Installation Guide

2
Step-by-step
installation
Step 1: Select a central
location for the fan
• Your whole house attic fan is designed for
horizontal mounting on the floor of your
attic, usually above a centrally located
hall
way.
• In the hallway, find the center of the ceiling
by measuring half the distance between the
walls. Mark the spot with a pencil.
• Drill a hole on the ceiling mark, and push
a straight length of wire through the hole so
you can locate it in the attic.
(Illustration A)
Step 2: Investigate
the attic location
• Go to the attic and find the hole you’ve
made in the ceiling from below.
• Locate the joist nearest to the hole.
• Clear the insulation from a 3 by 3-foot
area around the joist.
Wear work gloves to avoid skin irritation
from the insulation.
• Check for electrical and other wires or
pipes. If any wires or pipes are in the way,
you can ha
ve them moved by a professional
or pick another location to mount the fan.
• Check the clearance above the fan location.
There must be a
t least 30 inches between
the top of the fan and the roof.
Providing
enough air space above the fan helps
prevent the motor from overheating and
keeps it running efficiently.
•
Check the joist for stability (it should not
rock from side to side).
If the joist is
stable, move on to Step 3.
•
If the joist has too much play
,
install
stabilizers tha
t bridge across to the joists
on either side.
Do this by nailing do
wn
2 x 4-inch boards perpendicular to the
joists
(Illustration B). The 2 x 4s must be
at least as long as the fan (24 or 30 inches)
and must be spaced at least 36 inches
apart so that the fan fits between them.
Note: Do not cut any joists. Unless
properly framed, a cut joist can weaken
the structural support of the house.
Step 3: Mark the joist
•
From the attic, use the test hole you drilled
in Step #1 to estimate the center of the
hallway ceiling along the joist.
• At that spot, drill a hole on each side of the
joist so you can locate the joist in the
hallway ceiling below.
Step 4: Use template to
measure the hole in the
ceiling for the shutter
• From the hallway below, remove the
shutter from its carton and lay it aside.
• Cut out the template (pattern) printed on
the outside of the shutter carton with a
utility knife. Note that the center of the
template is marked with an x.
• On the hallway ceiling, make a mark
between the two holes you drilled from the
attic. Find the center of the ceiling by
measuring the distance to the walls on
each side, and adjust the mark.
• Use a thumbtack or push pin to temporarily
fasten the center of the template (marked
with an x) to the mark at the center of the
ceiling.
(Illustration C). Then, make sure
the template is straight by measuring the
distance to the wall on both ends. Hold the
template in position with thumbtacks or
push pins on the corners. Use a pencil to
draw a line around the outside of the
template.
Note: The ceiling cutout is for the shutter,
not the fan itself. Do not cut the hole in the
ceiling to the size of the fan assembly.
Step 5: Cut the hole
for the shutter
• Cut out the hole you have drawn around
the template, using a reciprocating saw,
saber saw or keyhole saw
. Be careful
not to cut into the joist.
• From the sheetrock you cut out, saw a
1
1
/
2-inch strip the full length of the
material. Then saw 2 inches off one
end of the strip.
• Screw the 1
1
/
2-inch-wide strip of
sheetrock to the bottom of the exposed
joist in the ceiling. Use 1-inch dr
ywall
screws. Leave a 1-inch space at each
end of the strip to allow for clearance of
the shutter frame.
(Illustration D)
• Place the shutter frame into the ceiling
cutout to see how it fits. Carefully shave
off excess sheetrock with a utility knife, if
necessary. Remove the shutter frame.
Step 6: Remove the fan blade
from the motor shaft
• Using a
1
/
4-inch Allen wrench, loosen the
setscrew that holds the fan blade on the
motor shaft. Pull the blade straight off the
D
Desired fan
location
C
1˝
1˝
B
Stabilizers
WHAT COMES IN THE CARTON
• To make sure you have everything you
need to install your new whole house
attic fan, unpack the carton and take
inventory. The carton should contain:
(1) Fan assembly mounted on
wooden frame
(2) Metal brackets for mounting fan
assembly to attic joist
(4)
1
/
4-inch bolts, 2
1
/
2 inches long,
with nuts
(6)
1
/
4-inch bolts, 1
1
/
4 inches long,
with nuts
(4) Pieces of skirting material
(stiff cardboard)
(12)
1
/
2-inch Phillips screws for
attaching skirting material
(1) Fan shutter packed in
its own carton.
(6) Screws with white painted heads
and (4) plastic anchors for
mounting shutter.
(1) Cardboard template, printed on
the outside of the shutter carton
(1) Electrical pull chain extension, (1)
pull chain connector and
(1) pull chain bell connector.
A
Final fan
location
Center
of hallway
ceiling