Installing a Bathroom Fan Timer :: Improve Air Quality & Save Energy in an Afternoon
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Would you like to guess what my most frequent piece of advice is for homeowners to improve indoor air quality, comfort, and to help save energy? It isn’t air sealing, installing new windows (try dead last for that one), adding insulation, or anything else similar to that.
Quite simply, it is to install a $20 timer for the bathroom vents. As luck would have it, I had to replace a few in my place (thanks kids…). And I thought I’d show you the process of installing a bathroom fan timer.
Before we do get started, please use some common sense. Get help from a licensed electrician if needed. While this is a pretty easy DIY task, it doesn’t take much to get shocked, burned or even start a fire if you don’t know what you are doing.
If you find that you have aluminum wires you would probably be better hiring an electrician. At least make sure your timer is compatible with aluminum wiring & use the special anti-oxidant cream as needed.
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In this article, we will cover Replacing an existing Bath Fan Timer. Many of these steps will also apply to Replacing a Standard Switch with a Bath Fan Timer. The Bath Fan Timer used in this article is located on Amazon, here.
For more on Working with Electricians and the basics of the craft, see our category, Electrical. For a Quick Tip on Removing Back Stabbed Switches, jump to that below.
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Replacing a Bath Fan Timer
– Let the game begin – in this case we already had a timer installed, but I will show you both switches.
– If you do have an older timer like this, simply pull the knob off & remove the small nut.
*Remove the Switch Plate
– Once you unscrew the plate, I always like testing my tester to make sure the battery is still good.
*Turn off the Breaker
– Turn off the appropriate breaker – I generally cover it with electrical tape so no-one comes by & goes, ooh that should be on…
– It always pays to double check that the power is completely off where you are working. As we have shown before, it is amazing what some people will do with electric when they don’t know any better.
For more on understanding your breaker box, please see our article – Making Sense of the Breaker Panel.
*Remove the Existing Switch
– Unscrew the existing fan switch. Tip: I always recommend taking picture of the wiring & the connections before undoing it any further as some boxes can be quite unique.
*Working with a Back Stabbed Switch
– The existing timer had a screw accessible from the front for loosening up the wires. Now if you have a switch as shown on the right it will either be back stabbed or screwed into the terminals.
- If it is screwed in just loosen the screws.
- If it is back stabbed you generally will also have to loosen the screws &/or insert a small regular screwdriver into the slot shown to release the wire
*Wiring the Bath Fan Timer
– Depending on your timer, you may either have to use wire nuts, back stab, side stab or attach it via side screws. Each package will have directions on what is required & which wire goes where. In our case, we have three stranded wires that one should twist gently in a clockwise fashion.
Going off the timer on the right – the two black go together & the green goes to ground. If the timer was replacing the switch on the right one of the black wires would go to black, the other would go to the white & the green would still go to the ground.
*Mount the Fan Timer
– Once you are done wiring the timer up, reinsert it into the wall & tighten it down. Go turn on the breaker & test it out. If everything works fine, install the plate, pat yourself on the back, & go talk to everyone about how to use it, why & when. Then feel free to relax (or get busy with the next item) and enjoy your beverage of choice – Butterbeer anyone? : )
In case you are wondering, my second & third most frequent piece of advice unfortunately revolves around not only bathroom ventilation, but also dryer vents as many are not vented to the outside & they haven’t been cleaned in ages.
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Editor’s Note: Thanks to Sean & thanks for reading. ~jb
Hi Sean. I have the same Greenlee voltage detector, and while it works great, I only trust it for positive readings (i.e., if it says the circuit’s live, it’s live). But to verify that a circuit’s been de-energized, I’m in the habit of using a probed/direct contact voltmeter/multimeter on the terminals or conductors.
Now Butterbeer…I gotta go check that out. I saw the Hogwarts things on Twitter but didn’t make the connection, so heading over there (to your blog, that is) right now….
Great tutorial, Sean! I feel like even I might be able to handle that one myself.
Tammy, thanks for the comment and I am pretty sure you can – good luck
John, I have to agree with you on the Greenlee which is why I have a few other ones that will detect voltage from a phone line which is my primary tester before cutting into anything. Just remember though Bud – all things in moderation and I wouldn’t leave any out for the squirrels – it is almost like speed for them… : )
Great tips Sean! Preset timers do make things so much easier to assure proper ventilation… and no fans left running all day long by the kids!
One note to add is to use caution when selecting a preset electronic timer. Some do require a neutral (typically white) wire, and in some cases there may not be a neutral in the switch box. This could throw someone for a loop if unaware up front!
Thanks Paul & yes they do. I have to admit, I haven’t seen a timer like that, but I hear you on some of those boxes & the unique ways some things do get wired.
Sean,
Nice lil write up buddy! I think I will be doing this for my bathrooms now that I have actually seen a timer unit.. First time! :)
Take care, keep the good stuff coming out :)
-Nathan
the timer requires a neutral. i only have 3 wires. blk, wht, ground. can not install fan timer.
If you only have three wires in your box it means it’s an end of run switch location. If I follow Sean correctly on this post … he is simply jumping off of an already existing switch to a timer, meaning he is adding the timer to the switch. I would suspect that the timer you purchased would have instructions for your specific case, if it does not – it may not be the right timer for your application. I could be wrong, so feel free to correct me or perhaps Sean will jump on too and provide more insight here. good luck.
Simple answer, when in doubt, read the directions – sill in doubt please call an electrician
great advice Sean thanks.