Using a vent fan during a bath remodel to control dust
SwissCarpenter
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
I’m going to build a small, windowless bathroom in a finished basement and I’m thinking about installing the exhaust fan early in the project to keep negative pressure in the room and control dust in the finished space while I’m building out the bathroom. Yes, I could install a zipwall, but I’m trying to avoid using one if possible. Has anyone used this type of setup? Is it effective and can the fan be harmed by sucking dust (particularly drywall dust) for an extended period of time?
Replies
Swiss
in a word to both questions,
Yes.
Swiss
While it won't spell the demise of a fan, I'd find an old pc of junk nutone and use it. To use a good new one would be just wrong, unless you want to muffle the bathroom use noise down the road.
and, it won't pull enough air from a basement to eliminate the spread of dust you want to remove. It would work in the small room, but no way in the larger finished space.
what you should do is remember to shut down the central htg system (if forced air) prior to the day's work and continue till after the end of day cleanup.
the small visqueen work enclosure would work with an exhaust fan, but unless you shut off the heat, it'll just backdraft and defeat any attempt at dust containment.
use runners from your work point, up the bsmt. steps and to the door. Pickup and shake out every night, put down every morning.
As an old drywaller of suspect quality used to say.....
"you might as well piss in the sump crock if you run the bath fan"
Looks like a POS fan will be the answer
Thanks for the advice, guys. Looks like the answer will be to buy a $20 POS fan from the the big orange box and then replace it with a real fan. Seems like short money for this sort of job, though I'll probably be wearing ear plugs while working! Yup, I always plug my returns in my work areas and i've had decent luck with that; the run is only about 4 ft of solid duct, so it'll be easy to clean out after.
It may be better than nothing but don't expect a lot of negative pressure.I had a similar renovation and I made a tunnel of visqueen to a regular window in the next room and used 2 box fans on high. The yard outside looked like it had snowed.
no opinion on the fan thing, just curious why you are so opposed to the zipwall?
Zip Wall
I'm not oposed to using a zip wall, but having one in the space in question would be a headache. Basically the location is between two living spaces. I could use one, but it'll severely restrict movement. Maybe I'll just set one up for the drywall finishing and concrete cutting and use the fan for the rest.. Any forseeable problem using both the fan and the zipwall?
no, but like others have said, youll either need to clean the fan blades and motor or replace it with a new one. shop vac while concrete sawing and a portercable sander (or like) with vacum attachment helps keep dust levels down considerablly.
Good grief amundo.....
Can you dam up the area around and use a water saw for the concrete?
Is there a window in the bath?
A box fan in the window is going to work much better than an exhaust fan.
Good luck.
A box fan in the window is going to work much better than an exhaust fan.
Note that this is a bathroom with no windows.
Vacum
I burned a vacum clear up with drywall dust on such a project once. Hmm?
I've never done that but it sounds usefull as its going to help you let all the dust out keep it clean.
To seriously move the dust out you need a bigger, dedicated blower. This is what we use. We also have 40' of flexible hose that we can couple together or use one on the suction end and one on the exhaust end. Obviously the exhaust end is sealed through a window or door. It keeps the air and house virtually dust free.
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https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Utility-Blower-12in-Model/dp/B004I5TX92/ref=pd_sbs_201_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=1AGH4RNTQY1MDZ3Z18Q9