According to Chapter 4101, Section 1203 of the Board of Building Standards: Ohio Mechanical Code, bathrooms with plumbing fixtures must have mechanical ventilation. Bathroom ventilation systems are essential to the health of your home and family because they remove excess moisture from the air, along with odors, humidity, and pollutants. They help improve indoor air quality and minimize repairs associated with mold and rot.
Best Practices in Bathroom Ventilation
- Air movement capacity: The bath fan that you choose should accommodate the bathroom’s size and the plumbing features within it. Professionals measure air movement in cubic feet per minute (CFM). To calculate the air movement capacity in a bathroom, determine its area. An 8-by-11-foot bathroom, for example, needs an 88 CFM fan. When a bathroom has more than 100 square feet, add 50 CFM for every toilet, shower, and bathtub. Add 100 CFM for jetted or soaking tubs. A bathroom with an 8-foot or taller ceiling might need extra ventilation.
- Fan type: When a bathroom has a bathtub or shower, look for a ventilation fan that you can install in wet areas. Use the fan over or near a tub or shower enclosure.
- Noise level: Measured in sones, fans rated at 1 sone or less are the quietest. A fan rated at 1 sone is about as loud as a refrigerator. One rated at 4 sones is as loud as a television.
- HVI certification: Look for an HVI-certified label when shopping for a new bath fan. The label indicates that the fan passed rigorous independent tests by the authority in residential ventilation performance.
- Proper venting: Instead of venting air into unused spaces in your home, a bathroom fan should vent exhaust outside the home. A heat-exchange ventilator fan will minimize energy losses associated with this type of setup.
Indoor air quality is important in all the areas of your home. For guidance with choosing the right type of bathroom ventilation system for your home, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning online or at 440-246-5440 for a complimentary consultation. We’ve been making Lorain, Elyria, and Oberlin homes feel comfortable for two generations.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area