Installing Extractor fans in Kitchen & W.C ?

[Furkin]

I'm disabled & live in a rented bungalow.
I want to put ceiling extractor fans in the kitchen & bath/w.c.
My initial idea was to run them both into a single 4" pipe & route it - about 20 feet - to the soffet between me & next door. This is a natural 'tunnel' & will dissipate the outages nicely.
I was thinking of using normal 4" soil pipe for this. Is this adequate ? Is it the cheapest option ?
The landlord will pay something towards this, but I need the most economical method to achieve this please.

(see separate post for lighting)

 

[Chri5]

As disabled and a renter, why not pass the work over to your landlord ?

As for ducting, you will have to be careful that the moist air doesn't condensate inside long'ish vent pipe runs.

Have a look at http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Ventilation_Index/index.html which will contain all the components necessary for doing the work- including duct materials.

I would also suggest that you seek on site advice via the supplier / contractor that you intend to use to do the work.

 

[Furkin]

Thanks Chri5,
As the landlord says, he provides adequate provisions. If I want to add anything, then whilst he will usually give me permission - and pay something towards it - then it's down to me. Any actual problems are taken care of at once.

Ducting: Is that why there are 'flexible' pipes on offer ? Are they better ?

Although I am now disabled, I am a retired builder. The work will be done by my son & I before being checked over.

I have fitted many fans before, but never with ducting, and in my day, there wasn't so much choice of materials,,,,,, and costing has changed somewhat ?!?!

thanks again mate.

F

 

[Chri5]

Flexi duct are okay for short venting runs. The ridges that make up flexi duct do catch wet air and can cause condensation inside the duct.

Where possible I would recommend you use smooth duct, either round or rectangle depending on route space available.

The fan type that suits longer ducts best is in line with the fan fitted at mid position to draw air and push air 50:50. if the fan is at the near end then it has to push air further. If it's at the far end then it has to suck harder.

I never use 1 fan for 2 vents, if that is your intention then you will get in to issues with swithcing the fan on. Such as both rooms being use at the same time and venting / fan not being adequate to do so. Double switching in each room. Blow back from 1 room to another.

Two seperate fans, with back drafts sharing the same duct above ceiling, on seperate electrical switching would seem the prudent way of doing it.

 

[Furkin]

Yep - I had intended to use a separate fan for each room,,,, but until I read your reply, I had intended to put the fans in/above the ceiling in each room.

Initially: The First one (W.C) would have a 90deg 4” bend over it. The second (kitchen) would have a ‘y’ junction over it [picking up the line from the W.C] and on to the outlet.

Now I’ll be putting the fans approx mid way, so I’ll alter that ’design’.

I'll also skip the Flexi / corrugated trunking idea, as any condensation might collect in the ridges & stagnate.

Once again – a great help,,,, now,,,, where’s me wallet,,,,

 

[electronicsuk]

This post from a few days ago may also be a useful read:

http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=213691&highlight=

 

[Taylortwocities]

Beware of using cheap fans on long duct runs. Many cannot cope with duct runs more than 3 metres.
Check the specs before you buy! The TLC link above is a good guide IMO.