A List of Options for Venting for Your Bathroom: What You should Know
If the ventilation (or the lack of it) in your bathroom is increasingly becoming a problem, then it may be time for you to address the issue. The issue of ventilation can be a serious one; over time, your bathroom?s lack of ventilation can actually make a negative impact on the structural foundation or integrity of your home, leading to structural damage. Too much moisture and humidity isn't good for any room in your home, much less the bathroom. If you're worried about your bathroom?s ventilation and are planning to take steps to improve it, here's a list of options for venting in your bathroom: what you should know.
Your main options for venting:
- A ceiling mounted fan
If you're serious about improving and enhancing your bathroom?s ventilation, then a ceiling-mounted fan is a good choice, especially if you have a shower cubicle or a freestanding bath; the fan can simply be placed right above it to absorb excess moisture. It is comprised of a housing or metal box that is then recessed or installed into your bathroom?s ceiling, and a vent duct is built to run all the way to the outdoors.
- A wall mounted fan
Another consideration is a wall-mounted fan, which is also ideal if your bathroom has some living space above it. The wall-mounted fan is mounted on the exterior wall, whilst the motor would be located exactly at the exit point of the vent.
- An in-line fan
An in-line fan is also another choice you have when it comes to enhancing ventilation ? and they have one major advantage, which is that they make less noise than ceiling-mounted fans. You also have the option to connect multiple in-line fans to one main motor which is housed on the duct run in a crawlspace or in the loft.
- A vent switch
The last option you have would be a vent switch, which is a special switch featuring sensors that detect humidity levels. If the humidity level in the bathroom is too high or if the air is too moist, the fan will automatically turn on, and a timer switch will turn the fan off after a certain period of time, allowing the bathroom to have proper air flow.
Other tips and considerations
For the best kind of ventilation for your bathroom, the vents should lead to the outdoors, and not just to the loft or attic where your loft?s ventilation and insulation can be affected. If the loft ends up with too much moisture, the bottom of the wooden floor or deck can freeze during the winter season and melt in the spring, causing a leak in the bedrooms below, and you wouldn?t want that at all.