Bathroom Fans

Bathroom fans are desirable in any bathroom, and they are a near necessity in bathrooms that have no windows or a window that can't be opened. In addition to removing unpleasant odors, good bathroom ventilation is also useful in removing excessive moisture from the air after a hot shower. There are several options available when it comes to bathroom fans, and some are more appropriate than others in certain situations.

Window Bathroom Fans
Of course, the simplest form of bathroom ventilation is simply opening a window. If you already have a functional window in your bathroom, you might try supplementing your ventilation system with a window fan. While your average box fan will certainly make a marked difference in removing air to the outside, they can be rather cumbersome. Some fans are designed specifically for ventilation and use a series of smaller fans that form a gapless seal in your window, so even if there is no screen, the likelihood of bugs entering your home is greatly reduced.

Bathroom Ventilation Systems
A more permanent solution to bathroom ventilation is to install a whole room fan that vents to the outside. These systems are generally controlled with a light switch, so they won't take up any extra outlet space (a particularly nice feature in older bathrooms that may only have a single outlet).

A good bathroom fan will exchange the air in a bathroom completely every five minutes. If your fan is working properly, your mirrors should be free of fog pretty quickly after you exit the shower. In addition to keeping the air fresh and your mirrors primed for primping, this moisture reduction will also help inhibit the growth of mildew and other fungi that easily breed in a bathroom, as well as prolong the life of paint and wallpaper that might be susceptible to moisture damage.

Choosing and Installing a Bathroom Fan
Fans can be noisy, so listen to the model you are buying before you bring it home. It's also a good idea to talk to the dealer to see how much power you can expect from a particular model and its electrical consumption when running.

Before installing your bathroom fan or beginning any electrical work, be sure you have the required permits. Failure to do so is illegal and may invalidate your homeowner's insurance. If you are not comfortable or capable installing your own bathroom fan, hiring a professional to do the job is your best option.

Many changes will be dictated by electrical code, for example, the number of outlets per circuit or use of special GFCI outlets in bathrooms or kitchens. Your service professional should be familiar with these codes.

If you plan on doing the work yourself, make sure that your bathroom fan vents to the outside and away from anything that might be affected by excessive amounts of water vapor. Some do-it-yourselfers have found out the hard way the amount of damage moisture can do when vented into the wrong area. For example, a bathroom ventilation system that leaks water vapor into the attic can cause rot and mold that you might not notice for months, even in a dry climate. The price and hassle of repairing this kind of damage can far exceed any benefits installing a bathroom fan would bring!