BATHROOMS
Moisture Control where it's Needed Most
During a bath or especially a shower, the humidity level in a bathroom is like that in a tropical rain forest; uncomfortable, hot and damaging, a perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew and micro-organisms that can impact your health.
Excess moisture has tremendous potential for damaging the home. It can cause deterioration of joists and framing above the bathroom. It cracks and peels paint, ruins gypsum wallboard (drywall), causes paint failure, warps doors and rusts metal cabinets, hardware, electrical switches and fixtures. It attracts dirt and makes more frequent cleaning and decorating necessary. It encourages mildew on the tile grout and generally provides an environment for increased bacterial growth.
Exhaust fans, ducted to the outside removes moisture & prevents these types of problems in the bathroom and spa areas. Not only will occupants be more comfortable after a bath, shower or spa, but the room will also be rid of odours, potentially health hazardous aerosol vapours and other pollutants. In addition to healthier air, this minimizes the potential of home damage, saving the homeowner the cost of making repairs to correct problems that were preventable.
Because fans have differing capacities for moving air, it is important to make sure the fan has ample capacity for your application. Check to see the HVI/CSA rating of your ventilation fan.
For every 100 square feet of area, each fixture needs:
Toilet 50 CFM*
Shower 50 CFM*
Bath tub 50 CFM*
Jetted tub 100 CFM*
* intermittent ventilation for a minimum of 20 minutes after use
In addition to the CFM requirements, to make your ventilation effective, you should have:
- bathroom doors need to have at least 3/4" clearance to the finished floor
- ventilation should in most cases be vented directly to the outside
- only a limited amount of elbows in the duct
- ventilation duct should be insulated through non-heated areas.
