Technically speaking an exhaust fan is not a necessity for your Chicago bathroom remodeling project, as long as you have a window that opens. Notice we preface that with technically speaking.

Professionally speaking, an exhaust fan is necessary and here's why.

DO Install an Exhaust Fan in Your Chicago Bathroom Remodeling Project

Your exhaust fan is an essential component in your home's indoor air quality and interior comfort plan. They help to keep your bathroom - and your home - at the recommended humidity level for the season, preventing bathroom and interior wall spaces from developing unsightly - and unhealthy - mold and mildew. Whenever you stabilize humidity, you also help to stabilize interior temperatures.

Here are some of the reasons we hear from clients who don't want to install an exhaust fan in their bathroom remodel - and our responses.

• They don't really do anything, do they? Contemporary bathroom exhaust fans have gotten so efficient, and quiet, that most people don't realize how much they actually do. A high-quality bathroom fan will keep noxious fumes from hairspray, fragrance and other health and beauty products vented out of your bathroom so they don't compromise whole-home interior air quality (without adequate ventilation, your home's air quality can be worse than environmental air quality). Exhaust fans keep condensation from building up on windows and mirrors and prevents bathrooms from being hot and sticky when you're trying to blow dry and style hair, apply makeup and so on.
  
  
• They are ugly. This usually means the exhaust fan is either outdated or mismatched for the bathroom's style. There are a range of designs out there - even for traditional homes. Your Chicago bathroom remodeling team should help you choose an exhaust fan that is the right size, power and look for your finished bathroom.
  
  
• I have a window that opens, so I don't need one. Having an open window is a bonus in most bathrooms, and can also reduce the amount of time an exhaust fan needs to operate. However, that assumes the exterior climate is at the desirable temperature and humidity level. During extreme heat/cold seasons, even a single cracked window compromise the interior comfort of your bathroom and will place an energy drain on your home's heating and cooling system. Also, if humidity outside your home is equal to or higher than humidity inside your home, moisture will simply absorb into walls and ceilings, textiles or other areas of the home, which is a recipe for mold and mildew growth.

There are a few things you can do to enhance the efficacy of your bathroom exhaust fan.

Leave space. Unless you have a steam shower, leave space between shower doors and the ceiling to encourage air circulation. 

Install a fan timer. Most fans don't run nearly long enough. Set the timer for 60-minutes each time you bathe or shower to ensure the bulk of the moisture is removed from the room.

Heat your floors. Installing heated floors helps bathrooms dry up much faster, and they feel great too.

Contact Kitchens & Baths Unlimited to see the exhaust fan options available for your Chicago kitchen remodel.