Hi all. Remodeling my 2nd floor 42sf bathroom. One window. Thought I would add a simple ceiling ventilation fan. Its easy enough to vent out the roof but I would prefer to vent out the side. Problem is that its a brick/block house with no soffits. However I do have limited access to the 10″ – 12″ wide facia board that the gutter hangs from. This spot is above the window. To reach the facia board below the gutter I would need to cut a hole in the top plate. My plan is to substitute 1 1/2″ (maybe 2″) pvc for the typical 4″ flexable venting. The pvc would exit the facia below the gutter and terminate with a downward 90 degree el. The exit hole would even be lower than the fan. Anyone think the smaller pvc vent pipe will seriously diminish the fan’s ability to push air? Thanks for any comments.
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Sounds like a hell of a lot of work when, as you say, it would be easy enough to vent out the roof.
There's a company called EFI -- that makes some great venting products including a light/fan timer switch I've put in a couple baths when I installed fans. Shut off the light and the fan runs for a prescribed amount of time longer to dry out the room. Very nice. Check them out on the web. http://www.energyfederation.org/consumer/default.php/cPath/39_766_134
FHB artcle on installing a fan was useful.
I think reducing the outlet isn't a good idea--nor a large hole in your top plates to do it.
There are three scenarios in this sort work that I am very familiar with:
Low effort--high reward. High effort --high reward. And then........ High effort LOW reward...
The first two are acceptable.
Weigh your project in my 3 scenarios...
Thanks for your reply. "High effort, low reward" - I think thats the story of my life!
I called tech assistance at Broan and they said they would rather see 20' of 4" vent pipe rather than 4' of 2" pipe. (motor will be louder) More interesting advice he gave me was to come out straight from the fan at least 1 or 2' before attaching an elbow. You don't want an elbow near the fan causing the air flow to immediately hit up against.
I will vent through my roof.
4" pipe is 12.5 square inch and 2" pipe is 3.1 square inch that's a big difference!!
The vent fan is a good idea.
My Brother did one once where venting was difficult.
What he did was build a sort of small "soffit" in one corner of the ceiling and put the fan unit in there. The makeshift soffit was on an exterior wall, and me oriented the fan outlet towards the wall.
Then he cut a hole in the wall and ran a piece of vent pipe straight out to a dryer vent cover.
One is a flaming Naz! gasbag, and one was a dirigible.
Do you have a gable vent to run the pipe to?