Venting two baths and oven range through common exhaust
Hi,
I’m about to install exhaust venting for a rehab. The showers for the two bathrooms share a common wall between them, and the entry to the attic for the range exhaust will be about 5 feet from the showers. Both are at the end of the house and I was considering the possibility of venting all three through a common exhaust vent going through the sidewall.
Would I need some sort of equivalent of a plumbing check valve to prevent one fixture from blowing back into another room? Would wye connections be sufficient to direct the airflow?
If all vents start at 4 inches, would I need to increase the diameter of the common section that goes out through the sidewall to accommodate the case where all three might be running at the same time?
Thanks in advance!
Jon
Replies
jon
I've never thought combining these types of exhaust into a common exit point was the way to go. I believe I've not heard of a code reason not to. Considering that there's always a potential for fire at the range, you might take that as a reason to separate the two.
In the event it is code compliant, then making all the exhaust piping at least metal (not thinwall alum)would help ease ones mind. Check valves? no, but there are gasketed spring loaded dampers (not the flapper located in the fan box).
Probably all 3 would not be used at the same time but-most range hood exhausts being a minumum of 6" round-3x10 rect, would suggest going to at least 6" where they join up and use at least a 6" vent cap at the wall.
Range hoods, and their ductwork, collect all manner of grease and crud over time. That's why, at least in commercial applications, the range hood must have it's own direct exhaust.
I'd keep them separate.
While people that use them......
would probably collect all sorts of grease and crud, the large contingent of those of us that don't still love the smell of home cooking.
We don't eat bacon very often, mostly micro'd when we do.
Our family is small (smaller now that the daughter is gone to her own family and home-so the amount of boiled pasta has always been low).
Vegetables often saute'd with a lid or micro'd.......
If you have any modicum of cleaning prowess, not much bothers or overwhelms us enough to rid the house of the nice smells of a meal prepared.
mmmmm, dinner is on.