Sometimes I feel like I’m playing inspector roulette—one guy wants extra vents, the next says it’s overkill.
Man, you nailed it with “inspector roulette.” I’ve had jobs where we passed rough-in with one inspector, then the final guy comes in and acts like we built a spaceship. Had one tell me soffit vents were “old school” and push for powered fans everywhere. Next county over? They want passive only. It’s wild. I get that codes can be interpreted, but sometimes it feels like they’re making it up as they go. I’d just love a straight answer once in a while.
Tell me about it—last year, I budgeted for a pretty standard vent setup, and then got dinged at final because the inspector wanted “more robust airflow solutions.” Had to scramble for extra fans, all unplanned. Feels like some consistency would save everyone time and money. At this point, I just try to document everything and hope for the best… but man, it’s frustrating when you’re trying to keep costs down and still meet moving targets.
Yeah, that shifting goalpost thing is brutal. I’ve started looping in inspectors early, like during rough-in, just to get a read on their expectations before I commit to equipment. It’s a pain, but it’s saved me from last-minute surprises a couple times. Still, you’d think there’d be more clarity by now…
“I’ve started looping in inspectors early, like during rough-in, just to get a read on their expectations before I commit to equipment.”
That’s smart, though it’s a bit ridiculous it’s even necessary. I’ve seen requirements change between initial walkthrough and final inspection, sometimes with little explanation. There’s supposed to be a code, but it feels like interpretation is half the battle. Last time, I ended up swapping out a perfectly good fan because the inspector wanted a different CFM rating—nothing in writing, just “best practice.” I get wanting things done right, but the moving target is frustrating.
Title: Struggling With Ventilation Inspection Requirements Lately
Honestly, I get frustrated too, but I’ve also seen the flip side. Had a project where the inspector flagged a vent setup that technically met code, but would’ve blasted air right onto a custom light fixture. At first, I thought he was just being picky, but in hindsight, it saved us a headache (and a melted shade). I don’t love the unpredictability, but sometimes their “best practice” call actually works in our favor… even if it means backtracking.
