A bathroom exhaust fan is good as it helps purify the air in this room, removes the foul smell, and aids in air circulation. This means you need the best exhaust fan for your shower area. But can you install the exhaust fan with light directly above the shower?
Yes, you can install the exhaust fan above the shower. You can fix the fan and have its electrical connections run off the existing light. Alternatively, depending on your preference, you can have the new duct above the ceiling and have them share or use separate switches.
This is according to the residential building codes in most countries which require any room with a shower or bathtub to have a bathroom fan.
If you’re planning to install an exhaust fan with light directly above the shower, this article has your back as we’ll delve deeper into how to achieve this.
How Close Can Exhaust Fan Be to Shower?
When installing the exhaust fan, let it be closer to the shower to enable it to work effectively. Having it near the shower is much more important than the location you put it in. Let it be 1 foot away from the shower. It should also be between the door and shower to deliver preferred results.
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Best Place to Put an Exhaust Fan in the Bathroom
If you want your bathroom exhaust fan to work effectively, you need to install it in the right location.
To achieve this, you should consider installing it in;
The Area with High Moisture Content
The work of an exhaust fan is to eliminate wet, humid air in the bathroom. If you want to know where to fix the fan, look for the spot with high moisture content and fix it above it. Remember, the wet, humid air will encourage mold growth, and the moisture will damage the items in this room.
You can install the exhaust fan directly above the shower or bathtub. But if your bathroom has a shower and bathtub, let the fan be between the two to get better results.
The Vent Ductwork Route
Alternatively, you can use the ductwork route to establish the exhaust fan location. It’s advisable to have the vent ductwork use the shortest route to the roof. Let the fan be within 6 feet of the vent cap’s exterior, where the moisture escapes through.
You should avoid longer ductwork routes as it makes the exhaust fan ineffective and increases the chances of experiencing condensation in the duct. You can exit the duct through the gable wall or roof. But avoid using the side wall under the soffit as an exit ductwork route. If you do this, it will trap rising wet air through the eave overhang.
On the Attic
Sometimes it might be challenging to identify the exact spot to fix the exhaust fan in the bathroom. But the attic will come in handy and enable you to install the fan above the ceiling. To have an easy time fixing it, consider drilling a locator hole. Use a drill to make the hole through the ceiling material in the middle of the fan’s location. Then go to the attic to determine whether the location is ideal and there are no electrical wires or plumbing.
How To Install Exhaust Fan with Light Directly Above the Shower?
Disconnect The Power Supply
You should first switch off the power supply to the bathroom through the circuit breaker. Using the switch, you can test if the circuit breaker is on or off.
Remove The Light
Then remove the light cover from the light fixture. Use a ladder to reach the ceiling, then unscrew the holding screws. After removing the bulb, continue unscrewing the screws on the cover plate to enable you to get the wires. You should touch the wires after confirming that the circuit breaker is off for the second time.
Detach The Wire Connections
Afterward, rotate the existing twist-on wire connectors anti-clockwise to separate them from the paired white and black wires. Use pliers to straighten the wires. Also, ensure you unscrew the ground wire from the ground screw.
Fix A Cable to The Housing Box
You should fix the electrical cable from the exhaust fan to the housing box. You can use the fish tape to pull the cable from the ceiling to the housing box.
Attach The Cable to The Fan
The next step involves fixing the cable to the fan. Ensure the cables are attached to the right color wire on the fan and screw the neutral bare copper wire to the fan’s grounding screw.
Remove The Outer Sheath on The Cable
You should remove the outer sheath of the cable using a utility knife. Remove about 6 inches of the cable.
Connect The Wires
Attach the wires from the light fixture and switch to the cable from the fan. Ensure you fix them well by twisting them clockwise with pliers. Do this to the black, white, and neutral wires, add the twist-on wire nut, and cap them too.
Test If the Exhaust Fan and Light Are Working
Finally, return the wires to the housing box and fix the light bulb. Switch on the circuit breaker and test if the fan is working.
What To Consider Before Installing a Bathroom Exhaust Fan
Before installing the exhaust fan into your bathroom, you must consider some factors. The factors include;
Type Of Exhaust Fan Needed
You can install a ceiling-mounted, inline, or wall-mounted exhaust fan in your bathroom. The ceiling-mounted exhaust fan is common and helps remove moist air from the roof. The inline bathroom fan can be installed in the attic and are bigger than the ceiling or wall-mounted exhaust fans.
The Size of The Existing Exhaust Fan
You should also pick the right size of fan that will remove all the moisture within the bathroom. Avoid a smaller fan for a bigger bathroom as it won’t work effectively, encouraging mold and mildew.
Bottom Line
An exhaust fan is crucial in the bathroom or shower area as it helps regulate moisture levels preventing mold growth. To have the fan work effectively, choose the right location around the shower. You can install your exhaust fan with a light above the shower. However, you need to ensure it has the right IP rating.
