Whether it's new construction or a remodel, a bathroom vent should always vent through the roof instead of an eave, overhang, or soffit. The point of a bathroom exhaust vent, or any vent really, is to remove hot, moist air from the house.
To clear out any confusion, soffit is the underside area of the roof overhang or eave. It is possible to vent your bathroom fan through the soffit and avoid making a hole in the roof. Usually, a hole in the roof may lead to leaks and other problems.
Exhaust shall terminate not less than 3 feet in any direction from openings into buildings. Exhaust duct terminations shall be equipped with a backdraft damper.” In a nutshell the inspector said that a bathroom or dryer vent since both are exhausting moist air can NOT be vented into a soffit per the code.
Roof Intake Vents With Soffits
Blocked soffit vents are as useful as having no soffit vents at all because they prevent fresh air from freely flowing into the attic.
Vent your bath and kitchen exhaust fans through the roof through a special roof hood. Venting through a roof vent or exhausting them in the attic could cause moisture problems and rot.
Whether it's new construction or a remodel, a bathroom vent should always vent through the roof instead of an eave, overhang, or soffit. The point of a bathroom exhaust vent, or any vent really, is to remove hot, moist air from the house.
The fan exhaust must vent directly to the exterior of the home. Do not put the vent termination in a roof overhang or soffit. Don't put it on a wall near or under a roof overhang. The moist air that's belched out by the fan can be sucked right up into the open soffit vents and be drawn into your attic.
You can't have too much soffit venting, but it's worth noting the minimum requirements. Usually, 4-in. by 16-in. soffit vents are rated for 26 sq.
So, does my roof need soffit vents? A roof may need soffit vents if there is no other ventilation allowing for adequate air movement. However, if the attic space is properly sealed and insulated, there is no need for this type of ventilation. There is no question that a standard attic space should be vented.
Soffit can be non-vented or vented to allow for maximum roof ventilation. Non-vented or continuous soffit works best when your roof has narrow eaves or if you need to ventilate a large amount of attic space.
Installing a ceiling vent is probably the most efficient way to ventilate a bathroom with no outside access. A ceiling vent is a unique machine that allows air to escape from the bathroom. In other words, it's a machine that, like an open window, allows moisture to escape from your bathroom.
Venting to the Outside is Typically Considered Mandatory
One of the main ones is that it brings too much moisture into a space that is meant to be dry. This can get mold started in the insulation, rot roof timbers, and otherwise cause serious problems.
Section R303.
When this section is adopted by a community, it essentially says that, for venting purposes, bathrooms must have windows that open. The code reads that the window must have "aggregate glazing area...of not less than 3 square feet (0.3 m2), one-half of which must be openable."
No, you cannot vent your bathroom exhaust fan into the attic. You should never exhaust the bathroom fan directly into the attic. Your attic is not a temperature-controlled environment, is never the same temperature as your living space and generally closer to the temperature outside.
No, you should not vent a bathroom fan directly into an attic. The problem with venting into the attic is that the moisture-rich air may form droplets on the wood sheathing, insulation, rafters, and ceiling joists, leading to mold growth.
The Code of Bathroom Exhaust Fans
– The air removed by every mechanical exhaust system shall be discharged to the outdoors. – Air shall not be exhausted into an attic (except whole house ventilation), soffit, ridge vent or crawl space.
The primary reason for installing vented soffit is to ensure that your home has proper air circulation in the attic. While it may seem contrary, having proper ventilation actually prevents issues related to moisture build-up and increased energy costs.
How much do I need? The long answer on this varies based on a simple formula – you need 1 SF for every 150 which is to be split equally from the ridge to the soffit. For a typical gable style roof you can then divide that answer in two and you have the “net free area” of ventilation required per side.
There are various eaves vents that can be installed to help reduce condensation in the eaves section of the roof. Soffit vents and fascia strips can both be installed to both new and existing roof-line boards. These can be used in conjunction with other types of ventilation or as a stand alone product.
If you're installing soffits on your roof, you'll need anywhere from 6 to 28 soffits total, depending on the size of your attic vent space. Your soffits' spacing is important, and careful planning should be done before making any changes to your current ventilation system.
It's possible to have too much exhaust ventilation, but you cannot have too much intake ventilation. If there is more intake ventilation than the attic's square footage requires, it's not problematic because any excess intake converts to “exhaust” on the leeward side of the house.
Hot air becomes trapped between the attic insulation and the roof without proper ventilation. Ideally, your attic should not exceed 130 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. Problems related to attics hotter than 130 degrees: It will make it harder to cool your home in the summer.
The answer is, no, plumbing vents do not have to go through the roof. While roof stacks are the most common form of plumbing vents, you can run a plumbing vent through an exterior wall. The stipulation is that the plumbing vent has to run higher than the highest window of the house.
In general: Yes.