Bathroom Ventilation 101

Your bathroom is the wettest room in your home. With major moisture comes potential problems like mold, mildew, peeling paint and funky smells. Luckily proper ventilation can keep humidity and its resulting issues at bay. Follow the dos and don’ts below to prevent excessive moisture buildup in your bathroom.

Dos

Choose the correct bathroom fan: If you don’t have a window in your bathroom, it’s in your best interest to have a bathroom vent fan. These fans pull moisture-laden air and odors out of the room and vents them outside. There are several different types of fans to choose from, including box fans, combination fan/light fixtures, and wall mounted bathroom fans. Although most bathroom vent fans are quite simple, some have bells and whistles. Some models have motion sensors, heating functions and in some cases even Bluetooth speakers. With a plethora of different options to suit everyone’s needs and budget, you’re bound to find the right fit for your bathroom.

Let your fan run: It’s recommended that you let your fan run while you’re taking your bath or shower. Additionally, you should let it run for at least 15 minutes after you’re finished. Turning the fan off right after a shower or bath doesn’t give the device enough time to vent out all the water and steam.

Clean your fan: Even the most top-quality fan won’t improve ventilation if it isn’t clean. At least twice per year, give the fan a good cleaning. The process is as follows:

Shut off the electrical circuit to your bathroom so you don’t get shocked.
Remove the fan cover.
Use your vacuum’s upholstery or crevice tool to remove dust, cobwebs and other debris from the fan.
Put the fan cover back on and turn on the electricity.

Open the windows: If your bathroom doesn’t have a fan–or even if it does–don’t forget to take advantage of the window(s) to let out some steam. Weather permitting, open the window(s) during your shower or bath and leave it open for 10-15 minutes once you’re finished.

Don’ts

Don’t install the fan in the wrong spot: Once you’ve chosen the correct fan for you, be sure to install it in the right place. Ideally, your fan should be near the tub or shower, but not too close to an AC or heating vent. If placed too close to a vent, the forced air current can disrupt the fan’s intake of humid air.

Don’t ignore puddles: Never turn a blind eye to drips and puddles. Not only is a wet bathroom floor a hazard, but a puddle-free surface ensures that the bathroom dries out completely. This discourages the growth of mold and mildew spores.

Don’t leave your shower door closed or your curtain open: Always leave your shower door open. This allows the running an to circulate air throughout the entire space and allows it to dry more quickly. On the other hand, if you have a curtain, avoid drawing it all to one side. Close the curtain most of the way, leaving just a crack so that circulating air from the fan can reach the inside of the shower. Keeping plastic or fabric flat and free of folds will prevent mold and mildew spores from growing.