Bathroom fans aren’t just for odors. Their primary purpose is to decrease moisture in bathrooms. New sensors and timers can keep your rooms’ humidity at a level that controls bacteria, mildew, mold, and viruses.
How Traditional Bathroom Fans Work
Bathroom exhaust systems have a ceiling fan connected to ductwork that leads to outside ventilation. Older bathroom fans may be noisy – in fact, if they’re too quiet they probably aren’t working.
Most bathroom fans are controlled by a wall switch. Usually, you turn it on as you exit the bathroom and forget to turn it off until much later. The exhaust fan should be on for about 20 minutes following toilet or shower use. If you leave it on too long, ball bearings inside can lock up which could cause the motor to overheat. That’s a fire hazard you want to avoid.
Bathroom Fans Can Reduce Bacterial Growth
There are ways to control bacterial levels in your bathroom. In addition to frequent cleanings, close the toilet lid when you flush. If your toilet is in the same room as your sink, store your toothbrushes in a cabinet. Exhaust fans can’t completely eliminate moisture-related bacteria.
Your bathroom fan may not be working if you have:
- Ceiling/wall moisture stains
- Frequent frost on windows
- Metal corrosion
- Mold
- Peeling wallpaper/paint
- “Uncomfortable,” heavy air quality
Humidity sensors not only “clean-up” your air; they also save money by lowering energy use. People with frequent allergies or illnesses are likely candidates for home humidity sensors.
Humidity Sensors: How They Work
The sensor unit is a “hygrometer.” It measures and reports air temperature and moisture levels. Those measurement ratios are called “relative humidity” and impact your comfort level.
- Capacitive sensors use metal oxide electrical components.
- Resistive sensors use salts and ions to measure electrical resistance and reactance.
- Thermal sensors conduct electricity using dry nitrogen and ambient air (the ratio of nitrogen to oxygen) sensors.
Any electrical appliance installation should be managed by your local electrical contractor. It’s not worth the risk of fire or damage and can void your insurance policy. Plus, installing a basic bathroom fan is a time-consuming and difficult job. (Don’t try this at home.)
Installing a humidity sensor is assuredly not a DIY (do-it-yourself) job. They must be calibrated on a 9-point curve system. A professional must adjust the voltage deviation.
Humidity sensors should have an accurate rise time and fall time for voltage output. This is known as “response time.” A DIY bathroom fan installation could be essentially worthless if the sensor is out of sync and you don’t know it.
3 Seasons for Allergies; 13 Weeks for Flu
We only have 4 seasons and three of them are high in allergens. This year, the flu season (normally 13 weeks) is taking longer to dissipate. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is important to keeping allergens at bay and controlling the transmission of viruses.
“It’s difficult to predict how (the flu virus) will behave,” says LiveScience, “But even if you can’t predict what will happen, you can prepare for it.” There are
IAQ Important to Health and Comfort
Good indoor air quality and clean water top the list of property owner requirements. Homeowners and commercial businesses want comfortable, clean air. Replacing your bathroom fam with a humidity-sensing appliance can be your ticket to better health, too.
Now is a good time to schedule that home improvement project you’ve been putting off! If you have questions about any type of electrical installation, please contact the professionals at Turn It On Electric.
