Seeking advice on this particular situation. Home owner wants to install a bathroom fan/ light combo where the existing light is located. There is no attic access to this addition. My fear is if it is install there will be the potential for mold since there is no ridge vent, or it's not properly vented. I been thinking if an attic vent/ fan was install would that remedy moisture problem. Thinking also might turn this one down. Any advice is welcome.
Installation bathroom fan/light combo possibility of mold.
- Thread starter A1cbr
- Start date
- Status
mgookin
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Myers, FL
- Occupation
- Retired inspector, plans examiner & building official
This is a mechanical code issue; not an NEC issue.
You are correct in that you can not discharge into a closed space.
One option is to penetrate the roof, assuming this is the top floor of the building (even if a single story building). I would call in a roofing contractor for that if that's what you and your customer choose. You don't want roof leaks on your list of responsibilities; you're not a roofer.
You are correct in that you can not discharge into a closed space.
One option is to penetrate the roof, assuming this is the top floor of the building (even if a single story building). I would call in a roofing contractor for that if that's what you and your customer choose. You don't want roof leaks on your list of responsibilities; you're not a roofer.
cmaki
Member
- Location
- sheboygan, WI USA
I had this same type of issue on my first floor bathroom. I went with a wall mounted fan that vents outside.
mopowr steve
Senior Member
- Location
- NW Ohio
- Occupation
- Electrical contractor
I personally don't recommend running it up in the attic thru the roof because at least in this area of US when the fan is exhausting moist air during the winter it condensates in the duct and rolls back leaking on the drywall or even fill up a flexible duct hose with water.
Try to see if you have access to either soffit and put soffit style vent louver in or go the wall route.
Try to see if you have access to either soffit and put soffit style vent louver in or go the wall route.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Sometimes your choices are limited, using insulated duct does help with the condensation, and better yet is to have least amount of duct as possible outside the attic insulation. Route duct so there are no low spots for condensation to accumulate or it will pool up and eventually block air flow.
north star
Senior Member
- Location
- inside Area 51
+ & + & +
A1cbr,
If your job is located in an AHJ with adopted codes, the correct
answer to your question is to contact the Bldg. dept. to see what
they require, ...according to their adopted codes or ordinances.
Recommend that you perform your "due diligence" investigation
before you install or quote any project ! :thumbsup:
+ & + & +
A1cbr,
If your job is located in an AHJ with adopted codes, the correct
answer to your question is to contact the Bldg. dept. to see what
they require, ...according to their adopted codes or ordinances.
Recommend that you perform your "due diligence" investigation
before you install or quote any project ! :thumbsup:
+ & + & +
flatlander
Senior Member
- Location
- Diamond bar, CA , Tempe AZ
Hey guys
What would you suggest to do if you are replacing an existing bathroom exhaust in a multifamily unit where you find they are all not vented. I was in this place and removed the old 40 year old crudded up unit just to see no ductwork. I was even able to see the neighbors fan in the same joist bay with no duct connected to the outlet.
What the heck are folks thinking. I spent over an hour setting up and carefully cutting out the old one not to create too much drywall damage.
The customer says just put the new one in. It has been that way for years.
Am I supposed to walk away with a hole in the ceiling. The customer says he does not want to pay for ductwork and build a soffit.
How does a three story condo get past inspections like this.
What would you suggest to do if you are replacing an existing bathroom exhaust in a multifamily unit where you find they are all not vented. I was in this place and removed the old 40 year old crudded up unit just to see no ductwork. I was even able to see the neighbors fan in the same joist bay with no duct connected to the outlet.
What the heck are folks thinking. I spent over an hour setting up and carefully cutting out the old one not to create too much drywall damage.
The customer says just put the new one in. It has been that way for years.
Am I supposed to walk away with a hole in the ceiling. The customer says he does not want to pay for ductwork and build a soffit.
How does a three story condo get past inspections like this.
- Location
- Massachusetts
Where I the building departments require mechanical contractors to do the venting. Electricians must do the wiring, they may or may not supply and mount the fan but they can't run the vent.
mgookin
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Myers, FL
- Occupation
- Retired inspector, plans examiner & building official
You'd have to first look at when the building was built. They may not have even had a building department or building codes back then, and even if they did, what did they say?
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
Some portions of those codes may not have gotten as much attention 40 years ago as they would today even if they remained pretty much the same. Places were not insulated as well as they are today and you maybe could get away with improper ventilation more so because it was not as big of an issue as it may be with today's tighter insulation standards and general practices.
- Status