By Barry Stone
Dear Barry,
Neither of the bathrooms in my new home has an exhaust fan for ventilation. When I questioned the contractor, he said that fans are not required because windows are provided instead. This seems like a slim excuse to me, since the bathrooms in my previous home were equipped with fans as well as windows. Aren't ceiling fans required for bathroom ventilation? -- Kurt
Dear Kurt,
Your contractor has given you the straight scoop: All bathrooms are required to have direct ventilation to the exterior. This can be achieved by one of two means -- either an openable window or a mechanical ventilation system. It is definitely not required that your bathrooms be equipped with both.
The advantage to windows is that they provide a source of natural light and fresh air from the exterior. The benefit of mechanical ventilation is that it eliminates steam and bathroom odors more effectively and efficiently than an open window. With an exhaust fan it is also possible to vent a bathroom in the wintertime without letting cold air into the house.
If the bathrooms in your former residence were set up with both fans and windows, this was due to a voluntary upgrade on the part of the builder. If you wish to have exhaust fans added to your current bathrooms, your contractor can probably install them for a reasonable fee.
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