How Bathroom Fans Reduce Humidity

When the water is running, the air in a bathroom alongside no circulation tin feel heavy to breathe as well as tin create a mess that needs to live cleaned after. There are many ways to cut the humidity in a bathroom, just solely 1 is the nigh effective.

Bathroom fans cut down humidity together with condensation by extracting warm humid air via ventilation ducts to the exterior of the house. The humid air is replaced by dry fresh air from outdoors through a fresh air intake vent.

A bath fan creates airflow spell water is flowing, removing the moisture in addition to heat resulting from the hot running water. That airflow is of import to go on humidity at bay.  

Bathroom fans are the best choice for reducing humidity in residential homes.

For best results home the bath fan equally about the H2O root every bit possible. In my article about placing a bathroom fan inwards a shower, I hash out this inwards more than detail.

How Does the Bathroom Fan Work?

Bathroom fans effectively ventilate the bath, dispelling humidity caused by baths, hot water taps, as well as showers. The fans circulate the air within the bathroom, bringing inward air from the exterior.

Bathrooms that do non take opening windows, benefit more specifically by the installation of a fan. In fact, if y'all do not have a window in the bathroom a bathroom fan is required past code.

Not exclusively does the bathroom fan reduce the event of high humidity, just it too reduces the potential for the increase of mold too mildew. In my previous article, I listing the bathroom fan as the nr one prevention for mold inwards the bath.

Mold too mildew volition eventually crusade harm to the structure of the household if left unchecked.

The benefits of a bath fan include:

• Reducing condensation
• Eliminating odor past removing damp as well as stale air
• Preventing mold from forming as well as thriving
• Extending the life of the bath construction, fixtures, in addition to fittings
• Protects bathroom walls in addition to paint from damage caused by moisture

It’s Not the Heat — It’s the Humidity!

Balancing the humidity inside the family is of import. The indoor humidity grade should ideally live betwixt thirty% as well as l% (origin).

The indoor humidity level should ideally live betwixt xxx% as well as 50%

Humidity occupies the dwelling house every bit an unseen entity. Humidity inwards the bath is more than prevalent than inward whatever other room inward the house. 

It is the ane room where activities take home that introduces excess wet into the air. Activities such equally showering too the running of hot water belike happen more than once every solar day inward the bath.

Related article: six Easy Steps To Choose The Right Bathroom Fan

Since the human being torso cools naturally through evaporating moisture from the skin, non even an air conditioner is guaranteed to cool the body sufficiently if the humidity is high. This lonely is a expert argue for installing an efficient bathroom fan.

Selecting the Best Bathroom Fan

It is imperative to install the optimal fan according to the unique specifications of the bathroom.

Bathroom fans are available inwards many different sizes, as well as precise measurements are a must to calculate which 1 is the perfect size fan for the specific bath.

So many types too models exist to select from. Fans mounted on the ceiling are nearly efficient since they effectively withdraw the hot in addition to damp air as it rises.

Measuring the Bathroom

The correct size bath fan is of import to adequately maximize efficiency together with free energy-saving and must gibe the size requirements of the bathroom. An oversize bathroom fan will waste energy as well as is expensive to work.

Step one: Measuring

Measure the length, width, and acme of the bath using a tape measure out. Multiply the length times the width times the tiptop to calculate the volume. Include the shower infinite too bath infinite when calculating the book.

Multiply the length times the width times the tiptop to calculate the volume.

Alternatively, calculate the book using the measurements provided on the architectural plans of the home.

Step ii: Calculating CFM

Cubic Feet Per Minute(CFM) is used to mensurate the total of air a fan moves inward 1 minute. The bigger the issue the more than airflow the fan volition provide.

In my previous article, you tin can read more nigh how bathroom fans are rated.

The commencement in addition to easiest option is to use the foursquare footage of the bath every bit a guide. However go along inwards listen this will not be as accurate every bit it wont account for ceiling height.

Example: x ft.10 x ft. bathroom = 100 sq. ft. And it would require or so 100 CFM fan.

The minute pick would live to calculate the cubic feet per minute (CFM) by dividing the volume of your bathroom past seven.5.

For instance, a bath measurement x feet long, 10 feet wide, together with x feet tall has a book of K cubic feet (10 x ten x 10). Dividing the volume by vii.five calculates a CFM of 133.33.

A third selection is to calculate the CFM past dividing the volume of the bath past the number of minutes inwards an hour in addition to multiplying the answer by the issue of mandatory circulations for the fan to go effectively, which is 8 circulations: 

grand ft³/ lx = 16.67 

xvi.67 x viii = 133.33 CFM

Step iii: Choosing the Correct Size

The CFM rating on the packaging of the bathroom fan must match or slightly overstep the CFM value calculated past the steps to a higher place.

