Exhaust fans should be located in or near the shower or tub, and in an enclosed water closet. Keep exhaust points opposite the supply air source to ensure that the fresh air is drawn through the room. Bathroom doors should not be sealed too tightly at the bottom in order to allow ?makeup air? to enter the room when the door is closed. The Home Ventilation Institute recommends that a fan should be left on for 20 minutes or more after a shower to clear humidity adequately and to ensure moisture and condensation in the fan body or ducting is minimized.
Sone
A Sone is a measurement of sound in terms of comfortable hearing level for an average listener. The lower the sone value, the more comfortable the listening environment. Sones are not decibels or volume, but rather how sound is ?sensed.? One sone is the equivalent of a quiet refrigerator.
CFM
CFM is the acronym for Cubic Feet per Minute ? the measure of air volume moved by the fan blower. Choose a fan with a CFM rating appropriate for your room size to ensure adequate ventilation.
Static Pressure
Static pressure is the measurement of airflow resistance as it is pushed through ductwork which reduces the effectiveness of the fan. Learn more on the Home Ventilation Institute web site www.hvi.org.
Duct Types
It is recommended, where possible, to use rigid duct. It has less resistance to air flow and allows the fan to operate much more efficiently. If flexible duct is used, be sure the duct is as straight as possible. Larger diameter ducts will result in improved performance. Smaller diameter ducts will cause the fan to run harder, greatly reducing the CFM performance of the fan and create excess noise. A smooth surface duct allows for optimum airflow. For best results, use galvanized sheet metal or PVC. Flexible aluminum duct is durable, easy to install and often used. However, the ridges in aluminum flexible duct increase static pressure and can reduce air flow and fan performance. This results in lower CFMs, higher noise levels and greater energy consumption. The degree to which performance is affected depends on the length of duct, number and degree of elbows. Sagging or weaving a fan duct will also increase static pressure and reduce a fans performance. When using a flexible aluminum duct, support the entire length of the duct with braces or hangers to keep it as straight as possible for the entire run. If the duct lies across the attic, do not allow it to sag between each joist. Also, avoid weaving serpentine through trusses. Using a flexible duct made of nylon or vinyl is not recommended due to high static pressure caused by its ridges and curvature. Remember that a duct-free exhaust fan is not a ventilating device. It does not remove air from the room.
Static Pressure
Static pressure is the measurement of airflow resistance as it is pushed through ductwork which reduces the effectiveness of the fan. Learn more on the Home Ventilation Institute web site www.hvi.org.
Intermittent or Continuous Service
Continuous ventilation provides today's airtight homes with a relatively constant and controlled lower level of ventilation. Intermittent ventilation is used to exhaust sources of moisture and odors, while continuous ventilation is used to remove accumulated indoor air pollutants. Ventilating fans should be located near the source of moisture and indoor air pollutants in bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, hobby rooms and smoking rooms.
So now that we have some of the terms and installation suggestions out of the way, what size fan is right for you? Are you considering intermittent or continuous duty fan?
Intermittent (Spot) Ventilation:
The Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) recommends the following Air Changes per Hour (ACH).
Bathrooms - 8 ACH
Kitchens - 15 ACH
Other Rooms - 6 ACH
Continuous (Whole House) Ventilation:
Many building codes have adopted the American Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 62, as shown below.
House or apartment - 0.35 ACH
Once you decide on the duty type, use this simple formula for selecting the right exhaust fan for your application:
Calculate the cubic feet of your bathroom (length x width x height)
Divide by 60 (the number of minutes in an hour)
Multiply the result by 8 (the number of recommended air changes per hour)
Select a fan which has the CFM rating that you calculated.
Through Wall Exhaust Fans
Everyone talks about how much time a family will spend together in the kitchen or a family room like a den. Another room where family members spend a lot of time, not together, but alone, is in the bathrooms in the home. If you have a large family that shares only one or two bathrooms, it can be a really big challenge to keep them clean and in good working order all of the time. Bathrooms are where many germs and viruses can be spread easily when they are not kept as clean as possible.
Bathrooms are also one of the most common and easiest rooms that can develop mold growth. Around the shower or bathtub surround, sinks, and the toilet are all great spots for mold to show up. The reason for this is usually because of the humid conditions that can take place in the bathroom every time people bath or shower with hot water. All of this hot water creates steam and steam is moisture and moisture combined with warmth and the proper food source will create mold.
There are ways to avoid mold growth in bathrooms. Exhaust fans are one of the most essential items to have installed in bathrooms to prevent mold. Exhaust fans should be used every time bathing or showering is going on. The fans will pull the moisture up into the vent and carry it through the duct work and out of the house. This is so essential to help prevent not only mold, but it also helps to protect your paint, wallpaper, and woodwork in the bathroom.
Sometimes even when a bathroom or a kitchen has exhaust fans, it is still not uncommon for mold to make an appearance. The exhaust fan that is installed might not be large enough to pull all the moisture out of the air fast enough and this means that if enough moisture is left in the air, mold can develop. Another way that an exhaust fan might not prevent mold is simply because people forget to use them. They are there for a reason and if they are not turned on while there is steam in a bathroom, mold will grow.
If your bathrooms do not have exhaust fans, get one installed that will be adequate for the size of your bathroom. If you have them already, make sure your family uses them every time they bath. Keep your bathrooms as clean as you can using disinfectants regularly to kill mold before it has time to get started. Also watch for mold development on the walls, ceiling, and the baseboards of the floor.
Both Kimberly Quang & Rachel Yoshida are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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