Because it’s so dry in San Diego, you might not worry about moisture problems in your home. However, you could end up dealing with mold and mildew problems if you don’t have a bathroom exhaust fan. If you do have one, you might flick it on to freshen up unpleasant odors. But are you using it properly?
Exhaust or extraction fans don’t work like ceiling or stand fans. Instead of blowing air around a room, they’re designed to suck out odors, moisture, and other particles. Once the air leaves the bathroom through the fan, it travels through a duct to a vent that’s installed on your home’s exterior. As the smelly or moist air moves out, drier air from the rest of the house moves in to replace it.
It’s vital that a bathroom fan vent expel the air to the outdoors. If the venting leads to another part of the home, such as an attic or crawl space, you’ll develop moisture problems in that area.
Bathroom exhaust fans are crucial for small, poorly-ventilated rooms. Building codes require exhaust fans in bathrooms without operable windows. Even if you have a window, you should have a fan, which can exchange the air in the room up to five times during the course of an hour.
The bathroom is usually the wettest area of the house. Besides splashes and drips that escape from the sink and shower, you have to contend with the steam that fills up the room with a damp mist every time you bathe.
Although a bathroom fan seems like a simple piece of equipment that shouldn’t be hard to install, you can wreak havoc in your home if you don’t mount it correctly. Bathroom exhaust fans are usually attached to the highest point of the ceiling. They should also be set close to the shower.
But the venting is the more important part of the equation. Fans have an exhaust port that should be secured to a pipe or duct with at least one screw. The junction should also be encased in duct tape.
The bathroom fan vent must drive the air out past your roof shingles or siding material. If it doesn’t, moisture will get trapped, damaging your home’s structure. Don’t be tempted to incorporate the bathroom fan vent into the other ductwork in your home. It should have a dedicated vent so that the moist air doesn’t re-enter your space.
Bathroom fan installation should be done by a professional. A small mistake can lead to big moisture concerns.
If you already have a bathroom fan installed, you might be tempted to ignore this article. However, some bathroom fans aren’t powerful enough to remove all of the moisture from the room. Fans are rated by the amount of cubic feet of air that they exhaust within a minute. A higher rating indicates a more powerful fan. Our professional handymen can help you determine whether your fan is appropriate for the size of your room.
Some other reasons that your exhaust fan might have poor air flow include:
You might need to consult with a handyman to find out what’s going on with your exhaust fan and the duct work. If the fan is more than 10 years old, it should be replaced. You should also clean the fan at least once a year. At Kaminskiy Care and Repair, we can evaluate the efficiency of your fan, help you keep it clean, and provide bathroom fan installation if necessary.
Some issues can be remedied with proper use, though. If you’re running the fan with the door closed, the pressure that is created makes it difficult for the fan to exchange a large amount of air. Keep the door open for better airflow.
You should also run the fan for longer than you expect. Turn it on before you get in the shower, and operate it for at least 20 minutes after you shut off the water. If the air in your home is so dry that you often run a humidifier, you may not need to run your exhaust fan as frequently. But check with our team to optimize the moisture levels in your home. A good balance can keep your house and your family healthy.
We’re so confident in our work that we offer a one-year warranty on all time and material projects. We’ll cover you and do what it takes to help you protect your property.
