Water Damage Prevention: Exhaust Fans

Keeping moisture out of your bathroom can be a big task, but installing an exhaust vent over the bath tub or the shower can be a tremendous help in this endeavor.

The purpose of the unit is to remove the steam from the bathroom so it does not become absorbed by the ceiling and walls in the bathroom and cause water damage. Mold growth is also a typical problem in the bathroom, so the exhaust fan will actually help you fight this second problem.

The quality of the fan is important. The quieter the fan’s operation, the higher the quality is. Some manufacturers do not put a noise rating on the packaging of the product, but most tend to do this to separate their high end exhaust fans from their basic ones. The other determining factor is how much air the exhaust fan will move per minute. The higher quality the fan, the more air it will remove from the room.

Ask yourself whether or not you want a light integrated into the fan unit. If so, then you might need a little bit of knowledge of how the electrical system in your house works. Purchasing a book on the subject is advised if you plan on installing the unit yourself.

If the fan is going to have a light in it, then it is a good idea to use the hole in your ceiling that should already exist from your original overhead light. If this does not exist or you want the fan separate from the light, you will create a hole with the jab saw. The electrical book you should have purchased should lay out the options on the kinds of switches you can use and how each one should be wired so you know you have continuity and that the wiring you install is correct.

After you are done wiring the fan, the exhaust duct kit will be installed next and this should come with instructions. This kit can be purchased at some hardware stores and home improvement stores.

Venting the air to the outside with the hose that came with the duct kit is not that difficult to do. Find the nearest soffit in your attic and cut a hole in it that follows the instructions that came with your duct kit. Attach the hose to it and you should be finished.

You will save a lot of money and time by installing this fan before water damage and mold becomes a problem in the bathroom. The damage caused by either can be quite extensive and expensive to repair.


Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New Jersey mold inspections and other states and cities such as
north carolina mold inspections companies across the united states.