Do Bathrooms Need an AC Vent?
The bathroom is the most moisture-rich room in your home. Between hot showers, flushing the toilet, and running the faucet, it doesn't take much to accumulate high humidity. Excess moisture can lead to problems such as mold, mildew, bad smells, peeling wallpaper, chipped paint, and the buckling or lifting of laminated plywood. Ensuring your bathroom has the right ventilation is the best way to keep humidity in check.
Why is ventilation necessary?
The ventilation in your bathroom is designed to exhaust moist, warm air created from the use of the bathtub or shower. Moisture-heavy, warm air creates the ideal environment for mold growth as well as damage to the fixtures and surfaces of the bathroom. Not having a ventilation fan, or having the wrong type of vent fan, leaves your bathroom vulnerable to excessive moisture buildup.
Humidity control is essential throughout the entire home. Excessive moisture and too little moisture both have adverse effects on your home and health. One of the best ways to stay on top of your home's indoor air quality and humidity levels is to keep your HVAC system maintained. Ensuring your system's efficiency by replacing dirty air filters with clean filters, cleaning out your ducts, and making sure coils are debris-free helps keep your energy costs in check and improves the comfort of your home. When your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are working properly, you'll enjoy better airflow, less pollen and allergens that trigger allergies, and a reduced risk of mold.
A professional HVAC technician can tell you basic information about your HVAC system and help keep it properly maintained. The certified technicians at West Texas Refrigeration have years of experience providing homeowners with emergency repair and other essential home-comfort services. No matter what your HVAC, plumbing, or refrigeration project is, the HVAC contractors offer air conditioning and furnace repairs, replacements, and installations; ductless systems, boilers, heat pumps, and geothermal systems; and indoor air quality solutions. All of their parts and labor come with a one-year warranty, and they offer 24/7 emergency repair services.
Look for the signs of poor ventilation.
Mold spores result from excess moisture and are among the most hazardous indoor air pollutants. Not only can the spores cause a range of respiratory illnesses and allergies but they can also damage and destroy building materials. The presence of stains on the walls or ceiling is a sign that your bathroom has poor ventilation and too much moisture. Smelling an unpleasant odor or noticing excessive fog on the mirror is also a sign of poor ventilation.
Achieving the bathroom of your dreams doesn't require a total bathroom remodel. Installing a new bathtub or shower can give your whole bathroom a new look. The bathroom remodeling experts at Shugarman's Bath offer homeowners quick installation of tubs in a range of colors and variety of styles. Their durable acrylic bathtubs are perfect for a classic, modern, and minimalist bathroom. The remodeling experts begin each of their comprehensive bathtub replacement services with a free home consultation and cost estimate. Best of all, once you choose your new bathtub, you can replace your old tub in a single day and enjoy a limited lifetime warranty.
How do you choose the right fan?
Bathroom vent fans come in a variety of styles and sizes. It's important to look at the sound ratings of a ventilation fan. The best vent fans have sound ratings of 1.0 or less. You need a fan with a capacity that's sufficient for the size of your bathroom. Vent capacity is measured by cubic feet per minute (CFM): the greater the capacity, the more powerful the fan. If the vent fan is too powerful, it could interfere with the operation of furnace ducts or bring cold air through the windows.
Having the proper size ventilation fan in your bathroom prevents excess moisture that can lead to mildew and poor air quality.
