I recently received a question from James, a faithful Antelope resident. “There is no bathroom vent in our master bathroom, but there is one in the hallway bathroom. My first question is, if we were to install one in the master bathroom, could this be connected into the exhaust from the other vent? My second question is, what type of contractor could help us with this? I appreciate your help in this matter, and I enjoy reading your article.”

Having a ventilation fan in your bathroom is a good idea and is generally an easy installation. The vent can be connected to the existing tube. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Make sure the new pipe/tube is installed and/or connected on an upward angle.
2. If the pipes/tubes are 3” in size, you may want the pipe/tubes going to the roof to be changed to 4”. If the pipes/tubes are 4”, you are okay.
Now, on to your second question, “What type of contractor could help us with this?” I’d recommend a licensed electrician due to the electrical aspect. I’m confident that this is your best course of action. If you cannot or the attic space doesn’t allow the connecting of the two pipes/tubes, you’ll need an additional hole in the roof; this will require a flashing and tie-in to the existing roofing. Like any construction project around the home it could always be more than we anticipate.

Since we are already on the topic of ventilation, there are a few things you can check to know if your house is breathing properly. Just like the human body, houses breathe. The important thing to remember about house ventilation is the attic. The attic is typically very warm, even in cold winter months. The hot air can be trapped and cause moisture to build up and could even result in mold growth. Roof-top ventilation is very important for the attic to expel the warm air, but there needs to be sufficient ventilation on the lower portions of the house as well. Vents on the eaves, soffits, and overhang areas will help draw the cooler air in and allow the hot air to move up and out through the roof-top vents.

Kitchens are another area where it is important to have ventilation. While using an oven or stove, kitchen fans can help draw the hot air out of the area and help keep your kitchen a little cooler. Kitchen vent fans can help clear some of the smells associated with cooking out of the home. Anyone who is familiar with the smell of river fish being cooked in the oven knows what I’m talking about.

Questions Or Comments? Please email me at: contractor@northsacnews.com