Author

Topic:   Ventilation Fan Directly Above Tub - 2900 visits (1 today, 3 this week)

D. Johnson
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From:Hoffman Estates, IL
Registered: Jan 2006

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posted January 26, 2006 05:58 PM         

Good day, everyone,

First let me say how much information I've been absorbing since reading... and reading... and reading the wonderful (and not so wonderful) insight that so many of you have posted in this venue.

Secondly, I am a recent and very inexperienced start up into this industry, and I have made it my goal to become the best inspector I can be. In other words, I'm resigned to become a factoid geek and to piss off real estate agents from time to time.

Thirdly, and the reason why I've finally decided to join/post, I came across a bathroom ventilation fan in a recessed ceiling (extending downward into the shower/tub area only), just above the tub. Yes, there was a much older fan where one normally sees them... above the toilet... and still functional. The fan above the tub worked like a champ and nearly sucked the air out from my lungs, but... the fact that there was an electrical component at arms length of a person taking a shower, and the fact that this unit is no doubt being exposed to splashing water, I wrote it up.

Has anyone else come across this? And was I correct in recommending the removal of this fan (to what seem as an obvious no no to me) and that the orginal fan be the primary and only fan needed/necessary?

I figure either you folks know something I don't, or that high school education is coming in handy after all.

Thanx in advance.
-- D.J.

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We'll never win with DUHsty Baker.

Michael Thomas
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Posts: 208
From:Evanston, IL
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posted January 26, 2006 06:24 PM            

Depends - some ceiling fans are UL listed for use over tub/shower when on a GFCI circuit, Nutone for example makes several of these.

Wen Myrick
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From:Sacramento Ca.
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posted January 26, 2006 08:04 PM            

Hello DJ,

Welcome!

Did you by chance take a pic of this?

You are in IL and get a lot of moisture....outside... and inside a closed up bathroom

Does this bath have a window? Has the bathroom been remodeled? Are they trying to avoid a reoccurance of mold?

Does this unit protrude through the ceiling as in a swag light? If that is the case then its a sfety hazard...

Please clarify!
~Wen~

D. Johnson
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From:Hoffman Estates, IL
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posted January 26, 2006 08:46 PM         

No, there was no ground fault safeguards anywhere in the home.

Yes, there was a window in the stall, smack dab in the center of the wall where one would typically see one. Other than ugly paint and some scale stains, no deterioration of any kind.

Yes, the bathroom was remodeled but mostly to an interior comestic extent. However it was quite evident that the ceiling in this area above the tub was not original construction. Clearly it was a recent Ty Pennington project and in all around very good condition.

Yes, unit does protrude up and into the ceiling. Proper ventilation channels exist and were not an issue.

No, there was no evidence of "organic growth" of any kind.

And sorry, no, no pic's. (I have made the business decision not to use pictures. Diagrams? Oh yes, absolutely. Pictures, no...not on your life. Too many liability issues in crime scene photos.)

Again, thanx to all for the feedback!!
-- DJ

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We'll never win with DUHsty Baker.

Jerry McCarthy
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From:San Mateo, CA
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posted January 27, 2006 11:24 AM            

"Proper ventilation channels exist and were not an issue."

In other words the exhaust fan was vented to the exterior?

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Jerry McCarthy
San Mateo, CA

Bob Knauff
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posted January 27, 2006 12:42 PM            

DJ,

Welcome to the forum and we hope you can contribute also as time goes by!

Michael is exactly right and to find out IF the fan is the correct type, gently pull the fan grill down from the ceiling and peer inside the housing to locate a label or stamping that lists it for this type of use. If need be, remove the fan grille. From there it is quite simple; if its stamped or labeled for that use, great - if no label or identifiacation can be found, no way, write it up.

Next trip to the hardware store, look at one of those fans that IS rated for that use. It is readily evident on inside of the housing but on the outside the thing looks just like any other fan. I wish the mfg.s would have some notation on the outside of the grille to make the id easier.

------------------
Bob

Think Safety!

www.BeaconHomeInspections.com

Proudly serving the Twin Cities and areas surrounding Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota

Craig Martin
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From:East Dundee, IL
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posted January 27, 2006 02:03 PM            

D.J. - with no GFCI protection, I would write that I as a SAFETY HAZARD.

I see you are from my neighboring town to the east. Have you done any inspections in Carpentersville (east side)? All kinds of weird stuff in those homes. There is a block of homes with the service panels right up against the shower stall. Some people even think the panel door is a towel rack!

Craig Martin
East Dundee, IL

D. Johnson
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From:Hoffman Estates, IL
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posted January 27, 2006 03:29 PM         

Good Day, “Gang,”

Well, thanx for the feedback and the kind welcoming words from all. I’ll keep that in mind about looking under the cover to see what type of exhaust fan I’m actually looking at if I ever run into any similar cases.

