Exhaust Vent and Fan

The sink, tub and especially the shower introduce a lot of moisture into the bathroom. Therefore, proper ventilation of a bathroom is essential to prevent mold, rot or other moisture-related problems from developing.  Exhaust fans and vents are installed to ventilate and remove the moisture in all new bathrooms.  The fan unit is usually ceiling-mounted and directs the air through the vent to the exterior of the house.  Though required on new homes, older houses often make use of a window instead of exhaust fans to ventilate the bathroom.

A common problem with exhaust fans and vents is when the vent does not terminate on the exterior of the building. Improperly terminated exhaust vents usually terminate in the attic area, which causes excessive moisture in the attic. The excessive moisture in the attic can lead to moisture-related problems such as wood rot in the structural components of the home.

Some exhaust fans integrate normal incandescent or neon lighting with the fan housing. Some even integrate infrared heat lamps to warm the bathroom.