[HomeHandyman]

I just moved into a house that has one light switch in the bathroom that controls the light as well as the ventilation fan, is it possible to change the switch so I can operate them independently?

 

[Jim Port]

Unless there is a separte hot lead to the fan you will need to do some rewiring and run a new cable.

 

[dmxtothemax]

Yes it is possable
You will have to give us more
And likely have to run extra cable
Tell us what wires are behind the switch ?

 

[HomeHandyman]

I'm hoping they aren't daisy chained together, but i have yet to remove the switch and check what wires are there due to needing the power on for the lights and outlets at the moment for other repairs being done in the bathroom. But I hope to get to it today, at least to check out the situation. I'll post what I find out so hopefully I can get a few more answers. Thanks everyone that has helped so far.

 

[jimn]

Usually they are wired together at the fan location not the switch. So depending on whether the power feed as at the fan or at the switch you need to run a new wire from the switch to the fan and replace your single gang box with a double and add a switch or timer for the fan. If the hot wires are at the fan you will be wiring a switch loop. If the hot comes into the switch box then you will wire a conventional switched circuit . In either case you need to run either a 14/2 or 12/2 cable depending on whether it is a 15 to 20 amp circuit from the switch to fan/light unit.

 

[Oso954]

either a 14/2 or 12/2 cable depending on whether it is a 15 to 20 amp circuit from the switch to fan/light unit.

I am not sure that the OP is talking about a fan/light unit. It could be a Plain Jane fan with a light over the vanity. Some of those have the wire junction in the light box, particularly if the fan was added later.

 

[HomeHandyman]

I have a ceiling light fixture as well as the ventilation fan in the ceiling.As far as the switch setup is concerned I have a double gang box containing a GFCI and a single switch