I recently had my bathroom exhaust fan replaced because the old one was really noisy. The issue is that the existing ducting vents into the attic instead of outside, which is against code (M1505.2). The old fan was likely installed before the code was enforced. The contractor worked in the attic and must have noticed that the duct wasn't up to code. So, I'm wondering: Is it acceptable for the contractor to have used the old ductwork knowing it wasn't code-compliant? Shouldn't they have corrected this or at least informed me of the situation? I live in New Jersey. Thanks!
2 Answers
If your payment was only for the fan replacement, and now you want him to add ductwork for free because of code issues, don’t expect him to agree. Sure, he should meet code with any new work, but he did replace the fan as per your request. If you only wanted the fan fixed, don’t get upset about the ducting not being up to code.
It sounds like there was some miscommunication about the scope of the work. Instead of looking for legal responsibilities, why not just reach out to your contractor? You might explain that you forgot to ask him to install a new vent, and see if he can help you out with that for a reasonable price.
I understand, but I feel he should have at least mentioned that outside venting is required now.