Bathroom fan

Immigrant · #1 01-17-2019, 08:20 PM

With the kids getting older they went from taking a bath to taking a shower. Loooong showers. I also like looong hot showers. I took the flow restriction gadgets out of the shower head.....because life is too short to have a low flow, luke warm shower. The result is a lot of moisture in the bathroom. I make sure the air exchange is running full bore, and the furnace fan is on. So a lot of air moving in the bathroom (bathroom has air exchange “vent” on the wall), but I still notice water streaks on the walls sometimes
I was contemplating an exhaust fan, but I would have to replace the air that the fan exhaust for it to be efficient. My house is air tight..... so air tight that when I run my range hood extraction fan, and open the man door from the house to the garage, I can hear the wind whistle through the garage doors. ( I solved that problem with a separate air makeup fan of equal CFM connected to the switch of the range hood fan)

What is a good solution to my problem. Because even if my house leaked a lot of air the bathroom door is closed restricting air to the exhaust fan making it inefficient.

What do the AO experts think?

spoiledsaskhunter · #2 01-17-2019, 08:43 PM

take shorter/or cooler showers...…….you aren't a brain surgeon, right?

Immigrant · #3 01-17-2019, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spoiledsaskhunter

take shorter/or cooler showers...…….you aren't a brain surgeon, right?

If they can figure out a way to land a remote controlled buggy on Mars, there should be a modern solution to my first world shower condensate problem....

Ken07AOVette · #4 01-17-2019, 08:53 PM

Buy an evac fan that kicks on at a preset moisture level. Carwashes have them must be available.

fordtruckin · #5 01-17-2019, 10:42 PM

If it makes you feel any better the house I rent doesn’t have a fan in either bathroom and I have water streaks all over the walls. If it was mine yes I’d fix it but since I pay a dirt cheap rent I will open a window and live with it.

barbless · #6 01-17-2019, 11:04 PM

Told ya. You will get the answers. Now you decide

barbless · #7 01-17-2019, 08:54 PM

You will get suggestions from all sorts here and there are a lot of members here that can help.The one from me, no expert at all by no means, but will be like Captain Obvious, crack the bathroom door open a bit. Maybe a little more humidity in the house, plants might like it. As long as it's not too excessive it should not peel the paint off the walls. Then if too much, dehumidify. Would have to actually see the structure and layout of your humble abode to be more specific on how to ventilate. I'll probably get ripped a new one for this

Just a suggestion and no price $$$. Hope you can fix your quandary.

Fish along · #8 01-17-2019, 09:08 PM

Maybe put a vent through the outside wall ,something you can open and close manually.

CaberTosser · #9 01-17-2019, 09:25 PM

At home I have the push button fan timers in every bathroom, so a person can have the fan going after they're finished showering and can still be drying the room when they're left the house. Another option is a humidistat fan timer.

Immigrant · #10 01-17-2019, 09:49 PM

I appreciate the replies. But my concern is this. If I blow 90CFM air out of the house I need to replace the air @ 90 CFM. Otherwise the fan will not “move” air and starve. I read a lot of reviews about fans not working right and the steam is not exhausting. I suspect it is because of lack of air make up? But I could be wrong. And will the hot moist air not condensate on the cold duct in the attic, causing water to drip back in the bathroom or accumulate in the duct?
(I have been looking at the motion sensing fans, where you can set a timer to go 10,20,30min after detecting motion)

MrPants · #11 01-17-2019, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Immigrant

I appreciate the replies. But my concern is this. If I blow 90CFM air out of the house I need to replace the air @ 90 CFM. Otherwise the fan will not “move” air and starve. I read a lot of reviews about fans not working right and the steam is not exhausting. I suspect it is because of lack of air make up? But I could be wrong. And will the hot moist air not condensate on the cold duct in the attic, causing water to drip back in the bathroom or accumulate in the duct?
(I have been looking at the motion sensing fans, where you can set a timer to go 10,20,30min after detecting motion)

Proper install of the exhaust vent in the bathroom and you will have no issues of condensation (hard vents pipe and insulation). You ideally want your house to have positive air pressure, but if your concern is replacing the air then just crack a window during showers.