The Daily Ping

FROM: Kate
DATE: Saturday November 27, 2004 -- 12:58:32 am

My parents' house does, but not my room at school. It makes it very awkward sometimes... especially on burrito night. So yes, I find them important. Bathroom fans will definately be a factor in my next place of residence.

FROM: Chris [E-Mail]
DATE: Saturday November 27, 2004 -- 10:17:12 am

Bathroom ventilation is required by building code. Bathrooms with an exterior window often aren't required to have a fan, although most will.

FROM: TrishinOmaha
DATE: Saturday November 27, 2004 -- 1:49:41 pm

Like Chris said - the codes here in NE are that you have to have a fan if you don't have a window to the outside. So two of my bathroom areas have fans - one doesn't - the one with the window. I agree, br fans certainly have their purpose! I also have a ceiling fan in my bedroom that I run year-round - I kind of like the "soothing" noise it makes and it helps me fall asleep - weird, huh?

FROM: jk
DATE: Sunday November 28, 2004 -- 12:24:32 am

I have a very hard time sleeping without white noise and will often run the bathroom fan in hotel rooms to mimic the lullling whirrrr of my air filter. 2004, the Year we get to know Too Much about Joan.

FROM: Paul
DATE: Sunday November 28, 2004 -- 9:39:23 am

Our current place has no fan in the bathroom, and it also has no windows. So let's just say we use candles, often.

But some sort of ventilation is definitely, definitely necessary.

FROM: Joseph
DATE: Monday November 29, 2004 -- 2:04:42 pm

Paul

Bathroom fans are relatively easy to install, and they don't have to vent to the outside--they can vent into the attic and still be within code in most states. Who cares if the attic smells pooey? It's even arguably benficial as a strong human smell might chase the rats away and keep birds from nesting in the eaves.

All you need to do is run a wire from the light to the fan and the fan will come on with the light. The fan just sits in a hole you cut into the sheetrock between some joists. If you have an old plaster wall with battens or screen, well, that's a little more work. If your bathroom is all tile, more work still.

Besides blocking sounds and carrying away odors, fans are also good to have in the bathroom to help clear the bathroom of moisture during a shower; it helps to keep the steam off of the mirror so that you can shave right away.

I don't have a fan in the bathroom of my house right now. But we rent, so I'm not going to install a fan, either. We do have a window, but mostly matches do the grunt work. I would prefer a fan that came on automatically, as guests seem to have a hard time finding the three packs of matches (on the tank, on the sink and in the mirror). Our bathroom is located on the second floor just off the stairs. Poopy odors seem to be heavy and travel downwards into the living room. One guest in particular will always use the bathroom, neglect the matches, and a few minutes later, begin to notice a bad odor in the living room while looking at everyone else accusingly, like one of us farted or something. What a jerk.

FROM: Paul
DATE: Monday November 29, 2004 -- 2:39:48 pm

Bathroom fans are relatively easy to install

Not if you're renting, they aren't. :)

FROM: Joseph
DATE: Wednesday December 1, 2004 -- 1:20:05 pm

The trick is not to tell the landlord that you increased the property value by installing a poo fan until you've moved out.

Some bathrooms just aren't set up well for a fan, unfortunately. A first floor bathroom, with a finished room above, and joists running parallel with the exterior wall is a pain in the ass--unless you like the idea of a big vent stack going up through the nursery from the bathroom beneath.

The better way, in such cases, is to install the fan horizontally in an exterior wall. Of course, now you've got to deal with whatever exterior materials are on the house. Clapboards, fine, no problem. Brick? Stucco? Now you've got a bigger problem for the do-it-yourselfer. If you don't have an exterior wall, and the joists run parallel and no attic space to vent to, well, you're just s---- outta luck. Just make sure the matches are easy to find and get used.

FROM: Ken
DATE: Wednesday April 6, 2005 -- 12:14:00 pm

Venting your bathroom fan to the attic is utterly rediculous. Venting the odors to the attic is no big deal but why would anyone want to put moisture in the attic when so much effort is given to getting rid of the moisture from there. (Roof vents, whirlybirds, vented soffit, gable vents) When someome gives advise it would be a good thing if they knew what the hell they were talking about. People search the Internet for correct answers.

FROM: Paul
DATE: Wednesday April 6, 2005 -- 12:20:11 pm

When someome [sic] gives advise [sic] it would be a good thing if they knew what the hell they were talking about.

I'm curious where you learned that the Daily Ping was a great resource on bathroom fans. I mean, we've got toilets and Oreos covered but that's about it, I think.

People search the Internet for correct answers.

Have you read any Pings in dumb-ass mode?

FROM: Joseph
DATE: Wednesday April 6, 2005 -- 4:47:14 pm

Well, Ken, not only did I do my research, but I was a carpenter and a home builder. What are your credentials?

I never said it was the best solution--but if the choice is no bath vent, or bust a hole in the roof or wall, which may also introduce plenty of moisture issues, it sounds to me like you would opt for no bath vent.

But, venting a toilet into the attic and intalling a fan that is to be used only to remove offending odors and not shower moisture will, in most cases, not cause any more problems to a home than, well, sitting there smelling your own shit.

FROM:
DATE: Friday April 8, 2005 -- 11:45:40 pm

Sorry, apparently in Canada we must set our building standards a little higher.
As far as rat control goes we’ve figured out more efficient methods than gassing the little buggers with our own crap.
And…I’m curious about your statement that you WERE a carpenter and home builder …what happened?
Anyways I don’t rent, I own my home so I care about proper construction, installation and maintenance.