Can you vent a bathroom fan through the roof?

If you have access to the attic, the fan can vent through either a gable wall or the roof. Letting the fan exhaust into an open attic will cause moisture buildup on the underside of the roof. Avoid venting through a soffit vent or ridge vent.

Does a bathroom exhaust fan have to be vented outside?





Note that the bathroom vent fan must always exhaust to the outdoors; never allow the duct to simply blow into an attic, crawlspace or other enclosed area.

Is it OK to vent bathroom fan into attic?

No, you should not vent a bathroom fan directly into an attic. The problem with venting into the attic is that the moisture-rich air may form droplets on the wood sheathing, insulation, rafters, and ceiling joists, leading to mold growth.

What is the proper way to vent a bathroom exhaust fan?

The fan exhaust must vent directly to the exterior of the home. Do not put the vent termination in a roof overhang or soffit. Don’t put it on a wall near or under a roof overhang. The moist air that’s belched out by the fan can be sucked right up into the open soffit vents and be drawn into your attic.

Is it OK to vent a bathroom fan through the soffit?

A bathroom fan can be vented through soffit so that the warm air from the bathroom comes out through it and goes outside. However, It is important to keep in mind it can not be vented into the soffit, as this will lead moisture back into the attic.