Improper venting - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

hammer11379 · 11-05-2009, 07:58 AM

Looked at a full bath remodel, to include new exhaust fan yesterday, 12 year old home. Upon inspection noticed the existing fan was vented into attic.
When i explained to the customer that this is a problem and that the builder had done this improperly and would need correction, I was told that they were the builder and that the building inspector told him that this is how it was to be done

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I explained the reasons for exhausting to the outside and told him I would include fixing the problem.
Has code changed in the recent past? Or is the inspector an idiot. Or maybe H.O. trying to cover. It did pass all inspections.
Your thoughts?

jradziew · 11-05-2009, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammer11379

Looked at a full bath remodel, to include new exhaust fan yesterday, 12 year old home. Upon inspection noticed the existing fan was vented into attic.
When i explained to the customer that this is a problem and that the builder had done this improperly and would need correction, I was told that they were the builder and that the building inspector told him that this is how it was to be done

.
I explained the reasons for exhausting to the outside and told him I would include fixing the problem.
Has code changed in the recent past? Or is the inspector an idiot. Or maybe H.O. trying to cover. It did pass all inspections.
Your thoughts?

Hi Chuck

I'm from Rowley,MA and that would not get by any of the inspectors here.
John Radziewicz
Johns Handyman Service

neolitic · 11-05-2009, 08:05 AM

Can't look into HO's soul, or
read inspector's mind.

Can say, the vent is wrong.

BoulderBuilder · 11-15-2009, 09:42 PM

My guess is the homowner is making excuses for their lack of knowledge. Maybe they had the fan installed but not vented yet when it was inspected. With a whole house to inspect I have seen inspectors in and out in a matter of 15 minutes. Could have had an inspector who just didn't pick it up.
But it's really not a big deal. Just vent it through the roof. 1hr of work.

AtlRemodeling · 11-16-2009, 06:40 AM

Here in Georgia that was allowed for a long time. Not sure when the code changed but I think it has only been in the last ten years. When I did new construction we did vent outside but I have run across many homes where the bath fans were vented to the attic.

Of course the humidity is usually so high here in Atlanta whats a little more

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tomstruble · 11-16-2009, 07:57 AM

ive seen that here too,not fof years tho,thats something like the fan installer says the sider installs the vent,sider says the roofer does it
roofer says.....

thom · 11-16-2009, 09:49 AM

the key here is "they were the builder".

The tinners install the hvac rough, get their stuff installed then leave.

The electrician installs the fart fans, but the venting inspection has already been done.

That's why the GC gets the fart fans installed (but not wired) prior to the tinners showing up. In this case, the GC was ignorant.

ARI001 · 11-16-2009, 10:29 AM

IRC M1506.2 Recirculation of air.
Exhaust air from bathrooms and toilet rooms shall not be recirculated within a residence or to another dwelling unit.

May not have been code when they built it but it is code now. If you are doing a complete gut and remodel, I would imagine they will require it to be properly vented now. Besides that you can inform them of the cost to replace insulation, drywall, and mold remediation caused by the moisture they are venting into their attic.

Zinsco · 11-16-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammer11379

I was told that they were the builder and that the building inspector told him that this is how it was to be done

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They are lying. In poker this is called a "tell". They just inadvertently revealed that they are untrustworthy. Exercise caution.
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