bathroom fans - should they vent through the roof?

[Anonymous]

Sorry if this is a dumb question! We purchased a home built in the 60s and the bathrooms have fans that don't seem very effective. When we looked in the attic, they appear to be venting through an open tube straight into the attic. Should they actually vent through the roof? If so, what kind of person should I hire to do this kind of work?

[Anonymous]

I don't know if that's normal, but I think it's probably fine. You could hire an inspector to tell you what it should look like.

[Anonymous]

Oh this is not good OP. Puts all that moisture in your attic. Get a contractor to extend them out the attic to the roof.

[Anonymous]

They should vent to the outside. Why would you want all the moisture collecting inside the attic?

[Anonymous]

No..we just corrected this in our house. They should vent out . They can create unseen mold in the attic. It was not a huge expense to correct. Also in the summer our bathrooms got very warm.

[Anonymous]

I have this and just open a window instead

[Anonymous]

It should never go into the attic. Call a roofer and have them put on a vent outside.

[Anonymous]

I see this regularly - it’s a common way for builders to cut corners in new construction, too, and frequently isn’t caught. Get an hvac person to run the vents to the roof or do a 90 degree turn and put them out the attic wall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see this regularly - it’s a common way for builders to cut corners in new construction, too, and frequently isn’t caught. Get an hvac person to run the vents to the roof or do a 90 degree turn and put them out the attic wall

Just had this happen to us when the plant on our brand new bathroom veiling started to peel. They should vent out the roof.

[Anonymous]

They should vent outside but not through the roof. You never want to put holes in the roof if you can avoid it.

If the roof has overhangs the best place for them to vent is the soffit, the horizontal space on the bottom of the overhang. If there aren't soffit's available then a wall is the next choice.

[Anonymous]

Yes, ours are vented to the outside through the soffits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should vent outside but not through the roof. You never want to put holes in the roof if you can avoid it.

If the roof has overhangs the best place for them to vent is the soffit, the horizontal space on the bottom of the overhang. If there aren't soffit's available then a wall is the next choice.

Through the roof is fine if properly done. Ours are through the roof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh this is not good OP. Puts all that moisture in your attic. Get a contractor to extend them out the attic to the roof.

Exactly. We’ve had a home inspector flag this for us in at least one house we’ve bought.

[Anonymous]

It should be vented outside to the roof.
Call High Technology roofing contractor LLC in MD.
Great company.

[Anonymous]

OP here, this is also helpful. Thank you! Knew the current setup didn’t seem right but wasn’t sure what the right course of action was. Thanks for the contractor recommendation.