[Maine1]

I I have 2 bathrooms in my split level ranch. They are identical small bathrooms lined up with each other (above and below). We recently bought this house and not one of the baths have exhaust fans. Between myself, my wife and 2 teen daughters, we take a lot of hot showers! I really need to add some air flow!

I plan to add a ceiling vent fan to the upstairs bath and go right out through the roof, easy peasy... But I need to vent the bathroom below it and not sure what the best way to do that would be. It is a downstairs bathroom on the gable end of the house. It seems like going out through the wall is my best and only option. I really don't have a problem with that but I'm just not sure about how to go about it. Because I live in a cold climate (Maine) I am concerned about sealing out the cold ( or letting out the warm!)

If I cut a hole through the wall, how should it be sealed up and what type of vent should I use? Of course, I'm also worried about creating a leak in the outside wall too. I don't want rain water coming into the wall. The siding is cedar. Here's a pic of the outside wall: the bathrooms are the upper and lower windows in the center...

 

[sammy37]

Opening the window for a couple of minutes after a shower, will do a much better job then a noisy bath fan. I'm not a fan of bath fans, ha ha no pun intended.

 

[Maine1]

Sometimes a noisy bath fan sounds better than the alternative..... Besides, when the temp outside is single digits the last thing you want to do is open a window..

 

[mikec35]

Google panasonic wall fan, my Dad installed 2 of these years ago and they have been great. I think all you have to do is cut a hole and attach the inside and outside halves together, run your electrical and your done...

 

[joecaption]

Any idea on what's under that siding?
There's two way to retro fit a dryer vent.

If there's OSB or plywood under the sidng you can drill a pilot hole through the wall so you can see where it comes out and use a piece of cedar 1X to mark out a siding block to mount the dryer vent to.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...CDC4B4EFB71BFA9BCF55DE238FE&selectedIndex=325
Another way would be to use a flush mount siding block, trouble is it looks like you have a small exposure on that siding. They make flush mounts for 4, 4-1/2, 5", and Dutch Lap siding but I've never seen on for less then 4".

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...B857CA2EC720D080AF6C4745F714&selectedIndex=27

 

[JohnnyB60]

If you are in snow country you'd be better off with the through-the-wall vent because if a lot snow accumulates on the roof above the vent it will seep inside.

Years ago I used to do a little home repair work and I've had lot of work repairing mold damage in baths without a fan.

 

[Fix'n it]

I

what type of vent should I use? Of course, I'm also worried about creating a leak in the outside wall too. I don't want rain water coming into the wall.

i had one like this, its junk. landry room was always cold.
http://www.menards.com/main/heating...uvered-exhaust-cap-white/p-1391008-c-9502.htm

i put in one that looks like this. there is a round flap cover up inside there. it seals very well. laundry room is warm now.
http://www.menards.com/main/heating...mouth-exhaust-hood-white/p-1391024-c-9502.htm

 

[hammerlane]

Opening the window for a couple of minutes after a shower, will do a much better job then a noisy bath fan. I'm not a fan of bath fans, ha ha no pun intended.

Evidence you should not believe everything you read on the internet.

 

[hammerlane]

If noise is a concern use an in-line fan. These fans can be sized to exhaust several bathrooms, and the motors may be mounted in the attic for quiet operation.

 

[sammy37]

Evidence you should not believe everything you read on the internet.

All depends on someones past experience. I've lived in many homes with no bathroom window and a noisy 50 cfm bath fan and I've lived in homes with an opening window and no bath fan, I'll take the latter.

Also never seen one with a perfect sealing damper, hot and cold air leaks in through them when they are off.

 

[hammerlane]

Maybe I was a little too straight forward with that comment.

If the power company is still supplying me electricity because my bill is paid I opt for the exhaust fan.

 

[sammy37]

Evidence you should not believe everything you read on the internet.

Thanks, I'll remember that. I dont think my personal opinion of an exhaust fan is going to ruin the op's day but it seems to have ruffled your feathers a bit.

 

[JohnnyB60]

If noise is a concern use an in-line fan. These fans can be sized to exhaust several bathrooms, and the motors may be mounted in the attic for quiet operation.

Interesting I want one of these for my place. I have 3 Baths and a laundry room and it would be nice to combine them. I just don't have an easy way to get wire to a switch in the room downstairs. I wounder if there is a wireless version, :wink:

Hey hammerlane, I've been thinking about this and I may get one. What is the Name and model number of these?

 

[Fix'n it]

Also never seen one with a perfect sealing damper, hot and cold air leaks in through them when they are off.

nothing is perfect. see post #7. it actually does work very well.

 

[hammerlane]

seems to have ruffled your feathers a bit.

no feathers on top

 

[747]

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,1630938,00.html

He shows how to vent out a gable end wall.

 

[Maine1]

Thanks for all the advice! I love this forum because I get so many opinions, it helps make an informed decision.

I am thinking about going with this fan:
http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-FV-...sr=8-1&keywords=Panasonic+whisper+low+profile

It is a small bathroom, so the size should be adequate. I like the idea of using a siding block and a good vent as suggested. Should be a fairly easy install. I will have to run the wiring and switch, but that's no trouble. I do wish I could get a fan directly over the shower, but not possible in this room. The wall unit will have to do.

 

[JohnnyB60]

This all reminded me of a funny story years ago when I used to do residential house wiring that I would like to share.
I contracted to wire a new custom home and the customer was to purchase all the fixtures. Most of the fixtures were very nice expensive ones but they went cheap for the bath fan in the down stairs bathroom. I had finished hooking up everything and went home when I got a frantic call that the bath fan sounded like a Harley Davidson. At the time the only fan that I knew of that was quiet was a NuTone. They were happy with it even though it cost them.

 

[Maine1]

I would like to get one of these that was mentioned in an earlier post:
http://www.menards.com/main/heating...mouth-exhaust-hood-white/p-1391024-c-9502.htm

It looks like they wont ship this item, I would have to pick it up at the store.... It's in Ohio and I am in Maine... Not exactly down the road. I can't seem to find anything like it anywhere else.

 

[Gary in WA]

Joists probably run front to back, remember to stay 3' from any operable window with the termination hood, per most codes. Gary