All About Bathroom Ventilation

A dry bathroom is a clean bathroom

Anyone who's spent an hour or two scrubbing mildew from a bathtub or shower tiles knows about the importance of proper bathroom ventilation. Cleaning the bathroom is never easy, but what you may not realize is the role that bathroom ventilation plays in reducing the frequency with which you need to clean your bathroom. If you feel like you're always wiping down faucets or shower doors, read on for tips that show how you can keep bathrooms cleaner with less effort.

Required bathroom ventilation

Though it's helpful when they do, not all bathrooms feature both an exhaust fan and window. Bathrooms are required to have direct ventilation to exterior air, but that can mean either an exhaust fan or an open window. If you have both, take advantage of it. In the proper climate, the combination of a running fan and fresh air can ventilate and refresh your bathrooms atmosphere in no time.

If you're at work on a new home and have to choose one bathroom ventilation form over the other, go with an exhaust fan. An exhaust fan combats steam and odors more effectively than an open window.

Plus, bathroom ventilation via a window will always be subject to the outdoor climate. An open window in a region with high humidity will provide poor bathroom ventilation, while wintertime bathroom ventilation via an open window will find you grabbing a scarf as soon as you step out of the shower.

Bathroom ventilation tips

There are four things you can do to improve the effectiveness of your bathroom ventilation system:

Run the fan

Seems obvious, but turning the exhaust fan off too soon will leave moisture lingering in the air. For thorough bathroom ventilation, leave the exhaust fan on until the bathroom has completely dried.

Leave the bathroom door open

The effectiveness of your bathrooms exhaust fan will improve dramatically if it's able to draw air in from the hallway to push humid air outside.

Leave shower doors open

Closing your shower door immediately after you've finished washing can create a little humidor. That might be fine if you needed a place to store cigars, but not so good if you intend to use your shower for bathing. Bathroom ventilation means shower ventilation too.

Clean your exhaust fan every six months

It's a simple task, but one that's not often done. Cleaning your exhaust fan should be as easy as cleaning a light fixture, and it will make a big difference in bathroom ventilation. Just unscrew it and wipe it down. Regular removal of dust and mildew from your exhaust fan will keep it running at peak efficiency.

Thermostat controlled bathroom vents

If you live in a newer, well-sealed home, you may have a switch next to your thermostat that controls your bathrooms exhaust fan. If so, running it regularly will provide not only bathroom ventilation, but whole house ventilation too. Running your bathrooms exhaust fan will help to circulate air throughout the house from room to room, reducing the likelihood of mold and mildew.

More information on ventilation