Bathroom exhaust fan energy costs versus savings:
This article explains how using a properly-installed bath vent fan can save on building energy costs. We also discuss air to air heat exchanging vent fan use. This article series on bath vent fan installation explains why bathroom vent fans are needed and describes good bath vent fan choices, necessary fan capacity, and good bath vent fan and vent-duct installation details.
InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?
Our photo at page top illustrates location of a bathroom exhaust vent over the shower stall - a location chosen to maximize the effectiveness of exhaust of moisture during shower use.
We used a GFCI circuit to assure safety for anyone changing bulbs in this fixture. In additional photographs below we illustrate the duct routing for this bath exhaust.
[Click to enlarge any image]
Sure, when a bath exhaust fan is running to remove unwanted excess moisture it is also removing warm air from the building.
But which do you think wastes more energy: the bath vent fan system shown at page top, venting outside through an insulated duct, or the box fan stuck in the window and blowing indoor air outside - shown at left?
Air to air heat exchangers and exhaust fans are available that can move air into or out of a building while keeping the heat (or cooling) indoors, but we suspect that such equipment is not cost-justified in a private residence.
An air to air heat exchanger ventilator may be very appropriate for a public building, large dormitory bathroom, or gymnasium.)
But using a properly vented bathroom vent fan wastes less heat than is lost by opening a bathroom window.
To remove the same amount of bathroom moisture as will be handled by a bath exhaust fan a window would need to be open considerably longer than the bath fan must be run.
...
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
On 2017-05-03 - by (mod) -
The cost of electric to run continuously running bathroom fans is about $35 per year.Good point, Anon, see this article on BALANCED VENTILATION
that avoids un-wanted heat loss or heat gain when ventilating a building.
On 2017-05-03 by Anonymous
The cost of electric to run continuously running bathroom fans is about $35 per year.
The much larger cost is the reheating or re-cooling of replacement air because of the air continuously exhausted.
...
Continue reading at BATHROOM FAN HEAT RECOVERY or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see these
BATHROOM FAN ENERGY COST at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
Or see this
Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.
Search the InspectApedia website
Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.
Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.
References for Bathroom Vent Fan Installation
Fantech in the United States 10048 Industrial Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66215 Phone: 800.747.1762; 913.752.6000 Fax: 800.487.9915; 913.752.6466 www.fantech.net; info@fantech.net
Fantech in Canada 50 Kanalflakt Way, Bouctouche, NB E4S 3M5 Phone: 800.565.3548; 506.743.9500 Fax: 877.747.8116; 506.743.9600 www.fantech.ca; info@fantech.ca