ᐅ Exhaust Ventilation in Guest Bathroom – Unpleasant Odors Flowing Back In
Created on: 9 Oct 2020 20:17
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Bau-Chris-BW
Hello,
I have just moved into a new apartment on the third floor. The guest toilet is fairly simple and located inside the building.
There is an exhaust fan that can be manually operated with a timer switch (up to 15 minutes).
Above the toilet, there is a vent in the wall (100mm (4 inches) pipe with a simple square grille). Behind it is a fan controlled by the timer switch.
The two apartments below also have a guest toilet in the same spot. Apparently, the neighbors use it quite often for their heavier business... and since the exhaust pipe runs vertically throughout the entire building, unpleasant odors from the neighbors are rising up to our apartment... No matter when I use the guest toilet, it smells very strong.
My question is: Is it possible to install a valve instead of the louvered cover on my 100mm (4 inches) pipe in the wall so that air can only be drawn outwards (into the exhaust pipe) and not flow from the pipe back into my apartment?
The fan is not very powerful – is there anything I should consider when buying such a valve or an “air trap” (I’m not sure what this kind of device is called)?
Thank you very much for your help!
Best regards from Ba-Wü
Christian
I have just moved into a new apartment on the third floor. The guest toilet is fairly simple and located inside the building.
There is an exhaust fan that can be manually operated with a timer switch (up to 15 minutes).
Above the toilet, there is a vent in the wall (100mm (4 inches) pipe with a simple square grille). Behind it is a fan controlled by the timer switch.
The two apartments below also have a guest toilet in the same spot. Apparently, the neighbors use it quite often for their heavier business... and since the exhaust pipe runs vertically throughout the entire building, unpleasant odors from the neighbors are rising up to our apartment... No matter when I use the guest toilet, it smells very strong.
My question is: Is it possible to install a valve instead of the louvered cover on my 100mm (4 inches) pipe in the wall so that air can only be drawn outwards (into the exhaust pipe) and not flow from the pipe back into my apartment?
The fan is not very powerful – is there anything I should consider when buying such a valve or an “air trap” (I’m not sure what this kind of device is called)?
Thank you very much for your help!
Best regards from Ba-Wü
Christian
KingJulien10 Oct 2020 17:20Hm, if it’s not in your horizontal pipe, it must be in the vertical one.
Then it would have to be located above the highest apartment.
That means if you install a check valve, the air will take the path of least resistance and you’ll end up sucking air from your neighbors.
If it’s built that way.
There are also manual check valves, but these reduce the cross-sectional area and increase resistance, so it’s the same problem as above. At least it would reduce the suction capacity. But maybe it’s still enough?
You could install your own fan plus a check valve if you don’t mind the extra hassle.
Or expanding foam. Better your own stale air than your neighbors’.
Then it would have to be located above the highest apartment.
That means if you install a check valve, the air will take the path of least resistance and you’ll end up sucking air from your neighbors.
If it’s built that way.
There are also manual check valves, but these reduce the cross-sectional area and increase resistance, so it’s the same problem as above. At least it would reduce the suction capacity. But maybe it’s still enough?
You could install your own fan plus a check valve if you don’t mind the extra hassle.
Or expanding foam. Better your own stale air than your neighbors’.
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Bau-Chris-BW10 Oct 2020 17:26KingJulien schrieb:
Or expanding foam. Better to have your own smell than the neighbors’ You’re not entirely wrong: The previous occupants had sealed the pipe.
Maybe that was the reason.
I think I’ll try a light plastic flap first—if the fan stops extracting completely, I’ll need another solution (manual closing or full sealing).
Thanks for the tips!!!!
Good luck
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Alessandro14 Oct 2020 08:14My first step would be to contact the property management.