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I live in a townhouse built in 1982 and I have two full baths and one half. I think I need to install new fans. I have a pretty bad mold/mildew problem in the main full bath that my family all uses for showers/baths. We turn the fan on after we use the shower but I really don't think it's effective anymore.
Can I just purchase a new fan at HD or Lowe's? Can I install it or do we need an electrician? What do I need to know about the fans?
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Rank: Newbie
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Bath fans are rated in Cubic Feet Per minute (CFM) and CFMs determines how fast the air exhausts and is replenished from your bath.
They are also rated in sones which is a relative measure of loudness.
Bulding codes regulate the minimum CFMs a bath fan can be and it is usually 50 CFM when used intermittantly....20 CFM if the fan runs constantly.
The higher the CFM rating the better the fan is at removing odor and moisture, so normally one wants a higher CFM fan.
Larger CFM fans require larger exhaust ducts, normally 4" diameter. Smaller fans use only 3" diameter duct. This could pose a problem if you try to add a larger CFM fan to an existing 3" duct. The two simply will not join together properly nor exhaust as intended.
It is a good bet you current fans simply are not powerful enough to remove moisture quickly enough.
Most bath fan motor housings, the part that goes up in the ceiling, measures about 7 by 7 inches square.
This makes it easy to replace units and it normally does not require an electrician.
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