How to Improve the Ventilation in Your Bathroom

by Gillian Markson | More from this Blogger

16 Jun 2006 04:15 PM

Ventilating a bathroom can be difficult, especially if you live in an older house or frequently enjoy very hot showers. Yet, it is important to remove moisture from your bathroom on a regular basis so that the fixtures and walls wll not become damp and will not begin to peel. Also, bacteria and mildew tend to breed in damp places, like moist bathrooms.

Bacteria and mildew tend to grow in areas that have a lot of humidity and heat. Because bathrooms are used on a daily basis with both heat and water, mildew tends to grow very quickly. Mildew is harmful to breath in large quantities because the mildew spores get into your lungs and take the place of clean and refreshing air.

First, investigate your present ventilation system. If you have an older home, chances are good that you will not even have an exhaust fan installed in your home. Older homes were generally constructed to use an open-window ventilation system. It was not until the mid part of the 21st century that exhaust fans became popular ventilation methods for your bathrooms.

Exhaust fans are an effective way to remove the moisture from your bathroom. They come in a variety of sizes and powers. In addition, some are louder than others, so it is always a good idea to purchase your exhaust fan from a store that allows you to preview the noise. Larger home improvement stores will have the models available on display so that you know what you are getting into before you commit.

Depending on the size of your bathroom, you may have to purchase up to two exhaust fans - one for the shower area and another for the sink area. You will love the fact that the exhaust fan, if it works properly, will remove the moisture from the air so quickly that you will be able to see yourself in the mirror right when you get out of the shower. A good indication of an ineffective ventilation system is not being able to see yourself in the mirror when you exit the shower because there is too much moisture in the air.

Many older homes cannot have exhaust fans installed into the ceiling because the ceiling has a crawl space, rather than access to the roof. If your ceiling does not have enough space to fit a ventilation pipe, then consider putting your ventilation system on the wall. If you put the ventilation system on the wall, the actual fan can either be housed outside of your home on the exterior or inside by making a cupboard in the bathroom.

The biggest thing to be aware of when installing an exhaust fan that reaches to the exterior of your home is ensuring the cracks are properly filled in so that no water or wind will get into your home.

Many people also purchase small dehumidifiers for their bathrooms. While dehumidifiers take more time to be effective and generally take up more room, if you home is not equipped to accommodate a proper ventilation system, you may want to opt for the dehumidifier in lieu of having nothing to rid the moisture from the air.

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