How do I know if my bathroom exhaust fan is working properly?

A simple way to test your fan’s suction is to take a single square of toilet paper and place it along the fan vent while the fan is running. If the fan holds up the toilet paper, then the fan is working properly.

How do I test my bathroom exhaust?





Turn the fan on and put the toilet paper up to the fan. The fan should suck the toilet paper up and it should stay attached to the fan. If it doesn’t, all your fan is doing is making noise. It’s not actually sucking out any of the humidity.

Why is my bathroom exhaust fan not pulling air?

Check if the exhaust duct is connected to the fan; it could be disconnected. Check the flapper in the exhaust vent hood; it could be jammed. Check if your fan is actually a recirculating fan, which filters out odors instead of removing moisture.

How can I improve my bathroom ventilation fan?

Options for Fixing Bathroom Ventilation Problems

  1. Install a recirculating fan in a half-bath. This type of bath fan doesn’t exhaust air to the exterior. …
  2. Reduce noise with an inline fan. …
  3. Vent under the floor to get outside. …
  4. Build a soffit to hide ductwork. …
  5. Install commercial ductwork.


Do bathroom exhaust fans need to be cleaned?





Bathroom exhaust vent fans need to be cleaned regularly. It’s very important to have an exhaust fan that’s vented to the outside in every bathroom in your home, and to run it whenever you shower or bathe and for 15-20 minutes afterward to remove excess moisture that can cause mold and mildew to form.

How long do bathroom exhaust fans last?

about ten years

Routine cleaning will help extend the life of your exhaust fans, but they won’t last forever. The average life of a bathroom exhaust fan is about ten years, and kitchen hood fans tend to hang in there a little longer at around 15 years.

Does a bathroom vent need to be vented outside?

Bathroom fan installation requires outside ventilation. If the fan isn’t accessible through an attic, you’ll need to vent through a sidewall of your house. These types of ducts and vents are typically installed when the house is built. If you don’t have a duct leading to a sidewall vent, call a professional for help.