Bath room fan vent question - anyone know? | FerrariChat
Buy

Bath room fan vent question - anyone know?

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by Mera, Dec 25, 2007.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. Mera

    Mera Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2005
    768
    Milwaukee, WI
    Full Name:
    Rodney Dickman
    #1 Mera, Dec 25, 2007
    With the help of a laid off paid friend we are putting plywood walkways and lights in my attic over my house and my attached three car garage. This is an excellent thing to do as going in my attic in the past and walking around was such a chore trying to step on the rafters. :( I have 3 full bathrooms. One is near the kitchen and family room and the shower has probably never been used. I think they put it in thinking they would need the shower when done using the pool. There are two other bathrooms on the other end of the house for the bedrooms. One in the hallway by the bedrooms and one in the master bedroom. When we were installing the walkway in the attic we went across the fan for the common bathroom by the bed rooms. We found that the fan was installed but there is no vent hose for it. It just vents to the attic and it was covered by the blown in insulation. The blown in insulation around it was darkened from the moisture. My house is about 17 years old. I have a fairly large single family single level home. Around 3200 square feet. I have yet to get to the fan for the master bedroom bathroom but I am certain I will find the same darkened insulation around it also. I will remove all the darkened insulation. Bag it and toss it. It is not a lot. There is no sign in the attic of any moisture problems. All the wood looks clean.

    So I am wondering what is the best way to fix this? I really think all I need to worry about is the two bathrooms by the bedrooms. I'm not going to worry about the bathroom by the kitchen as the shower never gets used. Could I just vent the exhaust into the attic area? It is a rather large attic cubic foot volume wise. I think the best option is to put in insulated vent tubes. I have a typical aluminum attic vent in that area. Would attaching the vent tubes near the opening be sufficient? It would be a pain to cut in a new roof vent specifically for bathroom fans but I could do it. If I do that can I use one roof vent for both bathroom vents and use some type of Y pipe?
    Thanks for any advice!

    Rodney Dickman
    1990 348 TS
     
  2. Whisky

    Whisky Three Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 27, 2006
    31,997
    In the flight path to Offutt
    Full Name:
    The original Fernando
    #2 Whisky, Dec 25, 2007
    You would think, based on the temp, humidity, and proximity to free-flowing air, that it 'should' cause a mold problem if not done right...

    I'd visit the book store or the home improvement store and look through their books for ideas...
     
  3. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,221
    Twin Cities
    Full Name:
    Tim Keseluk
    #3 2NA, Dec 26, 2007
    You need to conduct the air from these fans (potentially high in moisture) to the outside.

    Eventually you could have a mold problem if you let it go.

    You should install roof or wall "jacks" to connect the flexible hose to. I prefer to install in a wall if possible because it's less likely to leak. This is probably a job for Springtime.

    It could be possible to connect them to a common jack but making the "Y" connection might be more trouble than just cutting another hole. This would also require that the "flapper" on the fans function properly or you could end up just blowing the air from one bathroom to the other.
     
  4. bpu699

    bpu699 F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Dec 9, 2003
    17,727
    wisconsin/chicago
    Full Name:
    bo
    #4 bpu699, Dec 26, 2007
    It should be vented, but the vast majority of older homes in Wisconsin aren't - most shoot right into the attic. Usually not an issue if you have good attic ventilation. Realistically, how frequently do you use the fan? We use ours when the bathroom, uh hum, "stinks." Not so much to get humid air out.

    I have seen a house where the entire attic was covered in mold. Likely from a kitchen vent that went into the attic - an attic which had zero ventilation...
     
  5. Mera

    Mera Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2005
    768
    Milwaukee, WI
    Full Name:
    Rodney Dickman
    #5 Mera, Dec 26, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I would say I have very good attic ventilation. Large vents on 3 sides plus several common aluminum attic roof vents. Plus a very large cubic foot wise attic. I rarely use a bathroom vent when taking a shower. I just leave the bathroom door open as I live alone.

    Rodney
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  6. Mera

    Mera Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2005
    768
    Milwaukee, WI
    Full Name:
    Rodney Dickman
    #6 Mera, Dec 26, 2007
    But I do need to look to the future when I will someday sell this house. It will need a new roof in a few years also. Adding roof vents at that time would be much easier.

    Rodney
     
  7. JohnnyS

    JohnnyS F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Oct 19, 2006
    15,280
    Illinois
    Full Name:
    John
    #7 JohnnyS, Dec 26, 2007
    Should be vented to the outside.

    Most are just vented into the attic.

    Realistically, mold can grow if it stays wet. Probably the dark color is dirt caught in the insulation. I believe code requires a vent to the outside, but often not done by the DIY person.
     
  8. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,221
    Twin Cities
    Full Name:
    Tim Keseluk
    #8 2NA, Dec 26, 2007
    Perhaps if you ran flexible vent lines up and tied them off just behind one of those big gable-end vent grilles you would fix the problem without actually cutting a new opening. It sort of depends on what it looks like inside the attic.
     
  9. Mera

    Mera Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2005
    768
    Milwaukee, WI
    Full Name:
    Rodney Dickman
    #9 Mera, Dec 26, 2007
    Stopped at a Lowes today and talked to a guy in their plumbing department. He used to work at a local plumbing company. He told me everytime they installed a bathroom vent they just ran the insulated hose to one of the roof vents and nailed it up as close to the vent as they could. So that is my solution and the way I will do it. I was lucky to happen to be able to talkk to someone that has experience with this. :)

    Rodney
     
  10. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,221
    Twin Cities
    Full Name:
    Tim Keseluk
    #10 2NA, Dec 26, 2007
    Looks like a reasonable solution.
     
  11. henryr

    henryr Two Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 10, 2003
    22,455
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Juan Sánchez Villa-L
    #11 henryr, Dec 26, 2007
    they make tiny little vent hoods. you cut a 3 inch hole to the outside and connect to the fan via smal dia flexible ducting.
     
  12. Mera

    Mera Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2005
    768
    Milwaukee, WI
    Full Name:
    Rodney Dickman
    #12 Mera, Dec 27, 2007

    They do make these vents and I did look at them. My roof on the back of my house already has several things sticking out of it. House heater and water heater vents, heater stack for the attached garage heater and several aluminum roof vents. I do not want to add 2 more vents. Sitting in my pool you see these things. Less is better for me. When I have my roof reroofed in a few years I am going to look at a ridge vent and eliminate (if possible) some of the aluminum vents.

    Rodney
     

Share This Page