Bathroom Ventilation Fans: 4 Installation Tips

Bathroom ventilation fans are a necessary part of any bathroom. You will find that not having one can be very dangerous to your bathroom as well as your home. Mold can quickly grow in a room that is has moist air that has nowhere to go. It is important that you are able to install a fan so that the moist air can be sucked out and dry air can come back in its place. Mold can be very unsightly, dirty and dangerous to you and your family. Make sure that you take the proper precautions in getting rid of it.

1. Venting Options

There are a few different venting options that are available to you whenever you are trying to find a way to keep your bathroom mold free. You will find that you can run your duct all the way up through your roof or down into your soffit. This is something that you can do as long as the fan is able to exhaust out into the outdoors. You cannot allow your duct to blow into your attic or any other enclosed part of your home. This will only cause the moist air to be blown up into another part of your home. You will then have problems with mold there. 

2. CFM Rating

It is important that you pay attention to the CFM rating of your fan. This will determine how much air is going to be moved per minute. In order to know what size to get, you will need to get the square footage of your room and multiply it by 1.1. Once you have the number, make sure to write it down and have it with you whenever you are looking for a fan. The CFM rating will be printed onto the box. Make sure that you get the right size so that it will be able to work properly in your home. 

3. Location

It is important that you pick a good location for the vent fan to work properly. If it is not in a good spot, then it will not be able to work as well as it should. In order to make sure that it works properly, plan out the spot before you begin work on it. Typically, the best place is somewhere between your toilet and your shower, up on the ceiling of course. It will help to cut some extra time out of your job if you are able to add the fan in the same hole as where your overhead light is.

4. Considerations

There are a few things that can help to make your job go much faster and easier. For instance, it is usually a good idea to have somebody down below whenever you are up in the attic or on the roof. Have them hand you the tools and direct you to the right spots. Also, keep in mind any obstructions, such as pipes. It is also a good idea for you to use foil duct tape, as it will not deteriorate over time like fabric duct tape will.