Home Publisher's Point of View Why You Should Not Take Bathroom Ventilation for Granted

Why You Should Not Take Bathroom Ventilation for Granted

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I have stayed at many hotels during my travels and am always surprised when the guestroom bathroom lacks proper ventilation. I am sure you can relate to this. You get out of the shower and the mirror is all steamed up. You grab the hair dryer, turn it on, point it at the mirror and stand there for a few minutes until you can see yourself again. Chances are, somewhere in that bathroom there is mold growing—probably black mold. Not good for your guests and housekeepers. Not good for anyone.

For those of you with distributed—or spot—ventilation systems (the fan is in the bathroom), you need to pay attention to an article I posted this week that highlights a few of the newest bathroom ventilation systems. (Click here for it.) Having the right ventilation fan will make a huge difference in your energy bill, keep your guests comfortable and satisfied, and significantly reduce opportunities for mold growth.

If your ventilation fans have not been replaced in many years, they may not only be noisy but energy eaters as well. As I learned when conducting research for my article, older fans can use as many as 144 watts. Some of today’s models consume as little as 4 watts. A dramatic difference.

The Upside to Automation

The most important thing I learned from my research is that, if possible, you should keep your guests out of the ventilation fan “on/off” process. In other words, purchase fans with motion sensors. These fans will turn on when the guest enters the room and turn off 20 minutes after the guest exits. As described in my article, the most common scenario in a bathroom—one where there are separate switches for the bathroom light and fan, or one single switch that controls both—is fraught with problems. When there is a separate fan switch, a guest will sometimes forget to turn on the fan. When both the fan and light are controlled by one switch, the fan also runs when the guest forgets to turn the light off.

Some fans with motion sensors also include humidity sensors. The humidity sensor will override the motion sensor when the humidity level in the bathroom is still too high. California’s Green Building Standards Code (CalGreen) now requires humidity sensing in bathroom fans. A great idea.

Improperly vented bathrooms can not only cause issues described above but also impact the overall air-conditioning of the guestroom. Fans left on endlessly will suck air-conditioned air right out of the guestroom, straining your cooling system, reducing its life span, and increasing maintenance-related costs. When there is no fan running, the moist, heated air will raise the temperature and humidity level in the guestroom, also causing the cooling system to run unnecessarily.

Proper bathroom ventilation is all about balance. One more thing: Don’t forget about odor control when you consider new fans. They have got to run long enough to…well, you know…clear the air.

Got any interesting bathroom ventilation fan stories to share? Write to editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

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