NYC code for venting bathroom exhaust fans

Greetings,

I am looking to purchase a renovated home in Brooklyn that has 4 bathrooms that have exhaust fans installed but they vent into the ceiling walls instead of venting outdoors. Besides creating an obvious opportunity for mold and rot, is this even legal in NYC? Should be noted that 3 out of the 4 bathroom don’t have a window either.

Thanks in advance for your advice,
Bo

bobo

in Heating and Cooling 7 years and 11 months ago

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bobo | 7 years and 11 months ago

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Thanks again everyone! Really appreciate your insights and advice. Cheers!

EJR | 7 years and 11 months ago

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Yes, though technically you do not need a vent in the bathrooms with windows. Hire a licensed plumber and tell him you want the vents installed/reconfigured according to code. Also consider supplying the actual vent fan yourself. A plumber or other contractor will generally supply a builder grade fan, when for $100 more you can get one of far higher quality. I am partial to Panasonic vent fans. The basic ones cost ~$100 (vent only, lower power) and the fancy ones cost ~$300 (vent/heat/light).

bobo | 7 years and 11 months ago

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Thanks for your reply. 4th bathroom is on top floor, but has no window but does have a fan. However, the fan just vents into the ceiling which seems wrong in so, so many ways. Seems the solutions would be to individually vent lower floors to outside through vertical walls and then the 4th floor into ceiling, no? Thanks again for your reply.

eileengray | 7 years and 11 months ago

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Bathrooms in NYC require either natural ventilation (operable window or skylight) or mechanical ventilation – fan/sheet metal duct (no flex) typically to the roof. There are rules about how close the termination of a bathroom vent can be to a window so this generally results in having to go to the roof. Three of your four bathrooms are legal – but please remove the fans. I hope the 4th is on the top floor!

ellenlourie | 7 years and 11 months ago

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No, it is not. http://www2.iccsafe.org/states/newyorkcity/Mechanical/PDFs/Chapter%204_Ventilation.pdf