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My bathroom doesn't have an exhaust fan...I'd like to replace the light with an exhaust fan. My question is about venting it. I'm reading various things.
Ideally I'd vent it to the soffit (from an ease of installation standpoint.) The current light fixture is close to the exterior wall anyway. I've read that that can be counter productive as you direct it out of the attic, right underneath what is basically a vent for the attic, and that it can cause mold, etc...
That being said...
I don't use this bathroom for showering all that often, this is more about smells
In North Carolina the air outside of the house is going to be way more humid than the air inside of the house anyway
Fan lights aren't very bright. You can always install a light assembly above the mirror, and a Panasonic low volume exhaust fan on a facade along the ceiling, venting out the outer house wall. You don't want to vent into the attic, and venting out the wall is more efficient. For this work you will need an electrician to split the electrical power in three directions, one for the light over the mirror, another for the fan, and if you have a large bathroom, another circuit for a ceiling light.
Why don't you let somebody who knows what to do design a plan for you?
Fan lights aren't very bright. You can always install a light assembly above the mirror, and a Panasonic low volume exhaust fan on a facade along the ceiling, venting out the outer house wall. You don't want to vent into the attic, and venting out the wall is more efficient. For this work you will need an electrician to split the electrical power in three directions, one for the light over the mirror, another for the fan, and if you have a large bathroom, another circuit for a ceiling light.
Why don't you let somebody who knows what to do design a plan for you?
There's already plenty of light from the mirror lights (not an enormous bathroom.)
I'd like not to spend a fortune on this. THe electric wiring I can do.
I've read mixed things about venting to a soffit. It would be the most expedient, and I don't think I'd be introducing air that's more humid than the air outside.
A roof vent is probably your best bet but if it’s difficult to get there, a screened or dampened soffit vent would work just fine and not create any mold or issues in your attic.
I know they say vent to the outside but depending on where you are that's over kill. My parents house has been venting to the attic for 32 yrs and no damage has been done They have two fans venting to the attic. We took showers daily growing up. We are in the south. Maybe it's an issue in colder climates when the warm moist air hits the cold air and creates condensation. But you should vent to the out on your house. Also, they say that venting to the soffit is bad. You will always find experts that disagree with everything.
If the soffit direction is the most direct and shortest route- by all means, go that route. Though there is the option of going through the roof- you’re just adding another potential leak point in the roof.
The most common argument with soffit termination of fart fans is with continuous soffit venting. The exhausted air from the exhaust fan is being drawn back into the attic- I see the argument, but if the run is short and the CFM’s and velocity are substantial- I tend to think that the draw would be quite minimal; if at all. If the house has regular rectangular style vents every 6-8’, just make sure the exit is between two of the vents.
Buy a 100 cfm fan.
Buy the quietest fan you can find. I like our Panasonic WhisperGreen.
Do not vent into a soffit vent.
We just installed that into my bathroom to replace the old crappy one that died (I've already replaced the motor on it once so wanted something better). It vents up to the roof. Both of my bathroom fans vent to the roof.
And that Panasonic WOW is it way better than the old piece of junk. Not only does it move a LOT more air, it is so quiet my BF can no longer use it for white noise at night (YAY that is why the old motors kept dying - he wore them out!!) Now we use a small fan on the night table for noise.
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