Vent for bathroom

Grim/Don

Grim/Don

Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,221
Wife and I want to add a vent to the bathroom. I can add a vent into the attic pretty easy, the power for the light runs through there.

Do I have to vent outside, or will just into the attic be okay? We live in Missouri so we get the hot in the summer and cold (sometimes) in the winter.
 
powered vents should be ducted to the outside - otherwise you're dumping a lot of moisture into your attic which can cause mold problems, soggy insulation, etc...
If it's just a vent to help the tub drain, then you can get away with one of the AAV's at Lowe's or Home Despot. (air admittance valve)
 
1066vik is right. Never terminate the bathroom vent fan into the attic. It's a recipe for disaster and will not pass a home inspection.
 
I was an HVAC tech in Florida for 10 years and most new construction terminates the the flexible tube exhaust line *near* a ridge vent. I was very surprised we are a lot more uptight about these things in PA. I never heard of a problem and humidity is definitely an issue here.
 
What they all said.

Warm vapour laden air dumped into a cold attic will condense into water droplets and cause huge problems [in cold weather]. You will have mold/mildew problems which could cause health problems and cost you a ton of money to remedy down the road. Additionally, if you have to run ducting a long way in the attic [to the actual vent], the ductwork should be insulated to insure the vapour laden air doesn't condense inside the duct. You could vent through the roof or through the soffit.
 
Redpoint is right on with his advice as are everyone else but on thing you should also keep in mind if you vent out from the soffit is only vent out from an area of solid none vented soffit and at least four feet from a window this will keep you from having to move it later for a sale. This keeps the usually warmer humid air from rising right up into the attic space and it also keeps the vented air from being recirculated from an open window.
 
I saw a TV program about this and it illustrated the moisture problems very well ! Outside only !!

Kitchen exhausts are a good idea also .Takes out moisture , heat, and cooking smells . BTW exhuasts need to have air entering the house to work properly.This is especially important with a newer very tight hose !
 
Thanks all. I'll do it right and vent outside when/if I do it. Sounds like a fall/winter job, not a summer one (Missouri's hot enough in the summer as it is)
 
I did this about a year and a half ago. I really didn't want to put a big hole in a perfectly good roof, but grit my teeth did it anyway. Turns out it was pretty easy, I just followed the directions that came with the vent. And don't bother making a long run to reach an attic vent, IMO it isn't worth it. Just go up and out.

You will like having the vent when you're done, too. ;)
 
G'day there.
Ex sheet metal worker speaking. Lots of good advice here for sure vent it outside and fit a small vent in the bottom of the bathroom door so it draws from in the house to out.
But try and keep the venting pipe as short as you can as they have a habit of condensing the steam to water that can then drip back. Or of course fit an industrial turbine but that might suck your towels up and away to the neighbours.

All the best
 
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