That said, I get not wanting to tear up what looks solid. Sometimes people cause more issues poking around than they solve.
I hear you on the “do it right once” approach. For ours, I did end up running the vent to the outside wall—cost a bit more upfront, but I figured it’s cheaper than fixing mold down the road. I was tempted to tie into the old stack, but after reading stories like yours about moisture sneaking back in, I just couldn’t risk it. That musty smell is no joke… had that in our last place and never want to deal with it again.
I get that—cutting into old walls always feels risky, but sometimes it’s the only way to avoid bigger headaches. We had a similar debate about our fan vent. Ended up going outside too, even though patching the siding was a pain. The peace of mind’s worth it, honestly. That musty smell just lingers forever...
The peace of mind’s worth it, honestly. That musty smell just lingers forever...
You’re not wrong about that. I’ve seen too many folks try to “live with it” and end up tearing out twice as much later. Cutting into walls is nerve-wracking, but honestly, patching drywall or siding is a small price compared to chasing mold or rot. That smell never really goes away, no matter what air freshener companies want you to believe. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and do it right, even if it means a weekend of patching and painting.
