Is a bathroom exhaust fan worth it?

Author: Cleo Rice  |  Last update: Monday, March 31, 2025

The Benefits of Having a Bathroom Exhaust Fan Without an exhaust fan, you can expect to have mold growing in your shower, peeling paint, and even damaged drywall. Prolonged moisture buildup is a disaster for the bathroom; picture damaged walls, floors, ceilings, fixtures, and even doors.

How effective is a bathroom exhaust fan?

Bathroom exhaust fans play a critical role in your home's ventilation system. They don't just eliminate odours—they help prevent peeling paint, mildew, mould, and even structural damage caused by trapped moisture. Proper ventilation ensures your bathroom stays fresh, healthy, and safe for your family.

Does the bathroom fan actually help with smell?

A bathroom exhaust fan does an excellent job of eliminating odours from the room. Stale air is replaced with fresh air as soon as the fan is turned on, and the restroom becomes as fresh as before in just a few minutes. So, if you need an exhaust fan, you can explore options from reputable brands such as Luminous.

Will a bathroom exhaust fan cool a room?

An exhaust fan doesn't really cool a room. It'll circulate air, but depending on where the make-up air comes from it's likely to be the same temperature. Although, your skin temperature may feel cooler because of increased air flow around the body causing some evaporative cooling at the skin level.

What happens when you don't use an exhaust fan in bathroom?

In many apartments, the bathroom exhaust fan is most of the ventilation you get. Not running it may lead to mold problems due to excess moisture build-up. Aside from being unsightly, mold can be bad for you.

How to Choose a Bathroom Exhaust Fan | Ask This Old House

Does a bathroom really need an exhaust fan?

It should include a sink, vanity, lighting fixtures, faucet, mirror, toilet, shower, and exhaust fan. The exhaust fan is often seen as a “nice-to-have” when it comes to bathrooms. However, in reality, that couldn't be further from the truth. To keep your bathroom clean and hygienic, an exhaust fan is an absolute must.

What can I use instead of a bathroom vent fan?

Small, portable dehumidifiers can be placed in the bathroom and used during and after your shower to reduce humidity. These can be used in conjunction with a whole home dehumidifier. As with all electric devices, for safety reasons, make sure that the dehumidifier is not located near your shower or other water source.

Is it OK to leave bathroom exhaust fan on?

Excessive Usage Can lead to fire hazards and other problems

The fumes from the combustion process can be explosive, so proper ventilation is necessary. Bathroom exhaust fans should be used only when needed. If you have a high-capacity bathroom fan, you may use it multiple times each day.

Should bathroom exhaust fan go through wall or roof?

You can vent a bathroom exhaust fan through the wall or roof. Either is fine, but the shorter the route, the better.

Does leaving a bathroom fan on waste electricity?

– An average small bathroom fan, when running continuously for 24 hours, typically consumes around 5 to 10 watts of electricity. – To put this in perspective, a standard incandescent light bulb (60 watts) consumes roughly 5 times more energy per hour than a small bathroom fan.

Should I run the bathroom fan while showering?

This fan will remove any moisture that's in the air by sucking it into a duct that will redirect it to a vent leading outside. It's important to have this fan on during showers, otherwise, moisture will settle onto the walls and fixtures.

How can I make my bathroom smell good all the time?

10 ways to make your bathroom smell nice
  1. Make use of lemons. ...
  2. Open windows, doors and vents. ...
  3. Clean under and around the toilet. ...
  4. Eliminate musty smells. ...
  5. Toilet drops or spray. ...
  6. Diffusers, candles or air fresheners. ...
  7. Upgrade the litter box. ...
  8. Bicarbonate of soda.

Who replaces bathroom exhaust fans?

  • An electrician should replace a bathroom exhaust fan if any wiring needs to be done or if you're installing a fan where there wasn't one before. ...
  • If the ductwork needs to be fixed, consider an HVAC technician. ...
  • A roofer's skills may be required if access to the attic or roof is needed to install a bathroom vent.

Where is the best place for a bathroom exhaust fan?

One Foot In, One Foot Out – Ideally, you should place a bathroom fan in the ceiling about 1 foot from the shower and between the shower and the door.

What is the difference between a bathroom ventilation fan and an exhaust fan?

A ventilation fan brings fresh air into a space, improving circulation, while an exhaust fan removes stale, humid, or polluted air, typically from kitchens or bathrooms. The key difference lies in airflow direction: ventilation fans pull outdoor air in, while exhaust fans push indoor air out.

Can a bathroom exhaust fan be too powerful?

A fan that is too big can cause a bathroom to be cold and noisy. This is why calculating the correct CFM is important.

Does a bathroom exhaust fan have to be vented outside?

Bathroom fan installation requires outside ventilation. If the bathroom exhaust fan or venting fan isn't accessible through an attic, you'll need to vent through a sidewall of your house. If you're venting a bathroom fan through an external sidewall, then you'll need a wall mounted bathroom exhaust fan.

How long to run a bath fan after a shower?

Well, depending on the size of your bathroom, the time may vary a little, but the general consensus is that leaving the fan running for about 20 minutes after a shower is long enough to remove the moisture from your bathroom.

Is there a ventless bathroom fan?

You usually find ductless fans in bathrooms without tubs or showers. For them to be up to building code, you must also have a window. While the fan does a good job of keeping air circulating, leading to a more comfortable environment, the window will aid in helping to remove moisture from the air.

What is the life expectancy of a bathroom exhaust fan?

Even if you have fans already set up, it's important to keep in mind that they won't last forever. Typically, bathroom exhaust fans have a lifespan of about 10 years, provided they receive proper care and maintenance.

What is the code for venting a bathroom fan?

To fulfill the local exhaust airflow requirements of ASHRAE 62.2 (2010) and the International Residential Code (IRC 2021, Section M1507), bathroom fans should have a mechanical exhaust capacity of ≥ 50 cfm for intermittent operation or ≥ 20 cfm of ventilation when operated continuously.

Should the bathroom door be closed when the exhaust fan is on?

Close the Bathroom Door

This prevents moist air from escaping into the rest of your house where it can cause condensation to form in other rooms. Keeping the door closed also makes the extractor fan more effective at removing the humidity from the bathroom and helping with overall bathroom mould prevention.

Is a bathroom exhaust fan necessary?

Every room in your home needs adequate ventilation, but it's especially important in the bathroom. Frequent hot water use, like long showers and relaxing soaks in the tub, leads to prolonged periods of high moisture levels. Over time, moisture leads to mold and mildew growth.

What to do when the bathroom has no exhaust fan?

What to Do If There is No Exhaust Fan in the Bathroom
  1. Opening the bathroom door while you shower or bathe. ...
  2. Adding a fan. ...
  3. Wiping walls and droplets. ...
  4. Cleaning up any puddles. ...
  5. Storing towels somewhere else. ...
  6. Using a dehumidifier. ...
  7. Taking cold showers. ...
  8. Leaving the shower curtain closed.

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