I need to vent an bathroom exhaust fan in the attic. can I run the duct up close to the roof ridge that is vented. I have no way of venting it to the outside wall since the bathroom is in the middle of the house

hkstroud

Should be alright. How about venting thru soffit? Probably be better and easy to do.

Barron747

I cant get to the soffit. The angle of the roof and blown in insulation would be tough

hkstroud

OK, go for the ridge vent.

If you want to "box it in", you could just put a piece of plywood 12 to 16" wide with a hole for the pipe, in between two rafters, laying on a couple of firring strips affixed to the rafters.

massplumber2008

Hi Guys.

Hey, they make a soffit vent kit (available in duct work section of home depot) that only requires you to cut a hole in soffit and then install the flapper assembly. Pretty cool...I use all the time..and inspectors like it, too.

Just my two cents.

Barron747

I do not have a soffit on that side of the house nor could I get to it because of the pitch of the roof. I just need to know if it is ok to vent it into the attic close to the ridge of the roof line that is vented

the1unv

I have used a 10' piece of PVC pipe to gain access to the soffit on several occasions. The only thing you need to watch for while venting through the ridge is moisture. It may cause some condensation issues, especially in cooler months. I would hook a short piece of flex tube to PVC and push it out to the soffit on one side of the house or another. Cut your soffit hole from out side, locate your flex tube, attach it to your vent (as massplumber2008) has suggested and you are in business. I hate to vent anything into the attic, I have seen alot of "do it yourselfers" vent things in such a manner. Some have problems, some dont. I wouldnt want to take a chance.
Mike

amricca

You could use a thru-wall fan if you are worried about venting into the attic / have no soffit to vent to.

ballengerb1

I have to admit I have seen many builders vent fans to the soffit but this is very poor quality workmanship and it should not be done. You do not terminate a vent in the attic or the soffit. You need to vent through an outside wall or through the roof. You need to get the moist air to the exterior of the house. If you vent into the soffit the soffit just allows the moisture to reenter the attic. i know that many folks may differ with me on this one but believe me, the vent must terminate outside the house. The builder I see doing this tell me its the way they have always done it, doesn't mean its correct though.

the1unv

I would like to point out that I never said to terminate in the soffit. They make vents that you cut into the soffit. The vent is cut in toward the very out side edge of the soffit. The soffit vent has fins that lay at an angle and direct the moisture past the edge of the soffit. This is a very common practice and a long way from poor quality workmanship. If I were building a new house it would be different,however, in a "do it yourself" situation I would much rather see an inexperienced person cut a hole in their soffit verses their roof.
Mike