Bathroom ventilation systems

Moisture is a problem that bathrooms are particularly prone to, and one that needs to be controlled for the health and longevity of the room and those who use it. Excess moisture can cause problems with mould, rotting and warping, splitting and cracking of wooden furniture and door and window surrounds, as well as damage to wall plaster. A really humid bathroom can even cause problems in other areas of the house, as the moisture seeps through the floor or walls, or condenses and runs into wooden floor boards. So what are the best solutions to creating adequate bathroom ventilation systems?

Bathroom ventilation

The most effective ventilation has some type of cross - draught to create movement of air. This ensures replacement of damp air with dry, fresh air. There are several ways of achieving this:

• The simplest form of bathroom ventilation is to create a cross draught by using two windows, or a window and a door. This requires planning in the building stages of a house, or construction work on an existing home
• Ventilation fans are the most common way of clearing steam from bathrooms. Combining a ceiling exhaust fan with a partially open window creates a useful cross draught
• Ceiling mounted exhaust fans are generally vented into an attic space or through the roof, and are driven by an electric motor. An environmentally friendly alternative is to use a wind - driven fan. These use wind power outside the house to drive a fan which sucks air out of the bathroom
• If your bathroom also suffers from low light, a combination tube light and exhaust fan can be a great option. The combination means that only one hole in the roof is required to perform both lighting and exhaust functions
• When choosing a bathroom ventilation fan, it is important to install one with the power level that will effectively work for your bathroom space. To do this accurately, measure the length, depth and height of your bathroom and multiply these together to get the area. Match the fan you choose to the area of your bathroom
• Bathroom ventilation systems are not difficult to install, but any electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician, so it may be worth paying an experienced contractor to install the exhaust fan, tube light or new window for you
• For safety, use a licensed electrician to install any electrical work for your bathroom ventilation.

Ensuring that your bathroom has adequate ventilation means that you will improve the longevity of the room and its fixtures and furniture, as well as the health of those who use it. There are several options for bathroom ventilation systems, but essentially any system you install needs to create a cross draught to be properly effective.

Bathroom ventilation systems

The bathroom is certainly prone to damage by excess moisture, and there are a range of bathroom ventilation systems which will adequately vent the moist air to prevent this. Any money spent on installing adequate ventilation in your bathroom is money well spent, and will certainly be recouped in avoiding expensive repairs to the room in the future.