If you consider why you should use your bathroom exhaust fans, odor control would probably come to mind first. Having fully-functional exhaust fans, that are sized correctly and installed properly, is important for a number of other reasons too, such as:

• Preventing mold growth and structural deterioration. In our Georgia climate, removing excess humidity from the bathrooms helps keep mold growth in check and prevents damage to your drywall, paint, wood and structural components.
• Preserving cooling efficiency. Getting rid of airborne moisture also helps the A/C operate efficiently so your cooling costs don’t increase.
• Removing hazardous cleaning chemicals. With good bathroom ventilation, the leftover chemicals from commonly-used bathroom cleaners are less likely to degrade your indoor air quality.

Tips for Using Your Bathroom Fans Effectively

Here are some helpful tips on how to make sure your bathroom fans are working as effectively as possible.

• Have the right capacity. You can have one or multiple fans in a single bathroom as long as they move sufficient cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air. Average-size bathrooms need one CFM of air movement for each square foot of space. Bathrooms over 100 square feet in size need 50 CFM more for each toilet, shower or bathtub, and 100 CFM more for a jetted tub.

• Send exhaust directly outdoors. Bathroom fans should never be vented into unconditioned spaces like your attic because sending humidity up there can result in mold growth and structural deterioration.
• Ensure efficient operation. Fans should be situated right over the bathroom tub or shower stall, and the entry door should have a half-inch clearance at the bottom so sufficient replacement air gets pulled in.
• Make fan use easier. After each bathroom use, the fan needs to run for at least 20 minutes. This is easy to accomplish if you choose models with features like automatic start sensors, shut off timers or humidity sensors that automatically start and run the fan whenever there’s excess moisture in the air.

To learn more about the importance of using bathroom exhaust fans effectively in your Peachtree City home, contact us at Powers Heating & Air.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “La-Belle-Galerie/Pixabay”