How can I add an exhaust fan to my basement?

Kathy
by Kathy
I have windows to my basement, but they cannot be opened.
  3 answers
  • Jacquie Jacquie on Jun 10, 2017

    I just had this done. Because my house is super old, and stone, there were no exhaust fans anywhere... They can go through one of your windows...( cut a circular hole, and attach the duct to the window with a special vent using superglue. ) In my case they went from my stone walled utility room with the dryer vent, through my bathroom near the ceiling, and through one of the windows, near the top. It looks a tad strange, at the moment ( exposed ductwork in a 220 year old stone room ) but it will alleviate what was about to become a serious mold problem. There had never been a dryer in the house. I'll keep haunting pinterest to find a fun way to "hide" or feature it... but it's much better than what I was facing. Good luck with yours.

    ( After going through two stone walls, venting through the window was 'cake'.)

    • Susan Bechamp Susan Bechamp on Jun 10, 2017

      Our basement wall are also stone, with thick joists on top to support the main floor. We just had a new bathroom installed in the basement, including a light/ventilation combo. The contractor ran the duct work from the ceiling hung fixture between two joists to the outside wall. We covered the ceiling with the PVC version of a pressed tin ceiling. (It's paintable and won't rust if in a moist environment, not everyone always remembers to turn the exhaust fan on). We covered the ceiling to hide electric lines and plumbing, not just the exhaust vent and ductwork. We also considered using beadboard as it would not be out-of-place in an old home, but I found a good deal on the PVC so price determined my choice.

      (Either choice is better than a dropped ceiling with the ugly acoustic panels or pegboard sheets nailed to the bottom of the joists as my folks had in their basement).

  • Jacquie Jacquie on Jun 10, 2017

    The PVC sounds great... I'll look into it... I left my joists exposed, but the PVC sounds like a better choice than what my contractor went with in between. Hah! We are in agreement when it comes to acoustic panels , and/or pegboard. :-)


  • Kathy Kathy on Jun 11, 2017

    Thanks for the info!