A potentially easier manner to make up one's mind the CFM will be to base requirements according to the issue of fixtures in the bathroom. 

Rather than choosing a fan based on the CFM rating, installing a smaller fan right above the fixture volition provide plenty ventilation. In this style, a 50 CFM fan installed directly to a higher place the lavatory volition make the chore (source).

The next are the requirements for each fixture:

• Each shower, bathtub, too privy needs fifty CFM
• A jet tub needs 100 CFM

How Should I Use the Bathroom Fan to Reduce Humidity?

To bank check whether the fan is doing its task by reducing the humidity inwards the bath, simply comport out this uncomplicated exam: turn the fan on only before turning on the shower too exit the fan on for the entire duration of the shower.

A fogged bath mirror indicates that the bathroom fan has besides depression airflow (CFM) for the size of the room.

A bathroom fan that is properly sized will cut humidity effectively.

All y'all ask to do to trim humidity is think to plough the fan on before y'all arrive the shower in addition to leave it on for at to the lowest degree 20 minutes afterward you lot get out. Although I recommend leaving it on a lilliputian longer since in about climates it will accept longer to fully dry out the bath.

To ensure that the fan is suitably matched together with adequate for your bathroom, follow the steps above to determine the CFM rating.

A simple style to promote air movement piece reducing the adventure of wearable and tear to the fan motor is to go out the bathroom door or window slightly open up patch the fan is inward performance.

How Long Should I Keep the Bathroom Fan On?

The general dominion-of-thumb to clear humidity from the bathroom is for the fan to run for a minimum of twenty minutes afterward turning off the shower.

Regions that feel high outdoor humidity should brand purpose of a timer to run the fan for the required fourth dimension later vacating the bathroom. Running the fan for an extra 60 minutes should suffice to dehumidify the bathroom effectively nether these atmospheric condition.

For those who cannot hang about spell clearing the bathroom of humidity, the recommendation is besides to install a timer to have the home of the standard fan switch. The timer volition automatically switch the fan off later on the prepare fourth dimension.

If you are looking for a timer switch caput out to my list of peak nine timer switches.

Should the Fan Stay on all the Time While Showering?

Running the fan piece showering will mean less steam altogether because much of the steam will non construct upward inwards the get-go home. But running the fan patch showering may not be preferential for those who like a peculiarly steamy shower.

For energy savers, running the fan patch showering power appear wasteful during the colder months since it volition expel hot air from the household. However, alongside scrap mold that will be the event of not using the fan volition be much more than expensive(root).

Should the Fan Be on for a Certain Time afterward Showering?

The bath fan should live on for at least twenty minutes later you lot become out of the shower. However, this volition vary depending on your climate.

Should the Fan Be on entirely subsequently Showering?

For individuals who prefer a really steamy feel inwards the shower, the suggestion is to leave the bath fan off spell showering.

As mentioned previously, running the fan while the shower is on volition mean less steam because the steam will not make at all. 

For those who prefer less steam in the shower, past all means, work the fan while in the shower. But go on in listen you lot volition accept to proceed the bathroom fan running much longer afterwards yous become out of the shower.

How Effective is a Timer Installed on the Bath Fan?

It is tardily to exit the bath without switching the fan off. Installing a good timer to the bathroom fan volition eliminate homo mistake every bit far as forgetting to turn the fan off earlier vacating the bathroom. 

A countdown timer switch of whatever sort out programmed to a sure fourth dimension will automatically close the fan off. Many timer options offer a selection of preset choices besides equally a reset button, allowing you lot to run it according to your preferences.

Many likewise feature a dark-lite to make it easier to locate the lite switch at night.

Can I Safely Leave the Bathroom Fan on through the Night?

You should not exit the fan on for prolonged periods(rootage). Unless of form, you have a fan that is designed for continuous functioning.

However, inward almost cases, those fans volition take 2 speeds as well as the lower speed will be running constantly fifty-fifty when you plow the fan off from the switch. You tin read my previous article if y'all would similar to acquire more than well-nigh dual speed fans.

Final Thoughts

There actually is no query that bath fans do bring down humidity. The really nature of this room inwards which humans behave their all-important cleaning rituals way that it is, past default, a humid surroundings. 

Installing such a ventilation fan volition not alone keep the abode environs healthy past preventing the formation of hazardous surface fungi, only it volition also ensure a audio abode construction in addition to an optimal and fresh-smelling living surround for the whole family.