Everyone loves long, hot showers, but unless your bathroom is properly ventilated to the outdoors, those showers could be damaging your home. Bathrooms are ground zero for mold and other problems when too much moisture is generated from showering, a whirlpool, running water into the wash basin, flushing the toilet, or even from leaking faucets and pipes.
Trapped Moisture
Without exhaust ventilation in the bathroom, moisture can easily become trapped, resulting in condensation on windows and tiles and water damage on walls and ceiling. At worst, moist areas can become a haven for mold, mildew and fungus. Plumbing leaks may also promote mold inside walls, in cabinets and under flooring. If there’s a window in the bathroom, opening it when the bathroom is in use can help, but a better solution is to install an exhaust ventilation fan.
Exhaust Ventilation to the Rescue
If you have a bathroom exhaust fan, be certain that the moisture is not being channeled into an attic or between wall joists, where the damp air can lead to mold and mildew. If you’re installing a new exhaust fan, it should be connected to ductwork that vents the bathroom air to the outdoors.
Exhaust fans should also be adequate for the size of bathroom they’re installed in. That is, the fans should be powerful enough to move a certain volume of air out of the bathroom at a certain speed. For instance, in an 8-by-5-foot bathroom (40 square feet in area), the fan should be capable of moving 40 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air, or 1 CFM for every square foot of space.
Some features to look for in bathroom exhaust fans are low noise level, motion sensor activation, a humidity-sensing fan that automatically switches on, and an infrared light to provide warmth. It’s also wise to shop for an efficient Energy Star-rated model.
For more on bathroom ventilation, contact Arpi’s Industries at 403-236-2444. We’ve provided quality service to Calgary homeowners for more than 50 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Calgary, Alberta about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ventilation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide.
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