I Have a small bathroom and it has a light that is separate from the exhaust fan. I want to upgrade it to a light and fan combo. Can this be done easily without having to go into the attic? I currently have the original exhaust fan from when the house was built in 1966. I already have three light switches in the bathroom.
Upgrade bathroom light and separate exhaust fan
bathroomexhaust-fan
Best Answer
Old school: probably not, unless the guy who wired that ceiling was generous with the wire.
Cool new tech: Yes. They make electronic switch controls which are designed to solve a different problem: "I want a light AND fan, but my bathroom is wired for a light only." This consists of a smart switch that goes in the site of the regular switch, and an electronic control module that sits in the fan housing.
Now, I'm guessing your old fan has a vent - that is to say, a pipe leading from the top/back of the fan to the great outdoors. That will be a consideration. Which is to say, if your fan/light combo is going where the fan was, that's not a worry. But otherwise, you will need to be up in the attic reconfiguring that pipe... and while you're up there, you might as well rearrange the wiring to your preference also.