Vent a Bathroom Fan Through Soffit [Everything Covered]

After setting up the fan, you’re confused about the venting system. You are having thoughts if it will be right to vent through the soffit of your house.

So the main question is if it’s a good choice to vent a bathroom fan through soffit?

Well, the answer varies with bathrooms. There are many benefits of this method. But there are some conditions for this type of venting.  For instance, the length between the soffit and the fan must be minimum. There are other factors too. So check all the points completely before making the verdict!

You’ve to gather detailed knowledge about venting through the soffit before making the final decision. We have gathered all of that for you. Spare some of your time and keep reading till the end!

Reasons to Vent a Bathroom Fan Through Soffit

The underside portion of the roof must be covered for various reasons. And the part that does this job is known as the soffit. The soffit is fitted to save the attic from the outside water, moisture and dirt. Though the soffit is not an option for a gas furnace vent, it’s perfect for the bathroom fan vent. 

Anyway, there are a number of paths through which you can vent a bathroom fan. But why would you do the job through a soffit? 

The answer is pretty simple. Venting is a complex process. And by venting through the soffit this complexity decreases a lot. First of all, you wouldn’t need to make holes in your roof. So your roof stays intact. Also if you install a fan on the second floor, you will save a crucial amount of work. In that case, venting through the soffit is the easiest way to vent.

 Also, you’ll have effortless access to your attic. You won’t have to climb up the roof. So venting through the soffit is a very reasonable choice if you’re a ‘Do It Yourself’ guy.

Factors to Be Considered Before You Vent a Bathroom

Venting through the soffit is very easy. So you will be tempted to do so but you need to check up on some factors before starting the job.

It’s a bad idea to vent through the soffit if the distance between the fan and the soffit is too long. If the length of the hose used crosses a 10 feet mark, don’t do it. This type of situation is not ideal for venting through soffit. Here, it will be better to make a roof or wall venting system. Also, a long hose might have more turns. It’s better to avoid turns while setting up the venting hose. 

Furthermore, you have to remember we are venting through the attic, not in the attic. If you vent directly into the attic, molds will form inside the attic.

So the venting hose will go through the soffit and get the moisture out.

How to Vent a Bathroom Fan Through Soffit?

Venting through the soffit is not a very complex work. But the work is easy only when you have the correct set of tools and procedures. So let’s see which tools are necessary for this chore.

Tools

Normal plumbing tools are needed to finish the work. You will require the following tools-

• Eye Protection Goggles and a Mask
• Tin Snips
• Duct Hose
• Ventilation Fan
• Drill Machine
• Framing Square
• Screwdriver
• Tape Measure
• Ladder
• Aluminum Tape
• Soffit Cover

You’ll be needing all these tools to vent through the soffit. Collect the tools before starting to avoid a halt during the work.

Procedure

The first step is obviously to install the exhaust fan in the bathroom. You need to buy a bathroom exhaust fan according to your needs for that. But we will not discuss that in detail here.

One end of the hose is to be joined with the fan. Take the vent hose up to the soffit and pass through it. Make sure to avoid bends. 

Choose the point of the soffit through which you want to get the hose out in nature. Make a hole at that. Make sure to take accurate measurements and make a perfect hole. A good way is to use the tin snip to make the hole.

Now get the hose out of the hole. If the hose is too long after coming out of the hole, cut the surplus portion. Mount the hose with the soffit cover with the help of a clamp. Then tighten the cover with the screws. For more safety, you can use foil tapes over their screws.

Give a final check. See if all the connections are strong. The work is completed if everything is fine. You have successfully made the venting.

Tips For Venting a Bathroom Fan Through Soffit

A good venting system is necessary to prevent mold on the bathroom popcorn ceiling. So if you choose to vent through soffit you must be careful on certain aspects. Or you’ll find your bathroom fan blowing air in other direction.

Ensuring Proper Size of Duct Hose

The size of duct hoses varies on the fans. If you are using an old modeled fan a 3-inch hose will be good. But newer models have different size ranges varying from 4 to 6 inches. So make sure that you know the right size. Then you will be able to get the accurate duct hose.

Choosing the Best Route

The lesser the length of the hose, the fewer chances of leakage. And to ensure less length you have to find the best route. This will also help you to save some money on the hose pipe. So find and use the best route while venting.

Assuring Fewer Bends in the Hose

Bends are not good for hoses. Moisture will get stuck in the bends and cause a bad odor. But some problematic situations will surely arise. Then you will have to bend the hose. We’ll try to avoid that situation as much as possible. So don’t bend the hose too much and try to use a straight path.

Using Insulated Hose

From furnace flue pipe to bathroom fan hose insulation, insulation is very important. The soffit is used to prevent moisture from getting inside the attic. Now when you are venting through the soffit and have a bad hose, the moisture might get leaked in the soffit. And from that, it will accumulate in the attic. Thus, the purpose of using soffit goes all in vain. 

These are some good hoses that are made of insulating materials. These will give a good result.

Use these insulated hoses to save your attic from moisture. Otherwise, the labor and money you save here will be wasted in repairing the attic.

FAQs

Question: Do I need a professional to do the task?

Answer: This task is not very complex and all the connections are easy too. We have given you a clear guideline by following which you can easily do the work.

Question: Is venting through the soffit more beneficial than venting through the roof?

Answer: Yes, it is more beneficial. Venting through the soffit is an easy process. It is also less hard than venting through the roof. But if your fan doesn’t meet the requirements, you must go for roof or wall venting.

Question: Are soffit vents more expensive than other types of vents?

Answer: No, they are not. Instead soffit vents are much cheaper than roof vents. Soffit vents cost 315 to 465 dollars whereas roof vents cost more than 500 dollars.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve gathered sufficient knowledge about how to vent a bathroom fan through the soffit. We’ve discussed the benefits and considerable factors of soffit vents. Now you decide whether to go for soffit vents or other types.

Feel free to comment about anything you need to know.