Craig: I’ve done a few in your area, and haven’t come across the likes of that yet. But not to disappoint, the biggest FUBAR I’ve inspected to date, was in Carpentersville. Single family raised ranch… Home to 16 people. Never mind all the incredible bizarre home reconfigurations and jury rigging done to accommodate ~1400 sq ft., but one quickly learns how fast things deteriorate when that many human beings use an abundant amount of water. Simply an overwhelming inspection- wish I had 2 more hours on top of the first 3. It was a tremendous learning experience.

Thanx again everyone. Enjoy your weekends!!
-- DJ

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We'll never win with DUHsty Baker.

Craig Martin
Member


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From:East Dundee, IL
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posted January 27, 2006 04:25 PM            

D.J. - my fellow Cub fan. I couldn't agree with you more about DUHsty! I'm proud to say I never wanted him here. I was wishing for Davey Johnson, Bobby Valentine or Jim Leyland.

Regarding the home to 16 in Carpentersville that you inspected - let me guess, east side, Meadowdale, Hispanics? The population of C'Ville is listed about 30,000 - but it's actually probably closer to 40 or 45k.

Craig Martin
East Dundee, IL

D. Johnson
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posted January 27, 2006 04:42 PM         

Craig, I use to live 8 blocks from Wrigley Field and bleed Cubbie Blue (strangely enough, I didn‘t have a very good attendance record in school). I was hoping to land Uncle Lou before he went to manage that disaster known as the Devil Rays. And for the Lovie Smith of Gawd, don’t get me started on DUHsty Baker. He is a fraud, and just like the Sosa’s and McGwires of the world, he can thank his managerial success to the performance of his players shoving needles into their rear ends. He has no clue how to handle a pitching staff, he let’s the inmates run the asylum, he’d rather be liked by his players than WIN, he’s afraid to go out an argue with an ump--inherently lobbying for the next close call to go our way--because he’s afraid of what his mom and his kid will think of him, he can‘t teach his players fundamental things like running out a ground ball or BUNTING, he refuses to take any responsibility if things go wrong, but is quick to tell you how great he is when it goes right…..
.
……egad. You see? You got me going!!! LOL

Somewhere Benito Santiago is laughing.

Enjoy the weekend!!
-- DJ

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We'll never win with DUHsty Baker.

Gunnar Alquist
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From:Santa Rosa, CA
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posted January 28, 2006 05:39 PM            

D.

I dunno about the fan. Jerry Mc. has posted this diagram in the past and I think it applies here.

Click (74917 Bytes)

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Douglas Adams

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Craig Martin
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From:East Dundee, IL
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posted January 28, 2006 08:11 PM            

D.J. - Do you ever call the Score? If so, what's your "handle"?

D. Johnson
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posted January 29, 2006 09:23 AM         

Craig, major longtime Scorehead here. If you're a regular listener, you've no doubt heard my comments from time to time. I'm more affectionately known as "Rotator Cuff," over there. There's some really good folks at that station... met them all. You a listener?

-- DJ

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We'll never win with DUHsty Baker.

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D. Johnson
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From:Hoffman Estates, IL
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posted January 29, 2006 09:28 AM         

Gunnar, thanx for the diagram. Also, I enjoy reading your commentary elsewhere. It's good to see a venue with so many committed individuals who are seemingly proud of their work. I hope to learn more as I follow these various strings.

-- DJ

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We'll never win with DUHsty Baker.

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Craig Martin
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posted January 29, 2006 11:53 AM            

DJ - I've heard "Rotator Cuff". Yeah, I've listened since day one. Although, I do also listen to ESPN also. I used to listen 8-10 hours a day M-F.

Boers, Bernstein and Steve Stone did a show right across the street from my office last summer (Bandito Barney's)- I took my son there - got an autographed ball from Stonie.

Wait 'til next year!

D. Johnson
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posted January 29, 2006 02:14 PM         

Craig, yeah, day one listener here too. Use to listen from 6 am to 6pm (job started at 6, wife got home at 6)...my daughter use to say "let's get weddy to wumble" when the Monster's of The Mid Day signed on. And yes, it's too bad about Stoney. I don't blame him for leaving... I wouldn't want to take all that nonsense that DUHsty allowed his players to do to me either. "I predict" that once DUHsty Baker is gone, and Bob Brenley's contract is up, he'll be back in the booth though. The man simply had a crystal ball up there and he just loves Chicago. King of the "first guess," no question.

Larry Horse, I mean, Terry Boers, that man is out of his mind. No one can say "raging rectum" quite like he can. And yes, I'm a proud member of his "Dope list."

Did you by chance catch Friday Fung? Doug Buffone facts? Mine was the "Doug professing his love for Nichole Kidman" and "removing the 72 pencils from his neck to take out Keith Urban's spleen."

Anywho, gotta fly. Good to see there's a fellow Scorehead out there!!

-- DJ

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We'll never win with DUHsty Baker.

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