If you are considering a bathroom upgrade, it is easy to focus on the “fun” elements: colour schemes, shower types, taps and light fittings, but the functional elements can often be left as an afterthought. One of these “afterthoughts” is ventilation. In this piece, we will explain why ventilation is so important – especially in a bathroom – and give you tips for fitting the right bathroom fan.
Why are bathroom fans so important?
It is fairly obvious that a bathroom fan will help you to get rid of the steam in your bathroom and improve the overall air quality. But it’s more than just helping you to look in the mirror. By making sure that you have proper ventilation in your bathroom, you can avoid mould and damp in the bathroom itself, but you can also reduce the overall humidity in your home, reducing condensation and helping to prevent the buildup of mildew as well as removing bathroom smells.
Do you need to install a fan?
The best way to see if you need to install a new bathroom fan is to use a hygrometer. You can buy these as standalone gadgets or integrated with a dehumidifier. If your humidity levels are over 50%, then you probably need to get a new fan as high humidity isn’t just bad for your house, it can exacerbate health problems such as asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Other signs that you need a new fan are peeling paint and other signs of damp, such as excessive condensation, mould or mildew.
Fitting a new fan
If you are hoping to install the fan yourself, there are a few key elements to remember:
- Check that you are buying the right type and size of fan for your bathroom. This includes making sure that your fan reaches the right electrical specifications.
- Choose your location carefully. If you have a fan installed already, make sure that it is in the best position before switching it out for a new fan.
- Make a list of preparation activities that you need to do to prepare for the fan fitting e.g. drilling a bigger hole, and make sure that you do it safely and properly.
- Be sure to switch off the power to your bathroom at the fuse box before you do any work.
Water and electricity most certainly don’t mix, so if you are unsure of what you are doing, contact a bathroom specialist or electrician to give you a quote for fan installation. The other advantage of getting a professional in is that they will be able to advise the most appropriate fan for you to use, as well as one that fits in an existing space, if you have one.
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