Although bathroom ventilation is essential to the well-being of your home and health, many homeowners often overlook the importance of properly ventilating. Do you know whether your existing ventilation system is up to par? Find out everything you need to know about selecting and installing the right exhaust fan for your bathroom.
A Closer Look at Proper Ventilation
Your bathroom is regularly exposed to high levels of moisture and humidity. At the same time, the space is small and enclosed. Without a good bathroom ventilation system in place, you could wind up with warped wood, damaged drywall, and a breeding ground for mold and mildew. But just because you have a bathroom fan doesn’t mean that it’s getting the job done right. You may find that your existing system exhausts excess moisture into the space between ceiling joists or into an attic. This only moves the problem from one location to another. Instead, you need to install a bathroom fan that will exhaust moisture and mold spores outside of the home.
Selecting a Bathroom Fan
Once ready to install a properly ventilating bathroom fan, you need to know what to look for:
- Airflow capacity — The airflow capacity of bathroom fans is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). In order for your bathroom’s ventilation needs to be met, you’ll need a fan with 1 CFM per square foot of the bathroom’s floor space. In the event that your bathroom is larger than 100 square feet, you’ll need to increase the fan’s airflow capacity by 50 CFM for each toilet, bath, shower, or bath/shower combo and by 100 CFM per whirlpool.
- Noise — Many homeowners are concerned with the noise factor associated with bathroom fans. If this is a concern, look for a fan rated at 0.5–1.2 sones. Fans rated higher than 4 sones, on the other hand, are the loudest.
- Energy efficiency — Maximize your energy savings by looking for an exhaust fan that has received the Energy Star label.
Ready to improve your bathroom ventilation? Call the pros at Roth Home & Cooling. We serve the Greater Portland area.
