Bathroom Exhaust Fan – On the House
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Bathroom Exhaust Fan

By on April 18, 2014
bathroom vent

Question

I have an inside bathroom that sweats — ceiling, walls, toilet tank, even the toilet seat! This occurs whenever a bath is taken in the room and the window is closed. Since the window is over the tub, it is almost a necessity to close it when bathing or showering in cold weather, although the sweating occurs any time the window is not left wide open – summer or winter.

Our home is approximately 20 to 25 years old and has a stucco exterior and concrete tile roof. There appears to be an adequate number of vent spaces in the crawl space, and the ceiling of the house is insulated. Can you explain why this bathroom sweats so badly, and can you suggest some possible solutions?

Answer

We’re certain that if this condition continues, you will be asking us how you can remove a bumper crop of mildew. The condition you are relating is an excellent environment for mold and mildew to prosper in. If you take our advice today the only sweating that will go on in your home will be that which is generated by home improvement tasks!It is apparent that you have a condensation problem created when someone is bathing or taking a shower. This comes as a result of too much humidity in the air. The hotter the shower and the colder the day, the more condensation or “sweating” occurs. Your best bet here is to improve the ventilation by installing an exhaust fan at the bathroom ceiling. Proper ventilation performs two important functions: comfort control and moisture control. These devices simply provide an access between interior and exterior spaces. Their effectiveness depends on the volume of air that they move. The Home Ventilating Institute suggests that a bathroom fan provide at least eight air changes per hour. To find the fan capacity you need in cubic feet per minute (CFM), multiply the square footage of the room by 1.1, assuming a standard eight-foot ceiling.

Exhaust fans are inexpensive and easy to install. Most major hardware stores or home improvement centers will have just what you’re looking for. If this is something that you feel might be a little over your head, a quick call to your local heating or electrical contractor should solve the problem.

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