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Interesting exhaust fan installation

JohnT8 | Posted in Construction Techniques on January 29, 2006 11:31am

Today I ran into an interesting “installation” on a 1/2 bathroom exhaust fan.  Took some blurry pics of it.  I hadn’t intended to remove the fan, but when I pulled the ceiling drywall down, the fan came too.  No, it wasn’t attached to the drywall… it wasn’t attached to ANYTHING!  The drywall hit the floor and the fan dangled on its electric line (pic2).

The unit had simply been pushed up into the insulation and drywall slapped up there to hold it in place.  Blurry pic 3 is showing the indent in the insulation that the fan housing had made (they also had a layer of R11 and a layer of R13 jammed in that 2×6 cavity).

The next fun realization was there there wasn’t any ductwork….or any way for the fan to exhaust.  It was in a sealed ceiling cavity.  Pic 4 is with the insulation removed.

I don’t think the installers are going to make it into the pages of FHB. 

 

jt8

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.”  — Sydney Smith

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  1. JohnT8 | Jan 29, 2006 11:33am | #1

    smaller version of pic 1.

    jt8

    "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals."  -- Sydney Smith

  2. User avater
    JeffBuck | Jan 29, 2006 12:17pm | #2

    worked till now though, didn't it!

     

    that's my "regular" install ...

    the "extra" ... cost more.

     

    and U can't afford my "special" ...

     

    that one ... it's attached AND vented!

    Jeff

        Buck Construction

     Artistry In Carpentry

         Pittsburgh Pa

    1. User avater
      JDRHI | Jan 29, 2006 04:24pm | #3

      By "vented"......you don't mean to the out doors....do you?

      J. D. Reynolds

      Home Improvements

  3. User avater
    BillHartmann | Jan 29, 2006 05:10pm | #4

    I don't know why you put quotes around "installation".

    I think you accurately describe it. It was half of a bathroom fan installation.

    BTW, if you an run duct work and want to replace it there you can get ductless bath fans. They use a charcoal filter. They are only good for fart removal and not moisture removal. But that is all you need in a 1/2 bath.

    1. JohnT8 | Jan 30, 2006 06:37am | #11

      BTW, if you an run duct work and want to replace it there you can get ductless bath fans. They use a charcoal filter. They are only good for fart removal and not moisture removal. But that is all you need in a 1/2 bath.

      The 1/2 ba is going to be turned into a tub.  Already removed the wall between 1/2ba and the full ba.  The full BA will house the vanity and a shower stall, the 1/2 either a big soaking tub...or a jet tub.  The toilet will probably wind up right where the wall was (good thing I took the wall out).jt8

      "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals."  -- Sydney Smith

  4. dgbldr | Jan 29, 2006 08:48pm | #5

    Love those 2-piece joists.

    DG/Builder

    1. User avater
      BruceT999 | Jan 29, 2006 09:53pm | #8

      I wonder if those "two-piece joists" resulted from removing an old wall to convert two 1/4 baths into a 1/2 bath? :-)

    2. JohnT8 | Jan 30, 2006 06:43am | #12

      Love those 2-piece joists.

      But I'm sure they used only the very best 2x6's. :)

      I stopped myself just prior to cutting out a short wall that was in my way.  Had I done so, the 20' 2x6 span would have turned into 32'.  Just seemed a bit long for 2x6's & a couple 12D's.

       jt8

      "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals."  -- Sydney Smith

  5. omaha | Jan 29, 2006 09:02pm | #6

    My brother had a similar problem with venting but from the outside in.  He paid "extra"  to have roof vents installed when he got a new roof.  A few months later he went into the attic and was surprised there was no "light"  coming in from the new vents.   The roofer was kind enough to install the vents but not cut holes for them.  Just nailed them in place.   Surprisingly (not) the cell phone number he had for the roofer was disconnected and long gone.   It makes me appreciate the good guys.

    1. User avater
      JDRHI | Jan 29, 2006 09:12pm | #7

      Actually cutting holes in a roof when installing ventilation, greatly increases chances of leaks.

      Venting without the holes, give you all the aesthetic beauty, without the worry.

      J. D. Reynolds

      Home Improvements

  6. User avater
    zak | Jan 29, 2006 11:24pm | #9

    Are you sure that's not one of those high-tech ventilation fans that converts stale, moist air into a stream of electrons and beams it right out through the walls? That might be one valuable bath fan!
    I wonder if it's off the set of Star Trek. . . .
    zak

  7. MSA1 | Jan 30, 2006 03:08am | #10

    I've yet to do a bathroom that had a properly vented exhaust fan when I arrived.

    "It'll be fine, see how well i've aimed the exhaust line at that roof vent".

    I've seen some installs so screwed up, I hoped I could find out who did it. I would follow him around and retire off of repairing his work.  

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