Mystery vents in a 1972 condo in bathroom and kitchen

Mystery vents in a 1972 condo in bathroom and kitchen

Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2015 · 101 posts · 40 votes

Hi all,

Here's the story in my strange and possible useless (?) vents:

1.  There's no fan or window in the bathroom.  There is a 6" x 6" vent about 6" by the vanity light fixture (on the wall), in fact, it covers the vent.  The metal is pitted where the vent is, which seems from the humidity.

2.  The kitchen has the same size vent above the cabinets.  There is a fan in the microwave so I'm less worried.

3.  The A/C and heat comes from 2 PTAC units, one for the living/dining room and one for the bedroom.

4.  So there must be a duct in the ceiling, however, I'm not sure if I can add a fan using the bathroom vent.  

My goal is to add a fan to help the humidity but if not, a ductless fan would be ok.  I'm hoping that anyone has seen this configuration in an older condo.

Thanks !!

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  • Russell BrazilBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
    11y

    @Account Closed Definitely track the source of the vent before hooking it up to anything. I am rehabbing a house in Silver Spring MD right now, and there was a vent near the furnace, which I thought was to bring more airflow for combustion. I kept looking at it and thinking that I didnt think the wall had enough room for ductwork. When I pulled the vent off, it was just drywall behind it, lol.

  • Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2015 · 101 posts · 40 votes
    11y

    @Russell Brazil

    Thanks - I will see if it's worth it right now - I think you're right, it may be a dead-end.   I may ignore it now and put a ductless fan on the ceiling.  Then revisit the issue when I redo the bathroom.    Thanks again!

  • Real Estate Agent · New York, NY · Member since 2015 · 401 posts · 235 votes
    11y

    Hi Janice,

    If you're in an older apartment building these are probably vents that lead to fans on the roof that draw air out of the bathroom and kitchen which is fairly common for windowless baths and kitchens. You can confirm by sticking a sheet of toilet paper against the grill cover and see if it sticks. You shouldn't connect any fans to these vents.

  • Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2015 · 101 posts · 40 votes
    11y

    @Jason Lee

    Thank you - I will clean them up and use it as a feature of the condo!  

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