Facts About Bathroom Fans

It’s important to know some facts about bathroom exhaust ventilation before making a decision on fan installation or replacement. Here are some facts:

• Bathroom fans help maintain the structural integrity of a house by removing excess humidity that can encourage mold and rot.
• In bathrooms with windows, it is still important to install an operational exhaust system.
• The most common bath fan is a propeller or axial fan. A propeller exhaust fan can move large amounts of air without the requirement of tremendous force.
• Centrifugal fans uses centrifugal force to push air out of a space. They are more expensive than axial fans but can be more effective at air movement.
• In houses and buildings, bathroom fans ventilation ducts can run through the attic and roof. Fans can also be exhausted through walls.
• Four inch vent ducts can easily fit into a joist-bay. If a duct must pass a joist, avoid cutting through the joist. Use the space directly under the joist.
• In new construction, bathroom fans are usually a given. In many older homes, fans are either absent or retro-fitted.