FAN-tastic!

Today was a day of cutting holes to install the new bathroom fan.

First came the hole in the new ceiling that we hung yesterday.  We actually had to cut the hole a tad larger than we expected to just to get the housing for the exhaust through and into position in the rafters.

Then outside we went.  We quite easily located where we wanted the exhaust hose to go since we knew we needed to be just left of an exhaust pipe located in the roof.  A template and a skill saw made quick work of the soffit.  When Rick threaded the hose from the bathroom ceiling to the soffit, the hole was right where it should have been.  The bright, sunny, warm day also made working outside not too tough to tolerate.

The fan exhaust outlet is rather inconspicuous under the
soffit, but getting the moisture out of the bathroom will
make a huge difference indoors.

Then came the wiring.  Rick was smart a couple of days ago to color code the wires that we pulled through the attic.  Because of that, we knew exactly what wires should go where on the fan end of things.  We were not so smart when we hid the switch wires in the wall three years ago, so when we go to hook up the switch to the fan, those wires may take a little investigation.

Once the wires were attached in the fan and the exhaust hose was threaded out to the soffit, we screwed it into place.  Now is the time to say a few fan prayers, if you know any.  We certainly hope that the fan actually was built properly and will run when we connect power to it tomorrow.  For now, at least it fits and looks good.

The new fan awaits a finished ceiling, some light bulbs, and
a cover to be complete.  Pray it works!

Rick next paid closer attention to the wall where he will place the switch.  Out came the old light switch box.  Rick cut a larger hole (hole number three today, if you are counting) to accommodate the two-gang box we purchased yesterday.  Then out came the single covered box that held the two wires we originally were going to use for an outlet in the cabinet. (That's a whole other story which I detailed back in 2011.)

Before,

Surprise!  Behind that box, we found a third wire coming down from the attic. Had we remembered there was a third wire there, we could have hooked up a night light in the fan, too.  We did not do so because we did not think we had enough wires.  Ah, well.  The fan is not coming down from the ceiling at this point, so I am sure that I will live without a night light in the fan.  Having a regular light in the shower when I bathe will be enough.

during, 

...and after we moved the boxes around to accommodate
the switches for both the main light and for the fan.  The final
switch for the fan also will contain two toggles--one for the light
and one for the actual fan.

With some not so gentle persuasion, Rick got all of the wires back into the two gang new box. We still have some wires to connect in the attic.  When we had the electricity updated three years ago, we made provisions for fans by having the electricians run wires from the attic access area in the hallway all the way to the electrical box in the garage.  Now we just need to tap into those wires by installing a new box in the attic, and by making the final connections in the electrical box. Then our new fan should be set to go.

The last thing Rick did this morning was to patch all of the rough openings, screws, and old holes in the wall in preparation for the tile setters in a couple of weeks.  While neither of us looks forward to the dust, having the room back in one piece will be great.

Today is Halloween.  Forty-two years ago today I had my first date with the dark-haired, brown-eyed, shy photo editor from the college newspaper.  The rest is history. Halloween is still my favorite holiday.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN, everyone!

Happy Halloween, Florida style.