While there are other reasons to solve bathroom ventilation problems-the inconvenience of foggy mirrors, for example- preventing mold is the most compelling reason by far.īefore delving into difficult bathroom ventilation problems and how to solve them, let’s go over some basic details that apply to bathroom fans. Even if you can’t see mold, the unpleasant smell is a telltale sign of its presence. This can also cause mold to form on wood or insulation in an attic space above a bathroom. Mold in a bathroom can be caused by a plumbing leak, but splotchy stains on wall or ceiling surfaces usually indicate inadequate ventilation-too much moisture in bathroom air. It will also damage and destroy common building materials like wood and gypsum board. Mold is a serious health issue, causing a wide range of respiratory ailments and allergic reactions. Mold spores are among the most hazardous indoor air pollutants, and mold is a direct result of excess moisture. The mandate to “build tight and insulate right” provides some important benefits: a higher level of interior comfort (especially during temperature extremes), savings on fuel and electricity, and lower levels of carbon emissions.īut tight construction creates a much greater potential for indoor air pollution. Houses built (and renovated) today are more airtight, and more highly insulated than those built in the past. A vent fan will always exhaust moisture more effectively. Depending on someone to open a window to vent excess moisture is a dubious proposition-especially in cold weather. The window ventilation option is a minimum standard that can’t be viewed as effective or reliable. Today, the building code that applies in most municipalities calls for bathrooms to be vented by means of an exhaust fan or an operable window. We all know how much moisture can be produced by taking a hot shower-just think about the fogged mirrors and the condensation that forms on windows and walls, especially when it’s cold outside. When bathrooms moved indoors, ventilation was required not just to remove odors, but also to exhaust excess moisture. Even before indoor plumbing, folks understood that outhouses needed ventilation. Dealing with Bathroom Ventilation and Building Codeīefore delving into solutions to difficult bathroom ventilation problems, it’s helpful to understand some basic history and code requirements. ![]() ![]() Solving this problem calls for some construction creativity, smart product selection, and the installation skills of an experienced HVAC contractor. But what happens when a building’s design makes it difficult or impossible to vent a bath fan to the exterior?Īs it turns out, there are many situations that can make it difficult to install a bathroom fan that vents to the exterior. With the flip of a switch, odors and excess moisture are easily vented outside. A fan or fan/light combination is installed in the bathroom ceiling, then vented through the roof or through a soffit or side wall. In many houses, bathroom ventilation doesn’t present problems.
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