I’m finishing out my daylight basement and have a dilemma with regards to a half bath. It was pre-plumbed before the slab was poured and I want to finish it, but how to ventilate? The bathroom is in a back corner with the garage above and to the side, and a covered porch above and in front. A stairwell is behind so I can’t go that way. Can I put a 3 or 4 in hole through the rim joist and the deck ledger and vent directly under the deck boards?(Still apr. 2 feet above grade here). Do I need to (God help me) make a 3 or 4 inch hole through the 10 in poured concrete basement wall? Or do I run duct 15-20 feet down past the deck and bring it out through the rim joist there (involves 2 ninety degree duct turns)?
Any experience or suggestions to share would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Erich
Replies
For a halv bath you are only ventilating oders and not much moisture.
So I don't see any problem with venting under the deck.
But they also make "ductless" bath vents that use replacable charcoal filters.
Don't try either one with a full bathroom, sepecially one used by teenagers.
And don't serve beans to the men's Bible study group if anyone will be sitting on the deck <G>
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Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace
I'd love to use a ductless model, but I was concerned about code compliance. I called the local office and the brief answer I got was that if there was a "flushable" the bath had to be vented, and I assumed they meant exhausted to the outside (I didn't think to ask for clarification, feeling a little awkward as a homeowner calling the professionals). Do you know what the national codes say on this? Also, who makes ductless models?Thanks!Erich
Do you mean the plumbing vent or the quality of breathable air vent? Did the inspector with whom you had the 5 sec phone conversation know which you were talking about?
If it's the breathable air vent (fan), if you need to use a long duct, you can buy fans which sit near the ultimate exit point, but are switched at the bath (see Fine Homebuilding for ads). But without a shower, charcoil sound like they should be okay, but I can't answer as to code.
If your plumbing drains are not vented, they need to connect to an upbound vent - the stack that protrudes through your roof. Different matter.
Edited 8/1/2005 9:47 pm ET by hacknhope
The IRC2000 says that bathrooms, water closet compartments and similar either need a window or fam with the output directly exhausted out of th ebuilding.So I guess that leaves out the ductless.
Bummer. No window in that part of the basement, so ducting it shall be. The distant fan is an option, but I don't think the duct run would have to be that long. Actually, as long as code will let me go through the rim joist and the deck ledger thats going to be by far the easist. As to the plumbing vent, for that I'm planning on using one of those one way air admittance valves since there's no easy way to tie into the main vent stack. They've been installed elsewhere in the house, so I presume local code allows (not that the inspector didn't miss bunches of other violations I've had to fix).Thanks again,
Erich