Totally agree—fan upgrades are underrated. A few quick thoughts from my DIY adventures:
- Don't skimp on ducting either... learned that the hard way (hello again, condensation).
- Noise rating matters too; quieter ones cost a bit more but worth it if you don't wanna shower to jet-engine sounds.
- Weekend install? Impressive. Took me two weekends and a pizza bribe for my brother.
"Don't skimp on ducting either... learned that the hard way (hello again, condensation)."
Yep, seen this happen way too often. Also, make sure your vent actually vents outside—not just into the attic. You'd be surprised how many setups I've fixed that were just circulating moisture around up there... mold city waiting to happen.
Totally agree, venting into the attic is just asking for trouble. Another thing people overlook is insulation around ducts—especially in colder climates. Even a properly vented duct can drip if it's not insulated well enough... learned that one from experience.
"Even a properly vented duct can drip if it's not insulated well enough... learned that one from experience."
Exactly right. I've seen this issue more times than I can count. One thing I'd add is to make sure the duct run is as short and straight as possible. Long runs or sharp bends can trap moisture, even with good insulation. Also, using rigid metal ducting instead of flexible plastic helps a lot—it's smoother inside, so less condensation builds up. Small details, but they really do matter in the long run.
"Long runs or sharp bends can trap moisture, even with good insulation."
Good point, but honestly, even short runs can drip if the insulation isn't spot-on. I just went through this myself—thought I'd done everything right, but still had drips. Ended up wrapping the duct with thicker insulation and sealing all joints with foil tape. No more drips since then... fingers crossed it stays that way.
