This update describes the heat, cooling and ventilation system for the basement bathroom. Click here if you missed Part 16.
Basement Bathroom Ventilation Fan
The basement bathroom is connected to the central HVAC system by a ceiling vent that was installed by the builder. The HVAC vent takes care of heating and cooling, the bathroom did not have a exhaust fan and only a roughed-in light socket in the ceiling as shown:
Bathroom Ceiling – Light Socket
I replaced the simple light socket with a Broan Elite model QTR100L combination ventilation fan, 100 watt light and 4 wall night light unit. I chose this model for the high air flow, quiet operation and lighting options.
Broan QTR100L Fan/Light/Night Light Combo Unit
Another view of the Broan bath fan/light combination and the HVAC vent:
Broan QTR100L Bath Fan and HVAC Vent
Bathroom Ventilation Fan Installation Steps
To install the fan, I had to:
- Install plywood decking in the crawlspace.
This was a huge convenience as it made working much nicer compare walking on the ceiling joists. - Cut a hole in the exterior wall for the exhaust vent.
- Install a bird-proof vent cover on the outside wall.
- Cut a hole in the ceiling for the Broan QTR100L bath fan.
Note: The QTR100L (100 CFM) has been replaced by the newer QTR110L (110 CFM), otherwise the units are identical in function and wiring. - Mount the bath fan to the ceiling joist.
- Install a metal junction box for the power and light switch wiring.
- Wire the fan and switches.
- Connect the flexible vent duct to the fan and outside exhaust vent.
This is the bath fan installation in the ceiling crawlspace.
Bathroom Fan Hookup in the Ceiling Crawlspace
Closeup of the bathroom fan connections. The junction box, flexible armored wire conduit and vent duct must be purchased separately. To minimize vibrations, I caulked the seam between the fan housing and ceiling drywall.
Broan QTR110L Bathroom Fan/Light Installation
Ceiling Bathroom Fan and Light Wiring
The ceiling junction box wiring is a bit “busy” for the Broan QTR100L ceiling bath fan and light due to the wiring connections for the fan, primary light and night light. See the Broan QTR110L installation guide for details (the newer QTR110L model wiring is identical to the now discontinued QTR100L).
NM-B 14/3 electric cable enters the junction box at the bottom of the photo for the two light switch connections because it has two “hot” conductors (black and red colors). A separate NM-B 14/2 cable enters the bottom of the junction box in the photo for the fan circuit. The yellow jacketed NM-B 12/2 (12 gauge wire conductors) can be seen entering the armored flex conduit to the fan unit; I used NM-B 12/2 because I ran out of 14/2 cable here.
Broan QTR110L Bath Fan: Ceiling Junction Box Wiring
Notice the #10 green ground screw and ground wire connection in the center of the junction box in the above photo. Metal junction boxes must be grounded per the National Electrical Code (NEC).
The nutted wires are folded into the junction box before attaching the metal lid:
Broan QTR110L Bathroom Ceiling Fan Wiring: Junction Box
The bathroom fan, 100 watt light and 4-watt night light are controlled by 3-function switch as shown below. The bathroom fan is on a separate branch circuit from the main electrical panel and isolated from the GFCI outlet and vanity light.
Bathroom Exhaust Fan and Light Switches plus GFCI Outlet
I’m very pleased with the Broan QTR100L bathroom fan/light combo unit. The Broan bath fan is attractive and reasonably quiet for the large volume of air it pulls out of the room.
Related Project: Bathroom Exhaust Fan Replacement
More recently, I replaced an old and too-small “contractor grade” exhaust fan in the master bath with a Panasonic WhisperCeiling™ super quiet unit.
Finishing a Basement Bathroom
The sewage basin closure and plumbing connections are described in Part 18.
Take care,
Bob Jackson
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[...] The job is now 99% complete! Click here for Part 17. [...]
[...] Part 17 – Bathroom exhaust fan installation overview. [...]
[...] This installment discusses closing the sewage basin, testing the plumbing and a review of the various plumbing connections. You can read about the sewage pump installation in Part 9 of this project. The prior installment – Part 17 – is here. [...]