Remove Mold Add a Fan
If you want to remove mold, add a fan, it’s that simple.
And let’s be honest, your bathroom, full of water, steam and moisture droplets, attracts mold like there’s no tomorrow. Because once the steam, or moisture, turns to water and hangs around, you’ve effectively created an ideal for mold spores to collect and grow.
You can of course rely on cleaning products that will remove the spores once you spot them, or you can prevent them forming in the first place, which is by far the best plan of action. And the trick is, to get the moist air out of the bathroom before it has chance to condense and turn into water. Job done; or it is, once you’ve got a good fan in place to rid your bathroom of the steam.
So, what you need is an exhaust fan, which is usually mounted in the bathroom and works by sucking in the moist air and expelling it out through an outlet pipe. And once installed, it should stop those unsightly mold spores from forming in the first place.
Now, this all sounds simple, but whereas there’s no standard sized room, there’s also no standard sized fan. And you might even want to get an integral unit, which handily combines a fan and a light for a very useful piece of kit.
And don’t forget, if you are intent on a bit of DIY and installing the fan yourself, you’re going to have to get an electrician to do the final bit of wiring for you.
First, lets have a quick think about the theory of the fans. Two things to consider when buying a fan; firstly, the amount of air that they can literally shift per minute, and secondly, the noise they make.
So, when it comes to capacity, the fan’s muscle power is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). In other words, how many cubic feet of air can the fan take out of the room per minute. The better the fan, the more air it can move.
As to noise, this is an important consideration. Look for the measure which shows how much noise the fan makes actually taking the air from the room. The better the fan, the less noise it will make.
Right, so first things first, if you intend installing your own fan. Get one that will efficiently move the right amount of air that suits your room size and one that doesn’t sound like an industrial sized wind tunnel.
Once you’ve bought the fan, read the instructions and make sure you take note of all the installation recommendations. Ensure you’re fan comes with an exhaust duct kit, or that you buy one.
This is especially important if it’s a new fan installation, as without it, you won’t be able to get the moisture outside.
Then check you’ve got the right tools. You’ll need a couple of screwdrivers (Phillips and flat-head), a drill and a small saw.
If it’s a new installation, chances are that you will just be able to take the old fan off and replace it with a new one. It might be that you have to drill new holes, but it can make the job quite easy. Don’t forget to get an electrician to complete the wiring for you, as this is safer for everyone involved.
If it’s a new fan installation completely, then it’s a bit trickier. You need to open a hole in the ceiling for the fan to fit and then find a space for the duct kit to fit. The duct kit basically consists of ducting (a flexible tube) that fits onto one end of the fan and then feeds out into the outside air. This might be through the attic, or out of an external wall. Ensure that all spaces around the protuberance are sealed, otherwise draughts will play around with the efficiency of the fan.
And once fitted, your bathroom should be able to breath a lot easier, meaning no more mold, and no more biological experiments growing in one of the most important rooms in your house.
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