Structural damage, mold in the home, and pest infestations share a common contributor; moisture. Moisture affects the flooring and paint as well. Floors can warp, and paint can flake, peel, and chip from moisture. Humidity makes your indoor air uncomfortable and sticky in addition to damaging different components in the home. In places that never seem to dry out completely, such as bathrooms, ventilation exhaust fans are helpful. Since most water usage happens in the bathroom, and to remove moisture and decrease humidity in your home, bathroom ventilation is essential. With this in mind, we at JMark Inspections would like further to discuss the ventilation with your bathroom exhaust fan.

How Does an Exhaust Fan Work?

There are three primary purposes an exhaust fan in the bathroom serves. Odor elimination, humid reduction, and airborne pollutant removal is helped with exhaust fans. Also, the bathroom ventilation fan removes odors, harmful chemicals from aerosol body care products, and moist air from the shower. After using the bath or shower, experts recommend the fan be left on for at least 20 minutes. Below are a few examples of the proper uses of bathroom ventilation.

Air Exchange

To provide a full air exchange a minimum of five times every hour, most building codes call for a ventilation system. Eight full exchanges per hour is often what professionals recommend. By the fan is measured in cubic feet per minute, or CFM, is how air volume moved. Looking for a fan rating that matches the square footage of your bathroom is an easy way to obtain the proper rate of air exchange. An 80 CFM exhaust fan is required in an 8′ x 10′ bathroom.

Best Position for Bathroom Ceiling Extractor Fan

The bathroom fan should be installed near the tub or shower in order to work most effectively. The fan would be located opposite of where air enters the room, which is usually the bathroom door, and not near an HVAC vent ideally. This area should have its own ventilation fan in the event your bathroom has a separate water closet for the toilet. Install additional fans or choose a model with a higher capacity, in a large bathroom or a room with high ceilings.

Bathroom Fan Should Vent Outside

The outdoors is where the air exhausted from the bathroom should be vented to. Though venting to the attic makes for easier installation, you can relocate the moisture issues elsewhere in the home when an exhaust fan that vents humid air into the attic. It is common for mold growth to be contributed by moisture in the attic where it causes structural components, such as the joists and rafters, to become weak from water damage. Out of the roof or directed through an upper part of the wall is optimal for the bathroom fans to be vented. To prevent pests from accessing your home, add screening to the end of the vent.

Buyers, Sellers Pre-Inspections & Maintenance Home Inspections in Pasadena, Pearland, League City, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, Conroe, Friendswood & Greater Houston, Texas

One of the many elements to the home inspection is noting if the bathrooms and other such places are properly vented. Whether you are buying or selling a home, or simply looking for a guide for home improvement projects, a home inspection from JMark Inspections offers a comprehensive home inspection service. Call us today to schedule your home inspection service.