As a new homeowner, I've discovered that both of my bathroom vents are currently venting into the attic. After an insulation and energy inspection, I received a recommendation to extend the bath and kitchen vents to vent through the soffit instead, which includes a butterfly air control baffle and exterior pro-hood hardware. I'm wondering if venting this way is acceptable or if I should ask for these vents to be redirected through the roof instead. What's the best approach here?
2 Answers
Venting warm, moist air through the soffit isn’t the best move because it can easily get pulled back into the attic through convection from the soffit vents and ridge vent. It might not be unusual, but it’s not ideal if you can avoid it. If you have the chance to reroute through the roof, I’d say go for that!
I just went through an energy audit where they found that our fans were vented into the soffit. They recommended rerouting them through the roof. I think venting into the soffit might be common in some homes, but if they’re already doing the work, it’s probably better to push it out through the roof to avoid letting moisture accumulate in the soffit.