Most people haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about the exhaust fans in their home, particularly if they came installed and function easily at the flip of a switch.  But if you’ve ever found yourself experiencing a moisture or odour problem, there’s a good chance that the professional who comes in to investigate will have a lot to say about your fans, especially if you’re not using them efficiently – or even worse, not at all.  Kitchen and bathroom fans are a vital part of your home’s ventilation system, skillfully reducing the possibility of insidious mold growth as well as the damage that humidity can cause to building materials.  Removing offensive cooking odours and bacterial growth greatly improves indoor air quality, so fans also play an important role in keeping you and your loved ones healthy.  Be sure to watch your fans in action to note any red flags – fans that don’t seem to be moving much air, are too noisy, and house a high-wattage bulb.  It’s probably time to update to an energy-efficient, quieter model, particularly if your home is decades old and has the original fans.  Look for a fan in the correct size range for your space and one that has replaceable parts.  A final word to the wise:  in the bathroom, it’s always a good idea to run the fan for at least a few minutes after showering to greatly reduce the residual humidity.  Paying attention to your fans and keeping them well maintained and up to date will ensure a comfortable, safe, and enduring indoor home environment.

Photo by Immo Wegmann on Upsplash