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HOME Ventilation
Guide
Photo courtesy of Broan-NuTone LLC
BATHROOMS
Moisture control where it’s needed most
During a bath or shower, the humidity level in a bathroom
can be like that in a tropical rain forest – uncomfortable, hot
and damaging – a perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew
and microorganisms that can impact your health.
Excess moisture has tremendous potential for damaging
the home. It cracks and peels paint, ruins gypsum wallboard,
causes exterior paint failure, warps doors and rusts
cabinets and fixtures. Without control, it can even cause
deterioration of joists and framing above the bathroom. As
it condenses on windows, walls, ceilings and cabinets, it
attracts dirt and makes more frequent cleaning and decorating
necessary. It encourages mildew on tile grout and
generally provides an environment for increased bacterial
growth.
Exhaust fans, ducted to the outside, remove moisture and
prevent these types of problems in bathrooms and spa areas.
Not only will occupants be more comfortable after a bath,
shower or spa, but the room will also be rid of odors, potentially
hazardous aerosol vapors and other pollutants. In addition
to healthier air, this minimizes the potential for home
damage, saving the homeowner the cost of making repairs
to correct problems that were simply preventable.
It is also possible to vent bathrooms with a central exhaust
system using inline fans or heat or energy recovery
ventilators.
Attractive options to complement every décor
Today, there are many attractive options for bathroom
exhaust fans. Existing homes – where old fans may be ineffective
and noisy – can benefit from quiet, effective, easily
installed upgrades. In new construction, homeowners can
use bathroom ventilation products to complement the interior
design, in styles ranging from simple to lavish.
Bathroom exhaust fans can remove moisture many
times faster than no fan at all. HVI recommends ventilation
rates based on eight air changes per hour. For most bathrooms
this works out to one CFM per square foot of bathroom
area (70 CFM for a 7 x 10 bathroom), but a minimum
of 50 CFM is required even for small bathrooms
(see page 30). Fans should be installed as near to the
shower as possible and, if marked as suitable for this location,
directly over it to capture the moisture as directly as
possible. Your fan should have a control that will allow the
fan to run at least 20 to 30 minutes after each shower to ensure
that moisture levels are reduced.
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www.hvi.org