Effective bathroom ventilation is important for reasons including excessive humidity, potential mold contamination, odor control, and basic comfort issues. Bathrooms are generally the wettest room in the house and may affect general air quality throughout the entire home. In many locales, building codes today require some form of mechanical bathroom ventilation — beyond simply opening a window — to prevent these issues.
Bathroom exhaust fans are the most common method to ventilate bathrooms. Installed in the bathroom ceiling or in a bathroom wall, these electric units remove water vapor and odors rapidly, before damage or mold contamination is triggered. Here are some basics of bathroom fans:
CFM capacity. The air-moving capacity of a bathroom fan is rated by its cubic-feet-per-minute (CFM) capacity. While the proper size can vary according to the number and size of bathroom fixtures like the bathtub, shower, and sinks; generally speaking, a bathroom exhaust fan should provide at least 1 CFM of ventilation per square foot of bathroom size (length x width.)
Exterior venting. Venting bathroom fans directly into the attic is a terrible option. Moist bathroom air in the attic space triggers toxic mold growth and accelerates deterioration of exposed wooden attic structure. Bathroom fans should be connected to a dedicated duct that extends all the way to the exterior of the house. Vent fans installed in the wall must likewise exhaust outside, not into the wall cavity.
Timer operation. A bathroom fan should run long enough to effectively exhaust water vapor and odors, but not too long, so as to avoid excessive loss of heat or cooling as well as wasted electricity. Bathroom fans should be connected to a timer switch to automatically shut off the unit after a preset duration. For best results, the fan should run for at least 15 minutes following a shower or bathing.
Safety factors. Bathroom fans should be wired to a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) circuit to prevent electrical hazards in the wet environment.
For more about the benefits of exhaust fans for adequate bathroom ventilation, contact the air-quality professionals at Air Assurance.
Hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your house fills it with the aromas of the turkey, dressing, and pies baking, along with all the heat the stove and oven generate. Taking a few minutes to assess your kitchen ventilation before the holiday arrives might help you stay more comfortable while you put this celebratory meal on the table.The combination of heat plus the steam that the cooking creates is a recipe for discomfort in the kitchen. It’s the same thing that happens in the summer when the humidity combines with warm temperatures that has you reaching for the air conditioner’s thermostat. Add it all the body heat your guests will generate, and things could get uncomfortable.Fortunately, by Thanksgiving, there’s plenty of cool air outside to use instead of the A/C. Getting inside is all a part of ventilation methods for getting rid of the humidity and the heat. To start, determine if:
Your kitchen fan exhausts outside or just recirculates the air. Look above the fan to see if there a vent pipe that leads up through the ceiling or goes out of a wall. If you see either, your fan exhausts air outdoors.
Does the kitchen have a window that opens? Sometimes builders put in fixed windows or windows can stick over time if they’re not opened periodically.
Is there a door leading outdoors or into the garage? A door that leads outdoors will give you ample kitchen ventilation.
Do you have a portable fan?
This list of ventilation options will provide the basis for your approach to Thanksgiving dinner. If your kitchen fan vents outside, increase its speed from low to high as the heat in the kitchen increases. Opening a nearby window or door will pull in cooler, fresher air. If your kitchen fan recirculates only, place your portable fan inside the doorway or window and exhaust the air outdoors.Home and kitchen ventilation matter even when it’s cold outside. If you find that it’s hard to ventilate your home, contact Air Assurance for expert advice. We provide HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.
With another cooling season looming, it's time to get serious about energy savings by making efficiency-minded changes around your home. These simple tips can help you reduce cooling costs and enjoy a comfortable living environment all summer long.
Tips to Reduce Cooling Costs
Seal leaky ducts. You can prevent the waste of up to 30 percent of the A/C's cool air output due to leakage by having ducts sealed with mastic and wrapped in at least R-6 insulation.
Run exhaust fans. Activities like cooking, bathing and washing dishes add heat and humidity to the indoor air, so run the bathroom or kitchen exhaust fan to vent it outdoors where it can't increase your energy bills.
Switch on the ceiling fans. Operating ceiling fans while the air conditioner is running can increase comfort and allow you to raise the thermostat setting a few degrees, curbing your energy usage.
Shade the windows. Heat gain through the window glass makes the A/C work harder and increases energy consumption. Keep it under control by installing energy-efficient shades, blinds or reflective window film.
Purchase a programmable thermostat. Choose a model that matches your normal weekly schedule and your HVAC equipment brand. Use it to program 10-degree temperature setbacks for a daily eight-hour period, and you can slash energy costs by 15 percent a year.
Stop conditioned air losses. Seal leaks by caulking window frames and replacing any missing or damaged weatherstripping around exterior doors. Plug holes and gaps around the foundation and any shell penetrations with expandable foam spray.
Prevent heat build-up. Replace incandescent lights with energy-efficient bulbs that produce much less heat. Use the microwave or outdoor grill for cooking instead of the oven, and air dry dishes and laundry so you don't create heat that adds to the A/C's workload.
Upgrade an older cooling system. Replacing an inefficient air conditioner can reduce your cooling expenses by as much as 50 percent. To boost those energy savings by up to 15 percent more, choose Energy Star-rated equipment.
To learn more ways to reduce cooling costs in your Broken Arrow home, contact the comfort experts at Air Assurance. We've been helping homeowners since 1985.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “iQoncept/Shutterstock”
