[cottagecomfort]

Can you vent bathroom fan through ceiling on to soffitts instead of roof

[joypulv]

Builders do it. My house has 2 of 3 bathrooms vented through vinyl covered (alternating slotted) soffits.

[massplumber2008]

Hi CC

You can't just dead end the vent into the soffit.

Instead, install a soffit vent termination kit (found at home depot)... see image below.

Another, better looking soffit termination kit can be found at Lowe's (click on link):

Shop IMPERIAL 4" and 6" Soffit Exhaust Vent at Lowes.com

These kits can be used with dryer exhaust or with bathroom ventilation systems.

Mark

[Handyman2007]

If installed as suggested her, it's all good. Do it right or don't do it at all!!

[joypulv]

So my house, which was built in 1970 and added to in 1984, and which has slotted vinyl soffits done in 1984, was wrong to vent 2 bathroom fans just by butting the duct to a slotted part of the vinyl?
I was sort of skeptical at first, but haven't had any problems... the soffits are 2' deep.

[ballengerb1]

If your soffit is also a vented soffit then you can't add a bathroom vent closer than 2 feet to the nearest soffit vent. Otherwise your moist bathroom air will be pulled into the attic space by the soffit vent. I have seen builders vent like you want but that does not always mean it is good.

[joypulv]

Not what I want; what I got when I bought the house.
The bathroom I use is vented properly. The second bathroom isn't used, the fan doesn't work, and the room is going to be nuked soon. I appreciate the info on the soffit vent kit. That room is a garrison overhang. If air is sucked in, it's between the joists of the bathroom above it. The third is my roommate's, who usually takes baths, I think... I won't work above my head on a ladder. It will go on the list.
The dryer vent... someone had installed a 4" PVC elbow turned upwards as a vent. Go figure. I closed it off because I am moving the washer and dryer. I am an energy freak anyway. I dry clothes on a clothesline 90% of the time.