall then seams to be heading downward but not sure to where?? I've checked soffits outside and there isn't any lint or vent outlet, just sewerage vent tube in roof. These are not attatched to that. I think they're just vented to the wall. I"m going to go thru a very narrow crawl space in my attic that I finished and already took extra insulation I put in at the time and hopefully see if the hose/hoses are attached to anything before I put in my fan. We bought the house new 23 years ago in a few days and replaced these already. I appreciate any light you can shine on this very frustrating situation that I'm not taking any near as well as you!!! Thank You in advance!!
When all you can do is laugh you know it's bad! 😂
It is either that or start crying. Cheers!
Beautiful. I love your no-nonsense directions. I have a metal roof and don't fancy cutting through it but I have a home with NO exhaust fans in either bathroom. Can these be installed through an outside wall up high close to the eaves?
If you get the opportunity, I would like to see how to remove drop down ceiling panels
kalia lee just lift the tile up and turn it on an angle and they will come out
Wow that was clever! Watch later, not sure once again, if I have same model fan..Thanks! You seem very intuitive! love that!
Hahha I love how you call out all the issues of the previous install and laugh at it. I can't stop laughing even though I'm a newbie.
I love your videos! Just bought our forever home. I'm going to be on this channel quite a bit! Your painting videos helped me sell my house! Thank you!!
Cheers happy to help and Congratulations!
My old fan was simply vented to the attic! Do you have a video showing how to install a roof vent? I understand that running it out to the soffit is a no-no.
Into the attic is super bad (mold!), into the soffit is not good because it's not made to be a vent (backpressure among other problems). There may be a soffit vent you can install, but generally speaking, roof vents will come with their own installation instructions, the key is to follow them properly and ensure the vent is installed into the existing roof system (membrane, shingles, etc.) properly. Maybe there are retrofit vent installs though?
Wow. this represents actual reality.. this is what real houses are like. YES.. most video's have little basis in reality.. This guy is great for posting this.. and for about as hundred other reasons.
This feels like me when I was trying to find the transformer to the doorbell wire. Ah, memories!
I have installed a whole bath with your help .. thanks
U are an awesome dude. I love it wen there’s sweat n laughter fixing some dumbasses installation.😅😅 great job for your hard work n effort to teach the things u know.👍👍
Jeff, Thanks so much. Inspired me to install the Nutone fan you recommended.
Got up in the attic - bathroom fan is not vented to the outside - just blowing into the attic - Hoo-effing-ray!! Do you have a video about installing a duct line from the top of the fan out the side of the house?
Great video .. excellent instruction .. made it very easy to understand..thanks again
I thought you were gonna use the rotozip to cut that drywall lol. I was waiting on it..lol i like the rotozip
need an exhaust fan just to use the rotozip. so much dust!
I installed one last year and had no idea I could remove the inside. Had to make a bigger hole in the ceiling cause I had no idea you could remove those side flaps! Thanks... now I'll be ready to replace it.
That is why i am a big supporter of reading the instructions. Cheers!
I can picture the dude who installed that muttering "good enough" and shimmying his butt out of the attic with the quickness.
I know a ton of guys like that! That is why DIY is a better way to go! Cheers!
Good Video. I know mine had water come in. I looked and it is a straight shot out of the roof. I will have to change this now. My attic space is much smaller that what you worked in and I will to lie on my belly to get to it. Thanks for the info.
2:30 "Play @ 0.75 speed, "She's a warrrmmm one up here, Max!!!"
My favorite DIY channel!
LOL, Thank you m,y friend. ! Cheers! I miss L.A already!
"this is an easy job to do" Literally has everything that can go wrong go wrong because of the guy from before lol
Unfortunately, that is the name of the game with home renos. You're usually doing the job because the last 'pro' screwed it up.
Dave C. Right on, more typical than not.
I spend a whole weekend watching your videos. Now I have the confidence to do almost anything. Thank you.
Man... next time wear a mask and gloves... insulation it’s awful for your Heath. Thanks for the video
thanks for your vids, i just started to work in construction and pretty new to everything so been watching your vids to help me understand things
I prefer louder fans so others can't hear me fart.
I love this guys attitude
Gloves, repirator, head and eye protection...attics are brutal!!!!!!!
Thank you for sharing your wisdom, it is of great help to us, especially me, because I have to replace my fan in my bathroom. Thank you for your advice.
14:32 "Not going to be left patching ceiling'.. 14:41 Ceiling patch complete!! :)
Sometimes I think that you're stalking me, because every DIY project I'm about to start, you release a video right at the perfect time to help see my project through to success. I just unboxed my new exhaust fan April 1st. Slightly creepy with the timing, but I thank you very much for this channel and providing so many excellent DIY tips. :)
Don't be creep ed out. Just lucky I guess. Cheers!
Good informative video. BUT always remember to wear EYE PROTECTION when doing projects like this. I cringed as I saw you looking up and moving .twisting and sawing.
If you have a kind of a S loop in the vent, will the water possibly damage the vent hose? I assume in most cases, it will just evaporate. Thanks. Keep up the good work. I learned many things but mainly that you can use a flexible vent house. I have metal ones in my attic.
No! The. Noise is to cover up fart noises.
LOL. I can help you soundproof the bathroom is necessary!
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY That might make for a great video (if you haven't already)!
A manly fart cannot be concealed by a mere fan.
nintendolunchbox Glad I’m not the only one who wants my fan to sound like a dirt bike 😂
@@HansDelbruck53 LMFAO!
My home has the same problem as in the video, except; they just put the piping on top of the insulation and didn't vent it to anything. I have (2) bathrroms separated by a wall. Can I run both out of the same roof vent? (assuming I am supposed to punch a hole in the roof). Thanks for a great video!
Wow those people need some serious help omg, craziness! Smh well at least they made one smart move, calling you to do their repairs.
we did the entire bathroom. What a nightmare reno before that. The entire video on that bathroom comes out this Saturday. Cheers!
Oh wow I know it looks a thousand percent better now. I will be looking forward to the video! Cheers!
I’ve been in my attic installing can lights. Best to do it now before summer is here. Attics can be brutal. Great video.
I love working in the attic first thing in the morning in the spring. cheers! Kind of peaceful.
@@HomeRenoVisionDIY Or 2 am after it's cooled down.
In the future I would wear a mask in the attic. You don't realize how much insulation you just breathed in. Take a picture with flash on your phone if you don't believe me, micro particles are entering your lungs as you made this video.
In your heart, you know he's right.
At least only breath through your nose
Clairity o agree with you. Even tho there is shortage of mask right now, I made some homemade mask to stop what I can
Man I didn’t catch that but I nailed him on the safety goggles!
Thanks for this video. It finally motivated me to replace my noisy fan. Thanks to this video I only glanced over the instructions. Everything went just as you showed. Perfect! Thanks.