Without proper ventilation, your bathroom can quickly become moldy. Moisture that’s trapped in the room can encourage bacteria and mildew to grow. An exhaust fan removes the trapped moisture from the room. It is recommended that the air in your bathroom be exchanged between 5 and 8 times per hour to effectively remove trapped moisture. Bergey’s HVAC is a local contractor in Montgomery County, PA that wants to ensure your bathroom is a clean and safe place to be. Here is how to find the right exhaust fan for your bathroom.
Know Your Size
The first step to choosing an exhaust fan is knowing the square footage of your bathroom. Exhaust fans are rated by CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute). For bathrooms that are less than 100 square feet, a good rule is to use 1 CFM per square foot. Use a Size up if there isn’t a fan available in that specific size. A 75-80 square foot bathroom would need an 80 cfm fan, while a 82-93 square feet would require 100 cfm.
Proper sizing for larger bathrooms, say 123 square feet, is a little more in depth.
First measure the bathroom’s height and multiply it by the square footage of the bathroom.
10’ (height) x 123 (square footage) = 1230 cubic feet of space.
Now divided by 60 and round up if required
1230 / 60 = 20.5 round up to 21
Multiply by 8 to get the minimum cfm required for the space.
21 x 8 = 168
Minimum cfm needed for proper air exchange would be 168 cfm. This could either be accomplished by 1 large fan, or 2 smaller strategically placed fans.
Think About Other Attributes
There are a few other factors that you should consider when choosing a fan. They include:
- Noise level
- Energy efficiency
- Mounting location
For many people, exhaust fans can be quite noisy, making a relaxing soak in the tub difficult. Noise from an exhaust fan is measured in sones. One sone is often compared to the noise made by a quiet refrigerator. Each additional sone roughly doubles the amount of noise produced. Exhaust fans rated at 1.5 scones or less are considered to be quiet.
If you want your HVAC in Doylestown to run as efficiently as possible, then you may want to opt for a fan that has a high energy efficiency rating. While you may only use the fan when you’re in the bathroom, you can still save money every year by using an energy-efficient model . Look for fans that have been given an Energy Star.
Finally, you need to consider where the fan is going to be mounted. There are three options: the ceiling, the wall, or a hybrid. Top floor bathrooms typically use ceiling mounted fans whereas second story or lower bathrooms often use wall mounted fans.
Choose whichever one pleases you aesthetically the most.
Keep Your Bathroom Clean And Well Ventilated
The best way to protect your bathroom from mold and mildew is to prevent it from starting. Once it has started, it can present a health hazard and be quite unsightly. Protecting your bathroom starts with proper ventilation and routine cleaning of spots that are prone to mold and mildew. Give Bergey’s HVAC a call for our expert help finding and installing the right exhaust fan for your needs.