Attic fan connected to lighting circuit

[SMS1964]

Hi everyone, my name is Steve and I am new to the forum. My question is this; I have a friend who is selling his house and has been written up twice about an attic fan that is tied into the upstairs lighting circuit, specifically the stairwell light. Their issue is with the fact that the attic fan is controlled by the three way light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs. I know this is not ideal but is it against code? Thank you for the help.

 

[Little Bill]

It sounds like a Home Inspector, and not an Electrical Inspector, is writing this up. As you know, a Home Inspector has no authority and can only write up reports. With that said, I know of no code preventing the fan from being switched by the switches that also control the lights. The code only requires that a switch be on each level if there are more than six ( I think) risers/steps. Then you don't even have to be controlling the same light. But most use a 3-way for this. But I don't see anything saying the switches are to only be for lights. Either the installer couldn't find another circuit to tie the fan to, didn't want to run a new circuit, or wanted the lights as an indicator that the fan was on. IMO, no code issue.

Welcome to the Forum!

 

[FionaZuppa]

The fan is controlled with/by the same 3way switches as the stair light? So when the light is on the fan is on too?

Why?

If that's the case, the question really becomes, can you switch power to multiple device types from the same switch? I will say no. The fan is a permanent motor device and should be on it's own ckt. But then again, I have seen this in older homes, attic fan get's power from any ckt as long as ampacity is not exceeded with all 'on', so perhaps it's a matter of what version of NEC was around when the wiring and fan was installed? But w/o digging, I don't know the NEC code section that would say no.

 

[growler]

Their issue is with the fact that the attic fan is controlled by the three way light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs. I know this is not ideal but is it against code.

Either the installer couldn't find another circuit to tie the fan to, didn't want to run a new circuit, or wanted the lights as an indicator that the fan was on. IMO, no code issue.

Welcome to the Forum!

If that's the case, the question really becomes, can you switch power to multiple device types from the same switch? I will say no.

Folks it's not an electrical code issue. But a home inspection is not a code inspection.

What is the purpose of an attic fan? Could it be to ventilate the attic and keep roof decking dry ? Could be.

If no one is home and no one turns on the stairwell lights all day then the attic fan doesn't work and isn't doing it's job.

If I were the home inspector I would have written it up as improperly installed attic fan.

If the buyer doesn't have a problem with it then everything is good to go. But at least he is aware of the installation method.

 

[growler]

Buy the way I just checked at the NACHI web site and they state that ventilation of attics will be checked.

When you crawl into an attic an it's about 200 F and the fan isn't running that a good sign something isn't right. Then you notice the fan wired to a light switch leg.

 

[hbiss]

Actually those fans can be a fire hazard. Often installed and forgotten, especially in an attic space that normally isn't accessed often. Maybe the original owner just wanted to be able to turn the fan on when they were going up there to cool it down. Thus switching it with the lights made sense. Nothing in the Code that says you can't do that.

Buy the way I just checked at the NACHI web site and they state that ventilation of attics will be checked.

When you crawl into an attic an it's about 200 F and the fan isn't running that a good sign something isn't right. Then you notice the fan wired to a light switch leg.​

Shoulda turned the lights on! And there is nothing in any code that requires a power ventilator. If the ventilation is bad there are ridge/soffit vents that can be installed that use no power. So the HI should have just noted poor attic ventilation, not his 2 cents about the fan.

-Hal
​

 

[MAC702]

I install lots of attic fans. I've always used a thermostat switch on the fan itself and wire to constant power available. Here they are used to help keep the attic from getting too hot. I set mine for about 100 and it never shuts off in the summer.

While i find it odd that this one is wired to be on with stairway lighting, I see no code issues with it. Could have been done on purpose. Lights are on at random times, and it may be perfect for attic ventilation when it doesn't need to be constant and a thermostat switch wasn't desired for some reason.

The home inspector is certainly within his duties to note something interesting, but he should not imply there is anything wrong with it. Usually they will say something like they suggest a qualified tradesman inspect something. Even then, the seller is not required to do so, especially if he can offer his own plausible explanation to the buyers. The buyers are free to hire their own contractor to remodel the new place as they see fit, to include how they switch attic ventilation. Most just use "writeups" as excuses for price negotiation.

 

[JDB3]

I would say that the main thing is that there is a disconnecting means for the fan. Attic fan can mean a variety of different types. No need for the fan to be on a circuit of its own, most don't pull that much.

 

[growler]

Hi everyone, my name is Steve and I am new to the forum. My question is this; I have a friend who is selling his house and has been written up twice about an attic fan that is tied into the upstairs lighting circuit, specifically the stairwell light. Their issue is with the fact that the attic fan is controlled by the three way light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs. I know this is not ideal but is it against code? Thank you for the help.

Actually those fans can be a fire hazard. Often installed and forgotten, especially in an attic space that normally isn't accessed often. Maybe the original owner just wanted to be able to turn the fan on when they were going up there to cool it down. Thus switching it with the lights made sense. Nothing in the Code that says you can't do that.

Shoulda turned the lights on! And there is nothing in any code that requires a power ventilator. If the ventilation is bad there are ridge/soffit vents that can be installed that use no power. So the HI should have just noted poor attic ventilation, not his 2 cents about the fan.

-Hal
​

Hal, read the OP's post again. The fan is connected to the stairwell lights between first and second floor. Nothing about that makes sense. And since he was written up twice I doubt it was by the same inspector.

An attic fan is not required but since it is installed a buyer would expect it to be operational.

What if the garden tub in the upstairs bath only worked when the garbage disposal was being used.

 

[ActionDave]

Shoulda turned the lights on! And there is nothing in any code that requires a power ventilator. If the ventilation is bad there are ridge/soffit vents that can be installed that use no power. So the HI should have just noted poor attic ventilation, not his 2 cents about the fan.

-Hal

If I paid a home inspector and he did not report that light switches that normally turn stairway lights turned on an attic fan I would have words with him.

 

[hbiss]

It's such an obvious situation that whoever did it must have had a reason for it.

OR

If it was some hack just pulling power from the easiest location I'm sure they would have noticed the fan not operating and not left it that way.

So without actually talking to whoever did it originally we will never know! :happysad:

-Hal

 

[FionaZuppa]

Hal, read the OP's post again. The fan is connected to the stairwell lights between first and second floor. Nothing about that makes sense. And since he was written up twice I doubt it was by the same inspector.

An attic fan is not required but since it is installed a buyer would expect it to be operational.

What if the garden tub in the upstairs bath only worked when the garbage disposal was being used.

I guess as mentioned, what type of attic fan? Many older homes w/o central HVAC put a 36x36 ceiling mounted belt drive fan that had louvers that open and close, framed into to ceiling, and the attic space then has eve vents. The fan then provides a cool breeze inside the house as the fan pushes air into the attic and out the eve vents, it also helps to cool the attic space.

But whatever fan it is, just being on the light ckt via tap does not seem crazy, but OP said it's tied to the 3way switches !! Does not seem right.