Extractor Fan in Bathroom - Roof Vent?

RosesInTheHospital

Well it appears the extractor fan in the main bathroom vents directly into the loft (that's why it smells so musty)..... I will need to rectify this and it looks like the vent may not be able to go via the Soffit due to spacing so I wondered if it should go into a roof vent tile instead? what trades should I call in to complete this or could a competent DIYer do this (even the roof tile??)

thanks

Nick_C

My builder installed a couple of bathroom extractors for me. I asked him about venting through the roof. He advised against it. He said you shouldn't put holes in the roof unless you have to. It's just another potential problem. He took the tubing to a new vent that he cut into the end wall (in the loft).

Furts

Vent tiles are OK if they are a perfect match with the existing roof tiles. So you need to know, or determine, if you have got a Redland Regent, plus the correct colour, or whatever. This tile needs fitting from up on the roof so access and safety then have to be factored in, and paid for.

I suggest you have greater issues than you think you have. Whilst it is the wrong answer, a bathroom vent extract going into a roof receiving good ventilation is not going to cause any significant issues. The fact that you detect musty smells suggests that your roof is receiving inadequate ventilation. In such cases connecting up the extract is correct, and honourable, but does nothing to resolve your lack of roof ventilation.

Nick_C

Furts wrote: »

Vent tiles are OK if they are a perfect match with the existing roof tiles. So you need to know, or determine, if you have got a Redland Regent, plus the correct colour, or whatever. This tile needs fitting from up on the roof so access and safety then have to be factored in, and paid for.

I suggest you have greater issues than you think you have. Whilst it is the wrong answer, a bathroom vent extract going into a roof receiving good ventilation is not going to cause any significant issues. The fact that you detect musty smells suggests that your roof is receiving inadequate ventilation. In such cases connecting up the extract is correct, and honourable, but does nothing to resolve your lack of roof ventilation.

Good point. Worth checking to see if the vents have been obstructed by loft insulation.

RosesInTheHospital

Thanks for the responses - yes there has been inadequate ventilation in the roof space which has now been addressed, I suspect I will need to examine all the insulation to check if mold is present and replace.

Furts

RosesInTheHospital wrote: »

Thanks for the responses - yes there has been inadequate ventilation in the roof space which has now been addressed, I suspect I will need to examine all the insulation to check if mold is present and replace.

Fibreglass, or Rockwool are not items I have seen be eaten by mould. So I doubt there is a problem here. However if either have got wet it is a waste of time thinking they will dry out and go back to being brilliant insulation. Best to replace the insulation - it is cheap and plentiful and easy to do.