Should I Get Rid of My Exhaust Fans?

This entry was posted in Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) on by .

Exhaust fans may seem like a rather outdated bit of technology, given the fact that so many high-tech gadgets are appearing all the time for use in the home, but in truth these simple devices still serve a very useful purpose in the home, and especially in bathrooms. Most new homes come with the exhaust fans already installed, but surprisingly they are not always as effective as they could be. Here are some of the common functions that exhaust fans are intended to perform, and if you feel that your fans are not living up to these standard functions, you should probably shop around for some more effective exhaust fans, because they really can be a benefit to all concerned.

Moisture removal

The most obvious purpose of a bathroom exhaust fan is of course to remove moisture from the air, and this can be a major function because all the occupants of your home are showering and taking baths daily, which can lead to the retention of high levels of moisture in the room. If that moisture is allowed to collect and stay in place, it can easily lead to the growth of mold and mildew, which would then become a health hazard for household residents.
Management of odors

Another primary function of bathroom exhaust fans is the elimination of unappealing odors in the room. A well-maintained bathroom exhaust fan extracts these odors, and conducts them out of the room so that subsequent users are not offended by unpleasant air quality. In a household of numerous occupants, this can be a fairly significant issue, especially if everyone has to use the same bathroom.

Fume control

Ironically, actions taken to maintain cleanliness and health in the bathroom can actually lead to problems. For instance, many cleaning agents are comprised of fairly aggressive chemicals, and these can become a health problem when inhaled, particularly for people who already have respiratory issues. It can also significantly impact young children and elderly residents of the home. An exhaust fan can be a big help with eliminating chemical odors that might otherwise lead to health issues in the home

It’s there, but is it used?

From the above, it’s easy to see that bathroom exhaust fans provide a really useful service to household residents, and should be used appropriately to overcome the common issues they are intended to. In many cases however, people are reluctant to use bathroom exhaust fans because they’re loud or noisy, and they don’t want to be disturbed by them.

If this is the case in your home, you should have your bathroom exhaust fans checked by a reputable service technician, because there’s a good chance it simply wasn’t installed correctly, and is not functioning up to manufacturer specifications. Homeowners in the area of Scottsdale, Peoria, Sun City, Surprise, or Glendale are fortunate, in that you have access to the expert HVAC professionals at Cool Blew Inc.