5 Benefits of Using Exhaust Fans in Your Home

Exhaust fans are not standout appliances in the home but they have a crucial role to play. While they do a steady job and mostly go unnoticed, it’s hard to imagine using your shower or cooktop without one.

The most important factor is that exhaust fans improve ventilation in your home. This is particularly important during the extremes of summer and winter, as most people keep windows and doors shut when they’re heating or cooling the home.

Exhaust fans are crucial in the kitchen and bathrooms, which often have only a small window or none at all. They greatly improve indoor air quality in those spaces.

An exhaust fan can also be handy in a laundry, particularly if you regularly use a clothes dryer, which can cause a build up of condensation. Another space that can benefit from an exhaust fan is the garage, which can often do with some fresh air if it’s regularly locked up.

Let’s take a closer look at choosing the right exhaust fans for your home and five of the key benefits that you’ll appreciate.

The capacity your exhaust fan needs to have depends on how many times the air in the room needs to be replaced per hour. In areas that get very steamed up, such as the kitchen and bathroom, experts recommend that the air should be replaced with fresh air 20 times in an hour.

Therefore, it’s important to know the cubic metres (m³) of the room in question. That’s a simple calculation – length x width x height. For example, if the room is 3m long x 2m wide x 3m high, the result is 18m³.

If the air needs to be replaced 20 times per hour, multiply 20 by 18. The result is 360m³/h. Be sure to consult with an exhaust fan specialist when picking exhaust fans with the capacity you need.

There’s plenty on the market to choose from when it comes to exhaust fans. It just depends on what your personal needs and budget are.

Here’s a brief look at the types of exhaust fans that are available:

• Ceiling exhaust fan – Ceiling exhaust fans are commonly used in bathrooms. A ceiling exhaust fan is usually installed in a room that is not adjacent to an outside open space, so the air must be channelled through an exhaust duct in the ceiling. Ceiling mounted exhaust fans are so effective at reducing humidity because steam rises.
• Wall-mounted exhaust fan – This type of exhaust fan is usually installed in a wall directly opposite an open area. It is designed to suck smoke, steam, grease and foul air out of the home.
• Inline exhaust fan – An inline exhaust fan is mounted inside, or connected to ducting, and is used for extraction purposes. These fans are used to dissipate heat, moisture and stale air from large rooms.
• Window exhaust fan – Window exhaust fans are designed to fit neatly into a window space. A window exhaust fan is usually reversible so it can be switched between in and out modes.
• Rangehood exhaust fan – A rangehood is designed to remove steam, smoke, odours and gases from the kitchen when cooking. Generally, the unit is mounted on the wall above the stove and the air is vented through the wall. These fans can be duct-mounted or recirculated.
• Exterior exhaust fan – This type of exhaust fan is situated outside. It draws air inside the home and extracts used air. Ideal for those who want to eliminate noise inside the home.

Exhaust fans are crucial for ventilation through the home. They serve multiple purposes that improve the quality of air that you breathe.

Here are five of the main benefits:

1. Exhaust fans remove odours – One of main benefits of exhaust fans is removing unpleasant odours from the bathroom and kitchen. It helps to leave the room with a cleaner atmosphere for the next person to use it. Kitchen exhaust fans are particularly important for this purpose.
2. Reduce humidity – This is the main function of bathroom exhaust fans. A humid bathroom with dripping walls not only damages paint but also creates an unpleasant atmosphere for personal hygiene. A humid bathroom is also the ideal environment for mould to develop in. These are generally ceiling exhaust fans and they are crucial to any bathroom.
3. No more foggy mirrors – Everyone’s experienced the frustration of foggy mirrors in a bathroom. An exhaust fan is crucial to removing the steam and moisture from the air so that mirrors can’t fog up. Getting ready for the day ahead is so much easier without the hassle of having to wipe down wet, foggy mirrors.
4. Remove airborne contaminants – By removing airborne contaminants, exhaust fans are beneficial to people with respiratory problems. In doing so, the fan also prevents the growth of mould and mildew.
5. Stop smoke alarms activating – There’s nothing more annoying than a smoke alarm which activates every time you use your stove top or take a shower, which steam can do. It’s important not to place a smoke alarm too close to either space, but good ceiling mounted fans should eliminate any chance of steam or cooking fumes setting off a smoke alarm.

Don’t forget that it’s also important to regularly clean exhaust fan blades and filters. Much like an air conditioner, they work best when they’re kept clean and well maintained. This is a simple enough task, but make sure the device is turned off before removing the cover.

If you’re unsure about cleaning exhaust fans yourself, be sure to ask for help from a professional electrician the next time you’re having any electrical appliances serviced or repaired. It’s always worthwhile to ensure all exhaust fans are working efficiently to keep your home’s air clean and healthy.

If you want to improve air circulation in your home and you’re looking to install ceiling exhaust fans, wall exhaust fans or window exhaust fans, contact the experts at Mr Emergency today.

Please note: This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.