OT: home improvement question

[TexaRican]

So whoever built my house did not understand that exhaust fans are needed to prevent recurring shower mold. We have one in the master bath but it is in the toilet closet where it is ineffective for helping dry out the shower.

There is no attic access over this bathroom but I think there is some empty space behind the lower light over the shower since that ceiling line is much steeper than the exterior roof line. Those 2 lights are on a dedicated wall switch. Seems like I should be able to replace that light housing with an exhaust fan, then have my roofing guy come install a vent from the top side. Expert opinions? Would the vent be required to go up through the roof or could I turn it down and come out the eave? In that case, I could probably do the whole thing my self but I'd like to hear from someone with more experience.

[froghunter]

depends on local code.

usually,if the even is VENTED you can dump exhaust into it.

[bwssr]

And there are light/fart fans out there!

[TexaRican]

depends on local code.

usually,if the even is VENTED you can dump exhaust into it.

Yeah, there are soffit vents already there. My only concern might be mold growing in the eave I guess?

[ken]

You can go out the soffit or the roof. I have done both.

[TexaRican]

I think I answered my own question with a little google search. The pic in this link shows just what I'm talking about. Guess I'm off to lowes.

http://www.lowes.com/cd_Install+a+Bathroom+Exhaust+Fan_312723623_

[Bill's Unlimited]

Mine are plumbed to the soffit

[Bill]

Get one with a light included. There is a wide range of volumes of air moved in CFM.

Remember, this is one time where quieter is not necessarily better!

[Sparkles]

Get one with a light included. There is a wide range of volumes of air moved in CFM.

Remember, this is one time where quieter is not necessarily better!

Typically the ones that are quiet handle more CFMs they don't spend much time worrying about noise on a cheapy 50 CFMs exhaust fan.
Also of there is an opperable window in the bathroom no exhaust fan is required. So that may be why there isn't one.
Tip on not getting mold in the shower is leave the shower door open its actually more effective than an exhaust fan under 120 CFM 10' in the air.
Good luck with your project.

[Bill M]

Vent them to the soffit as long as the soffit is vented. Vented soffit is already surrounded by humidity where you live so mold would already be there if it were going to form.

I can't tell what is under the first light that is shown in your photo. They make a recess can vent/light combo that would fit in that space but if it's over a wet area I don't think you can use them. Wet area recess lights must be totally covered, at least by code in our area. Those shown in your photo appear to be for wet area.

Even with a window I would recommend the vent fan.

[TexaRican]

No window in there. Yes, those lights are over the shower and the tub respectively. I'm looking at fan/light combos online that say they are ok over a wet area if on GFCI protected circuit, which I'm pretty sure the whole bathroom is. I'll test it later to be sure but we have 3 separate GFCI resets in that bathroom so I'd be shocked if those lights are not wired in.

[Bill]

I defer to a real electrician but the lighting in a bath is not required by code to be GFCI protected. Your outlets and lighting should be on separate branch circuits.

[TexaRican]

I defer to a real electrician but the lighting in a bath is not required by code to be GFCI protected. Your outlets and lighting should be on separate branch circuits.

You are correct. Lights are not in a GFCI circuit.