Bathroom Exhaust Fans - What You Need to Know

Lots of people don't realize that bathroom exhaust fans are an important part of your home's ventilation system. These people are often used to get rid of foul odours and clear condensation off mirrors, however, the most important function is to get rid of moisture. Excess moisture can cause structural destruction and rot of surfaces and ceilings. But it also encourages the growth of molds, mildew, bacteria, dirt mites and insects, which may be detrimental to your family's health. An efficient exhaust system fan can control these allergens and even lower air-conditioning costs by dehumidifying your home.

Your current fan may be ineffective

If you reside in an older home, there is a good chance that your bathroom exhaust fan is too noisy, moves almost no air, is not energy-efficient, uses high-wattage lighting and may even cause back drafting of combustible appliances - and for that reason should be replaced. Newer followers are quiet, energy-efficient plus more effective at moving air and removing moisture.

A new simple test

Here's a simple test to verify if your exhaust fan is pulling air. Hold a piece of toilet tissue up to the grill of the enthusiast. A properly working fan will hold the tissue tightly to the grill. And to ensure the air is leaving your house, put the open up conclusion of a big plastic garbage bag over the exhaust system hood outside. When the enthusiast is turned on, the bag should inflate within seconds. Click here

If your current fan is rated less than 50 CRM (cubic feet per minute), it should be replaced with a tougher one. For bathrooms, up to 100 sq ft (assuming eight ft . ceilings), the HVI (Home Ventilating Institute) recommends that an exhaust fan provide 1 CFM per square foot to properly ventilate the bathroom. Larger bathrooms, or those with bigger accessories such as steam rooms, hot tubs or saunas, need larger fans. Furthermore, the longer the air ducting to the outside, the stronger the fan needs to be to attract the moisture through.

HVI sets the conventional

When selecting a bathroom exhaust fan, choose the quietest, most energy-efficient enthusiast available for the size you will need. Research has shown that many people just won't use a loud fan. Look for HVI ratings on the deals for noise and energy efficiency to compare between models. Better fans have sound ratings of 0. 5 sones or less and consume about 20 watts, while older models typically increase to 4 sones and 80 w. If there is no HVI rating there is a good chance that it will be loud.

A better fan can save you money

The fan well suited for continuous use, with replaceable parts and everlasting lubrication is your most suitable choice. And it is usually best to avoid fans with 3-inch exhaust system ports and ducts, in favour of larger ones. You will pay much more for the fan, and efficient models can save you profit the long run. And you can't put a price on your family's health.

Your HVAC contractor is aware of the codes

Most building codes require whether vent out fan in the toilet or a window that opens. Builders have typically chosen the easier and less costly option of installing a window. But problems may arise if the windows aren't opened during a bath or shower, which is necessary during the colder months. Because of this, some building codes now require a fan which begins when the light is started up. Your HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) contractor should be common with local codes, including required venting and insulating material, and installation procedures to dampen vibration noise.

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Bathroom Exhaust Fans Joined: June 1st, 2019