Are you planning on subjecting your washroom to maintenance and renovations? Do these renovations include changing your vents and their locations? If that’s the case, you’re in the right place.
Vents are ideally located on walls and roofs, but some of you might try to get creative and go for the soffit.
Things might get a little tricky when it comes to this, even though a soffit installation is the easiest and most appropriate among all types. But for a newbie, it might seem like quite a hard task. So here’s a guide to walk you through the complexities of soffit exhaust vent installation.
What you’re Signing up for in a Soffit Installation:
Let’s start with what a soffit is. If you’re observant enough to notice your roof overhang, the underside of it is called a soffit. Mostly it’s a decoration apparatus in most architectural designs, but for you, it will be your best friend for vent installation.
Now, why would one want to opt for this particular installation?
See, the other two locations are comparatively harder to manage if you aren’t a professional. Technicalities such as roof leakages and secondary damages are associated with roof installations. Practically speaking, who needs to risk a hole in their roof anyways?
A side of the wall insertion comes with its malfunctions and incompatibilities. Consider installing a vent on the side of your second-story bathroom. This would probably cause you the unnecessary hassle of bending to adjust the vent.
So, conclusively, a soffit installation is the most convenient and safest option for you.
Soffit Accessories:
Most soffits need ancillary supplies such as a Vent cover. Its job is exactly what it sounds like, to cover and protect. It will block any external factors from entering your house through the hole you made for the vent.
A soffit exhaust vent cover is vertically mounted on the wall and protects against moisture or other external factors such as birds and animals.
Installing a Soffit Exhaust Vent Properly: Here are the points to keep checking while installing a soffit vent.
Alignment of the Vent Covers:
For a soffit vent installation, you need to align your vent cover with your exhaust fan properly to ensure optimum airflow. The more dips and curves in your connection, the more turbulent the airflow.
Since these will aid in the accumulation of moisture and block the smooth flow of air through it. Increased dips and bends may also cause accumulation of condensed water in the pipe, causing problems in the long term.
Selection of Hose:
If you choose the easier route and just replace the old duct instead of removing the whole thing for a new one, this part is for you. Ducts come in different hose sizes. These usually depend upon the power consumption of your exhaust fan and how old they are.
Most high power exhaust fans have a duct size 4″ or 6″. The primitive exhaust fans usually came with a duct size 3″. However, your soffit vent cover may come with adapters, so you don’t have to worry about getting the right one.
Making the Soffit Hole:
The most defining and critical operation while installing an exhaust vent is making the hole where your soffit vent will be placed.
Carefully mark the appropriate location in your attic. The soffit will come with a paper template to aid in getting the exact size and shape of the vent. Once you’re satisfied with your markings, it’s time to work those arm muscles.
Be careful with your jigsaw while you cut out your desired hole. Once that’s done, and you’ve got a neatly shaped cut, install your soffit exhaust fan in it.
Inserting the Soffit Vent:
Once you’re done with the manual labor, the next step includes installing your vent hose. Do this by pulling the vent hose through the hole you cut out. It would help if you were careful with the length of the vent hose.
If you keep it too long, you’ll get unnecessary bumps in your house, disturbing the airflow and causing water accumulation issues. Once you’re satisfied with the hose, connect the vent and the soffit cover using a metal clamp.
Don’t forget to tighten the clamp to prevent the exhaust fan from detaching and rendering the apparatus useless. You can also go that extra safe mile and cover the clamp with foil tape. Now mount the cover on the soffit, and tighten it in place using screws. The screws are mostly provided along with the vent cover, so you don’t need to worry about sizes.
You can use an electric drill or manually do this with a screwdriver as well. Remember to drill in pilot holes for screws.
Selecting the Perfect Bathroom Hose:
Vent hoses differ according to the manufacture date of the Exhaust fan. The older vents mostly require a 3″ duct hose. While the more contemporary ones have shifted towards the 4″ or 5″ duct hose. Some may even require a 6″ hose.
Check the hose requirement while buying the exhaust vent to prevent an extra round to the hardware store.
The convenience of the newer vents is the variety of hose size options. In addition, soffit exhaust vents come with adapters for 4″ 5″ hoses. Furthermore, the availability of individual plastic adapters is another convenient alternative.
Vent Hose Insulation:
The basic requirement for exhaust vents is an insulated environment. The logic behind this is to stop the condensation of water vapors on the outer side.
Make sure that your attic is completely sealed on all sides. If this isn’t the case and the insulation is only half done, or there is foam insulation, you should opt for an insulated exhaust vent hose.
These vent hoses come pre-equipped with insulation installed on the outer surface.
Some of the more high functioning and optimum quality vent hoses are made with fiberglass for insulation in addition to a vapor barrier.
The vapor barrier is used to minimize condensation and mold growth in the ducts. Since condensation occurs when two different temperatures combine, this is precisely what happens in summers. Therefore, rooms are hot while the air is cool.
The vents will regulate temperatures and prevent water formation.
Why is water an enemy? The condensation of vapors and the formation of water create an optimum environment for bacterial growth. The molds will not only reside in your vents but cause further harm as well.
We talked about sealing and insulating the room before installing the soffit exhaust vents. The lack of sealing will aid in circulating the bacterial mold spores through the room and into your lungs. This will result in more damage than benefit.
Other than the health hazards, the molds will damage the infrastructure of your house. So you need to consider the technical aspects of proper vent installation, especially if you aren’t a professional and are conducting an impromptu DIY installation.
One more thing to consider is the location of your bathroom fans. Bathroom fans are always supposed to vent on the outside for optimum effects. It might take a little more effort, but if you’re going to do the job, you might as well do it properly.
Final Verdict on Soffit Exhaust Vent Installation
A soffit vent exhaust installation might seem like an intimidating task, but once you’ve gone through the basics, you’ll realize there isn’t much to it. With the right tools, you could have the exhaust vent installed within an hour or two.
The important tools and ancillary supplies you need on your belt are
- the most significant vent cover to protect you against exterior factors
- A jigsaw to cut out an appropriate hole in the wall.
- a ladder to install said vent cover and vent (preferably a tall one)
- the vent hose to connect your fan
- A metal clamp to tighten and secure the hose connection
If you’ve got the tools, you can use this guide to help you with the trick. It’s always hard to start a project, but the process is usually a simple one once you begin. Make sure to avoid taking shortcuts in your exhaust vent installation journey. You’ll only end up messing up since you aren’t a certified contractor or builder.
One drawback to mention might be the interference of the exhaust vent with the exhausting fan in your bathroom. This interference occurs when the bathroom exhaust fan disturbs the soffit vent’s airflow intake.
But the good news is, this isn’t a major problem. It might prove to be a mild inconvenience, though. In comparison, the benefits of a soffit installation outweigh the disadvantages.
A soffit installation will save you a potentially risky hole in your roof for a roof installation. In addition, the attic is an easily accessible place to insert the vent. It is also relatively safer to install for someone with no prior maintenance experience.
So if you’ve decided to conduct that pending vent installation, the soffit is the best option. Follow this guide as you work through the installation process and take all precautions.