Don’t sweat with ductless fans
Your bathroom is one of the more moist rooms in your home. If you have a smaller space, it means that you might not have traditional ductwork. Instead, you could have ductless bathroom fans. Our guide helps you understand what they do, the benefits of using them, and whether ductless fans remove moisture from the air.
As their name implies, these fans don’t connect to your home’s HVAC ductwork. They work similarly to exhaust fans in that they expel air up through the fan installed in the ceiling. From there, they use a charcoal filter to weed out respiratory irritants before circulating the air back into your bathroom.
You usually find ductless fans in bathrooms without tubs or showers. For them to be up to building code, you must also have a window. While the fan does a good job of keeping air circulating, leading to a more comfortable environment, the window will aid in helping to remove moisture from the air.
Bathrooms are havens for moisture, so you need something to circulate air to prevent mold growth. That’s why you need some form of a bathroom fan. In many homes, you’ll find these located above your sink or toilet. To use the exhaust fan, all you need to do is flip the switch, like turning on a light.
What is an exhaust fan? It’s responsible for pulling air up through the ductwork. In turn, it removes odors, moisture, and other air particles from the room. However, in smaller bathrooms, there might not be room to install the ductwork, though you’ll still need air circulating to prevent mold growth. This is where ductless bathroom fans come in.
Ductless fans range in price from $20 to a few hundred, depending on the size and capabilities you want. Additionally, you’ll need an electrician to install one. Labor costs for electricians can vary from one contractor to another, with the average cost being around $350 for one project.
There are several benefits gained from having constant airflow in your bathroom, like:
Cheaper to install: When compared to the cost of a whole-house fan, ductless bathroom fans will be far less expensive to install and maintain.
Mold reduction: Since you have a constant flow of air, it prevents mold from growing. When paired with a window, you can reduce moisture growth in the bathroom, providing the one-two punch that’ll keep mold growth at bay.
Keeps your air clean: When you use ductless fans, they pull air through a charcoal filter, removing respiratory irritants, unfriendly odors, and even smells from cleaning products.
More comfortable environment: Having a constant airflow makes your bathroom feel more comfortable and inviting.
While they improve airflow and remove odors from the air, they don't reduce the moisture on their own. That is why building codes state that you need a window, as opening a window can allow warm, moist air to travel out of your home.
In essence, ductless bathroom fans don't work like the rest of your HVAC system, which pulls warmer air in the ductwork to recondition it, removing the warmer molecules before depositing the air back into your home. You need a window or door to do some of that work for you with a ductless bathroom fan.
Bathrooms are prone to moisture based on use and design. That said, you don’t want moisture levels to creep above 50%, as this can result in respiratory and structural issues. When a room becomes too moist, it welcomes mold growth. The presence of mold can cause a bevy of respiratory problems.
On top of this, excessive moisture in your bathroom can cause damage to its structure. Water and excess moisture growth can damage your walls, doors, vanities, and much more. Therefore, you’ll want to do everything you can to reduce moisture in your bathroom. Along with installing ductless fans, you can do the following:
Use a dehumidifier: A dehumidifier draws the vapors from the warmer air in your bathroom and converts them into liquid. In turn, you have a much more comfortable bathroom that can work with your ductless fan to keep your moisture levels low.
Convert to a whole fan system: If you plan to add a shower or tub, it makes sense to add this to your existing ductwork or, if you’re doing a complete overhaul, have a whole fan system installed. Doing this allows air to travel in your ductwork from your home’s furnace or air conditioning system through the vents into your home. Just remember to have your ducts cleaned once every five years or so. The average air duct cleaning cost is $380.
Consult the pros: HVAC technicians are pros at coming up with solutions that lower the moisture in your bathroom while reducing energy usage. They can troubleshoot problems like how to stop condensation on air vents and design new systems incorporating your bathroom into the design. Moreover, your local duct installer can help you devise creative ways to hide your ductwork.
