There are many benefits of ventilation fans that can be an advantage in your home. Today, we realize the importance of air sealing houses which keeps the cost of heating low and makes it easier to cool them. However, there are things like dust, mold, gases and allergens that come into the house and air sealing, making it difficult to release these things. This is where the benefits of ventilation fans come in handy.
Benefits of Ventilation Fans:
Humidity Control: Humidity that lingers in a bathroom or laundry room can cause mold and mildew. A small ventilation fan will extract the moist air from the room, making it too dry for the mold spores to grow.
Steam, Fumes and Odors: Cooking can leave all of these things in the air. To keep them from lingering, it’s a good idea to have a ventilation fan installed, mounted over the stove. This will also reduce the amount of grease that rises in the steam, keeping your kitchen cleaner.
Gas and Smoke: Airborne pollutants can gather in basements where old gas appliances are used. If there is a smoker in your house, this can add to the pollutants as well. Workshops and garages may have dust producing equipment. These are all great places for a ventilation fan.
Heat: Another benefit of ventilation fans is that they remove heat. A ventilation fan near the ceiling will pull rising heat into the roof space making for cooler, circulated air.
Keeps Your House Looking Good: If you have a smoker in the house, you may be particularly susceptible to the fabrics on your walls and furniture staining and yellowing. A ventilation fan will keep this buildup minimal.
What You Should Know About Ventilation Fans in Your Home
The benefits of ventilation fans are not only a good idea, they are a necessary part of updated energy codes. Many states are now enforcing energy codes that mandate not only do ventilation fans have to be installed in homes, but that the fans installed are more intuitive than they once were. Features like continuous low speed and motion and humidity sensors are becoming convenient and necessary features for ventilation fans in the home. The energy efficiency of the motor of the fan also needs to be up to standards.
Although it may be best to call an electrician to install the ventilation fan in your home, some do it yourselfers may be up to the task. If you choose to install the fan yourself, make sure that you don’t cover the box with insulation when you’re finished. Also, most fans will vent into the roof space but some will require duct hosing to the outside to do so. Choosing between a ducted and non-ducted fan will be something you need to consider when thinking about the job the fan is being used for and the ease of installation.
There are many benefits of ventilation fans and they are becoming a necessary feature in modern homes. It’s a good idea to be familiar with these benefits and know where it might be most advantageous to locate your fan. Ventilation fans can make for a cleaner and healthier atmosphere in your home.