If there is one thing we understand in Florida, it is humidity. The ever-present dampness in the air, if not controlled properly, can actually cause quite a bit of damage to our homes in the form of mold growth, peeling of paint and even structural warping. While we manage humidity from the weather fairly easily with air conditioning systems, our bathrooms are a different story – moisture from your daily shower can accumulate if not dispersed, and can cause many of the issues listed above. An exhaust fan is your easy solution.
If you are planning a bathroom remodel or simply looking to upgrade your ventilation and efficiency in your home, an exhaust fan is worthy of consideration. Here are some of the benefits of installing a bathroom fan.
Stop the Fog: When your shower is over, you’ll often experience your entire bathroom being fogged up, especially your mirrors. If this is the case, a bathroom fan should be on your to-do list. By installing an exhaust fan, the steam that naturally builds up from the bath or shower will be directed out of the bathroom before it has the opportunity to fog up your mirror – or to allow moisture levels to reach a dangerous point.
Prevent Condensation Damage: As the steam from your shower makes contact with your walls and moldings, condensation will form. These small droplets of water can saturate through the paint and into the wood underneath, resulting in peeling paint over months and years. A bathroom exhaust fan prevents this damage, so your bathroom walls will be protected from the damaging mist.
Prevent mold: One of the more problematic results of condensation is mold growth. Mold can reduce indoor air quality and cause serious health implications, especially if anyone in the household has a respiratory condition. For this reason alone, you should never ignore the level of your home’s humidity.
Not Your Mother’s Exhaust Fan
We are all familiar with the bathroom exhaust fan that sounds like a freight train coming through. They are very noisy and annoying. However, more contemporary models available today are far more quiet, and some run so silently you can barely hear them. Not only that, today’s fans operate on sensors, so you don’t have to remember to turn the fan on before your shower. Depending on the model you choose, many units will switch on automatically when the sensor detects an increase in the humidity level. Some exhaust fans feature warmers that help increase the temperature to a predetermined level.
You may be able to retrofit your existing ceiling light wiring to accommodate a bathroom exhaust fan – just call a local Sarasota electrician to come out and take a look. You’ll want a professional electrician to install your new fan, for a few important reasons.
- The exhaust fan must be located directly over the source of any moisture.
- Even automatic models will likely require a switch to manually override the system if necessary or desired. If your bathroom switches are not already wired to accommodate a bathroom exhaust fan, you may need additional switches and wiring installed.
- The exhaust fan will s required to be vented through an exterior wall connecting to the outside, or your moisture could possibly result in mold.
A professional Sarasota master electrician can assist you when considering your bath exhaust fan options, as well as when you are troubleshooting many of your home’s energy and electrical efficiencies. If you are looking to upgrade your bathroom, kitchen, or any area of your home don’t go it alone. Call the professionals at Promise Electric.
