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A toilet or bathroom exhaust fan is necessary in your washroom due to its many benefits. Have you ever wondered why installing a bathroom exhaust fan is important for your washroom? Let’s find out.
What is a Bathroom Exhaust fan?
The primary function of an exhaust fan is to remove musty air and quickly dry moisture in a poorly ventilated room. When in operation, the fan effectively eliminates odours and unpleasant smells by pushing stale air outside through a window or ventilation point. An exhaust fan specifically designed for bathrooms helps maintain cleanliness and control humidity, making it an efficient bathroom ventilation solution.
How does an Exhaust Fan Work for a Bathroom?
The primary purpose of installing a bathroom exhaust fan is to efficiently remove unwanted odours and musty air. Typically, the fan is installed on a bathroom wall and features a propeller fan inside. When switched on, the fan blades rotate at high speed, drawing air into the housing of the fan. The resulting pressure difference expels the collected air out of the ventilation duct. As a result, the unpleasant odours are removed, creating a fresher and more comfortable environment.
Choosing a bathroom exhaust fan provides many benefits, ranging from excess moisture to odour and bathroom humidity control. Nowadays, most houses have exhaust fans in their bathrooms, but many of these fans lack efficiency!
To maintain a hygienic toilet or bathroom, it is important to install a toilet exhaust fan:
Multipurpose Role of a Bathroom Exhaust Fan
- The purpose of installing a toilet exhaust fan on the wall is multifaceted.
- It removes unpleasant odours (bad smells from the toilet or bathroom) while allowing fresh air inside!
- It expels humid air, allowing dry air to flow in!
- The fan helps in quick drying by reducing humidity inside the washroom.
- An exhaust fan improves the indoor air quality, making the bathroom air fresher and more breathable.
- A toilet exhaust fan prevents mould formation.
- The exhaust fan helps regulate the washroom’s temperature, making the space more comfortable.
Therefore, proper bathroom ventilation can protect both our health and our home. But what are the benefits of bathroom exhaust fan venting?
Excess Moisture Causes Damage in Bathrooms
Excess moisture in the bathroom has tremendous potential to severely damage the beauty of the space! The humidity level rises significantly during a bath or shower, accelerating the growth of mildew, mould and microorganisms that negatively impact our health!
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In addition, long-term exposure to excess moisture and humidity can peel or crack the paint and wallpaper. Further, it promotes fungus growth on walls, warps the doors, ruins the wallboard, and rusts the cabinets and fixtures. Without proper control, it can even lead to the deterioration of joists and the framing of bathrooms and toilets.
Therefore, it is crucial to have the best bathroom exhaust fans to protect your bathroom from the above problems!
01. Stinky Toilets or Toilet Odor
One of the biggest reasons for having a bathroom or toilet exhaust fan is for odour control. The key cause of the foul smell from the toilet is the leakage of foul gases and wastewater! These gases must be expelled through effective toilet or bathroom ventilation!
Therefore, if natural ventilation in your bathroom is poor, the first step is to install proper mechanical ventilation for odour control as a long-term solution! Otherwise, even the best bathroom exhaust fan may not deliver the desired result.
02. Toxic Fumes!
Bathroom cleaning liquids have harsh chemicals, which emit hazardous fumes that have the potential to cause serious health issues when inhaled. This is a major concern, especially for children, the elderly, and those with lung/respiratory disorders. A wall-mount bathroom exhaust fan is the right solution to mitigate this health risk.
Proper Installation: Key to Maximising Benefits
If you want to maximise the benefits of a bathroom exhaust fan, focus on proper installation. In many cases, the ventilation fan is loud and annoying. It is a common issue that arises when the bathroom exhaust fan installation is not done correctly!
Poor toilet exhaust fan installation also leads to a lack of insulation, which can cause heat to escape into your attic. Fortunately, all these issues can be avoided with the right exhaust fan and proper installation!
Different Types of Bathroom Exhaust Fans
Gone are the days when bathroom exhaust fan options were limited, forcing homeowners to adjust the installation according to the available model and fixture.
Today, four types of toilet exhaust fans are available, allowing homeowners to cherry-pick the best option.
01. Inline Exhaust Fans for Bathrooms: This type of exhaust fan is installed in a remote location away from the bathroom. A grille is mounted on the washroom ceiling, connecting to the system.
02. Ceiling Mount Bathroom Exhaust Fan: As the name suggests, these exhaust fans are installed on the bathroom ceiling. They operate through a connected exhaust duct positioned just above the bathroom.
03. Wall-Mount Option: A wall-mount toilet exhaust fan is an alternative to a ceiling exhaust fan. It works without the support of an exhaust duct, directly expelling stale air.
04. Window-Mounted Exhaust Fan: This fan resembles a window air conditioner and must be installed in the window vent.
How to Select the Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan? – Guiding Tips on Exhaust Fan Size
If you want to maximise the effectiveness of a toilet exhaust fan, you need to calculate the fan’s size according to your bathroom’s dimensions for optimal ventilation and efficiency.
The following size guide will help you:
- Calculate Bathroom space: If you want to find the best bathroom exhaust fan, you need to calculate the room’s volume. The easiest method is to multiply the bathroom’s height, length, and width; this will give you the volume in cubic feet.
- Select the Right Size: Once you determine the airflow, pick an exhaust fan with a precise airflow rating. The unit used for measuring a bathroom exhaust fan’s airflow is cubic feet/ minute (CFM). You can now calculate the necessary airflow in CFM.
- Installation of the Exhaust Fan: Wondering how to install a toilet exhaust fan? It’s simple. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation, and for safety, consider consulting an electrician.
- Calculate the Frequency of Use: You can calculate it by measuring air changes per hour (ACH), which indicates how many times the fan replaces the air in the bathroom per hour. Typically, an 8 ACH is recommended for standard toilets. While larger or heavily used washrooms may require 10-12 ACH for optimal ventilation.
Beyond fan size, consider factors like noise level and ventilation compatibility to ensure the best return on investment. It is wise to opt for an energy-efficient fan to reduce the energy bill.
As you can see, bathroom exhaust fans are an important element of home ventilation, and their installation should not be overlooked. It is important to invest in a high-speed, high-quality exhaust fan to ensure optimal performance and durability. This way, you can be sure that you have made a wise investment.
Nowadays, automatic bathroom exhaust fan models are also available, offering ease of operation.
By following the above points, you can significantly improve toilet or bathroom ventilation, which can help keep your bathroom dry, mould-free, and well-maintained, offering a clean and fresh space for the next person who enters!
FAQs on Bathroom Exhaust Fan
1. Why Do You Require a Bathroom Exhaust Fan?
A bathroom exhaust fan makes bathroom maintenance easier by expelling unwanted smells, moisture, etc. A toilet exhaust fan maintains a clean ambience in the bathroom, and it is one of the best bathroom ventilation solutions.
2. How Long Should the Fan Run?
You should switch on the fan immediately when you start taking a shower. After the shower, you should keep the fan on for the next 20 minutes; it will quickly dry the room and prevent mould formation.
3. Is It Hard to Replace an Exhausted Fan in the Bathroom?
It is a simple process. Remove the existing toilet exhaust fan and replace it with a same-size fan. It is wise to hire the service of an electrician always to do the chores.
Also Read: Need and Purpose of Kitchen Exhaust Fan