Vent through attic into soffit

J

jack06041989

Active Member
So I have my exhaust ducting going though the ceiling up into the attic and right to the bottom of the roof where the wooden soffit is fixed to the bottom of the roof rafters. I have drilled some holes in the Soffit that go to the outside and then have my ducting pointing at the holes from the inside of the loft. Would this be ok to Prevent mold? Or would I need to cut a hole so the ducting can pertrude through the soffit ? Worried about mold in the cold months. Any info much appreciated
 
K

kingpeppercheese

Member
jack06041989 said:
So I have my exhaust ducting going though the ceiling up into the attic and right to the bottom of the roof where the wooden soffit is fixed to the bottom of the roof rafters. I have drilled some holes in the Soffit that go to the outside and then have my ducting pointing at the holes from the inside of the loft. Would this be ok to Prevent mold? Or would I need to cut a hole so the ducting can pertrude through the soffit ? Worried about mold in the cold months. Any info much appreciated
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install an actual vent to ensure that you don’t rot your soffit with damp warm air
 
Star Dog

Star Dog

Well-Known Member
Venting into your attic space should be sufficient without fixing it to the outside, I had a grow in an attic for years and never ever seen the remotest sign of moisture.

I'm assuming like mine that your eves have holes cut/drilled all the way along them, all the attics I've been in are purposely well ventilated but maybe different in the USA?
 
J

jack06041989

Active Member
Star Dog said:
Venting into your attic space should be sufficient without fixing it to the outside, I had a grow in an attic for years and never ever seen the remotest sign of moisture.

I'm assuming like mine that your eves have holes cut/drilled all the way along them, all the attics I've been in are purposely well ventilated but maybe different in the USA?
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Well there’s only holes that I’ve drilled on one small part of it where I have the ducting pointing towards from the attic. Been running for 3 months and haven’t seen moisture yet but now it’s colder here was worried about the hot and cold air together. I’m from uk bro anyway
 
Star Dog

Star Dog

Well-Known Member
jack06041989 said:
Well there’s only holes that I’ve drilled on one small part of it where I have the ducting pointing towards from the attic. Been running for 3 months and haven’t seen moisture yet but now it’s colder here was worried about the hot and cold air together. I’m from uk bro anyway
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Would you describe your attic as drafty?
If there's air passing through it'll be OK.

If you have a metal/tin bucket face your ducting into it if there's excessive moisture it'll condense on the bucket.

Just a maybe... If you are using long runs of ducting in cold places the moisture can condense inside it before reaching the end, have a low point mid way with a catch tray and single hole poked in the ducting if you find its condensing.
 
natureboygrower

natureboygrower

Well-Known Member
Star Dog said:
Would you describe your attic as drafty?
If there's air passing through it'll be OK.

If you have a metal/tin bucket face your ducting into it if there's excessive moisture it'll condense on the bucket.

Just a maybe... If you are using long runs of ducting in cold places the moisture can condense inside it before reaching the end, have a low point mid way with a catch tray and single hole poked in the ducting if you find its condensing.
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All depends on how cold it gets where he is too. I believe mold/mildew issues start in winter months when there's a mix of cold air( outside) that meets warm air( inside)

@kingpeppercheese is right @jack06041989 best to focus the air to one point. When we first built our house our bathroom exhaust vent was just aimed towards the soffit like op and it wasnt enough. I checked it winter and did not like what I saw. So I ended up cutting a dryer vent into the side of the building. Not an option for OP it sounds. So I'd try and get the vent stapled right over those soffit holes.

jack06041989 said:
now it’s colder here was worried about the hot and cold air together.
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Bingo. Smart man.
 
BluntMoniker

BluntMoniker

Well-Known Member
Throw a few cans of Damp Rid up in the attic near where your exhausting the air, to prevent any issues of condensation or moisture buildup inside.

There shouldn't be much moisture inside since your venting it outside, but any condensation created from the hot+cold or any airflow leaks will be compensated for by the damp-rid, and you don't havw to worry about issues of rot or mold
 
natureboygrower

natureboygrower

Well-Known Member
BluntMoniker said:
Throw a few cans of Damp Rid up in the attic near where your exhausting the air, to prevent any issues of condensation or moisture buildup inside.

There shouldn't be much moisture inside since your venting it outside, but any condensation created from the hot+cold or any airflow leaks will be compensated for by the damp-rid, and you don't havw to worry about issues of rot or mold
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Damp rids are ok in closets. I dont believe they'd completely remedy OPs legitimate concerns.
He's really not venting it outside, he's venting it towards holes that lead to outside. If his soffit holes and ridgevent are not working together, all that humidity during winter months may be a problem if its not immediately swept away by air/wind movement.
 
thumper60

thumper60

Well-Known Member
jack06041989 said:
So I have my exhaust ducting going though the ceiling up into the attic and right to the bottom of the roof where the wooden soffit is fixed to the bottom of the roof rafters. I have drilled some holes in the Soffit that go to the outside and then have my ducting pointing at the holes from the inside of the loft. Would this be ok to Prevent mold? Or would I need to cut a hole so the ducting can pertrude through the soffit ? Worried about mold in the cold months. Any info much appreciated
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If outside temps get below freezing dont do it, That attic will be covered in mold in weeks at best, I have seen attics condense an drip in the winter that wernt vented right.
 
BluntMoniker

BluntMoniker

Well-Known Member
natureboygrower said:
Damp rids are ok in closets. I dont believe they'd completely remedy OPs legitimate concerns.
He's really not venting it outside, he's venting it towards holes that lead to outside. If his soffit holes and ridgevent are not working together, all that humidity during winter months may be a problem if its not immediately swept away by air/wind movement.
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People use damp rid in the crawl spaces all the time, for the same reason he'd need to use them in the attic. Moisture/condensation buildup due to heat/cold differentials.

Its not a complete fix in and of itself, but if his only option is to vent into the attic, and he cant install a vent to connect his ducting to, then the damp rid will surely help remediate localized condensation/mold.

Edit: Dropped my phone and hit post. Anyway, a lot of it will have to do with like you said the exchange in the attic, the attic size, the conditions of the air hes pumping in up there, etc. But if he can't do anything the change his current setup, id suggest just adding as much dessicant as needed to keep the attic from turning into mold city
 
Just Be

Just Be

Well-Known Member
I'm fairly certain that introducing negatively charged ions into the path of the exhaust should eliminate any chance of black mold taking hold.
 
natureboygrower

natureboygrower

Well-Known Member
BluntMoniker said:
People use damp rid in the crawl spaces all the time, for the same reason he'd need to use them in the attic.
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They work well in some situations. But most people arent using DR in grows ( the consumer damp rids that is) That at the most is just a band aid.
BluntMoniker said:
Its not a complete fix in and of itself, but if his only option is to vent into the attic, and he cant install a vent to connect his ducting to,
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I agree. But he really needs to get that vent over those holes and fastened over them or like Thumper said, he'll surely have problems. I wouldnt do it either if that fan vent is just hanging out loose up there.
 
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