I am replacing all the facia and soffit on my 28 year old house. Having removed the soffit on the upper level, I have found that the original builder ran the two bathroom exhaust vents into the attic, then straight out to the side of the house right in the soffit area 🙁 So basically the exhaust is ending up back in the attic. My idea is to put a right angle bend on the end of each vent and turn it down through the soffit but … I am not sure what to do about air infiltration on windy days and keeping bugs and birds out of the vent. I can cut some hardware cloth and put over the vents to keep the birds out, but that wont do much good with cold air getting in.
I would prefer not to run them up through the roof. I did see a “under soffit” vent at HD this afternoon, but it was pretty flimsy plastic and it looked like the plactic flaps to keep air out would get stuck in no time.
ANy other thoughts ?
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
Replies
I ran a bath room vent out the gable end, and your right the flapper gets stuck. Then you need to make a screen to keep the birds out . Ron it through the roof
If you can run it through the gable end you can stick the Hoodtype c/w flapper onto the ventpipe from the outside (always easy to change if necessary).
If you do not have a gable, vent it through the roof. Never vent moisture into your attic.
If you go the soffit vent route chances are there are some windows close by and you will end up sucking the stuff back into your house.
You can buy in-line flappers/dampers that prevent back-drafting - made of plastic, but they work. Just make sure you install it right-side up.
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
I have used two kinds, one with a rectangular base and sort of a double-curve grille face, and then this kind.
View Image
I prefer this one. It has a more foolproof damper.
The Panasonic bath vent fan units we use, all have backdraft dampers in them, so the outside one is redundant, anyway.
Gene,
Is that grill meant to be used facing down like under a soffit ? I am not going to put this thing through the roof or out to the gable end. It has been exhausting into the soffit area since 1978 and there really is no visible damage or evidence of too much moisture. I got up there today and finished the soffits. I hooked up a piece of flex duct to each exhaust and ran it down through a hole cut in the soffit. All I need to do now is find a decent looking grill. Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
Right. Mounts to the soffit face, facing straight down. The damper is meant to operate with the termination grille/bezel in exactly that position.
I live in an area where Aubuchon Hardware has stores, and ordered it through the local store. It can be ordered directly through their website, however.
Thanks Gene,
Its off to thier web site to buy a couple, unless I can find them locally. Any idea who the manufacturer is ? Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md
Gene,
Ordered two of them, they should do the trick !
Thanks,
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md