I'm from southern New Hampshire and my 1950s house doesn't currently have any bathroom exhaust. I've been considering venting through the soffit like my kitchen, but the bathroom is located in the middle of the house — about 40 feet away from the nearest gable. I'm worried about moisture getting trapped in the attic if I vent through the soffit. I even visited a local plumbing supply shop to ask for advice on roof vents, but the staff there seemed unhelpful and a bit condescending. What's the best option for my setup?
5 Answers
I’d recommend venting through the roof. Just head to a big box store and pick up a roof vent that has an internal flap. This way, it will prevent outside air from coming in when it’s not in use.
I have a house built in ’92 where both bathrooms vent into the attic. So far, no mold issues! I’m planning to vent through the soffit myself. Just make sure you have solid soffit on either side of the vent.
You could also run the vent pipe through the attic and out the soffit instead. This avoids the need to seal it against rain, which is an issue if it goes directly through the roof.
40 feet from the gable isn’t too far for a good fan. Check out Panasonic Whisper Green fans; they’re typically quiet and effective.
Definitely vent to the outside! You don’t want to risk mold developing in your attic. It’s best to get that moisture out of your house completely.