5 Benefits of Exhaust Fans in Your Home

The benefits of exhaust fans in your home are many. They are one of the simplest yet most effective ways to improve comfort, safety, and air quality inside your home. Whether installed in the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry area, these fans effectively work behind the scenes to remove excess heat, humidity, odors and other contaminates. Here are five key benefits of exhaust fans in your home:

1. Improves Indoor Air Quality

Exhaust fans pull stale, humid and polluted air out of a room and replaces it with fresher air. In kitchens, range hoods help remove smoke, grease, fumes and other contaminates that happen during the cooking process, while in bathrooms, they eliminate odors and moisture. The laundry room can be a forgotten area when it comes to exhaust fans. A laundry room traditionally has many contaminates including heat from the dryer, moisture from wet clothes, and a buildup of chemicals from detergents and other cleaning products that are typically stored there. By improving airflow, exhaust fans reduce airborne irritants that can trigger allergies or breathing issues.

2. Reduces Mold and Mildew Growth

Moisture buildup is a common problem, especially in bathrooms and laundry areas. Without proper ventilation, condensation can lead to mold and mildew, which not only damage walls and ceilings but also pose health risks. Exhaust fans clear out humidity, which reduces the chances of mold and mildew buildup. It is important that the exhaust fan has enough airflow (CFM) for the room size and operates for the proper amount of time. As a guideline, the fan should operate for at least 20 minutes after a shower – longer depending on the amount of moisture generated and the relative humidity in the room. Exhaust fans with a humidity sensor built into the fan or a fan connected to a wall mounted humidity sensor can be an easy way to ensure the proper amount of ventilation is taking place.

3. Protects Your Home’s Structure

Excess moisture doesn’t just encourage mold—it can also weaken paint, wallpaper, wood, and even drywall. If you are experiencing peeling paint or wall paper in your bathroom or laundry room, the culprit might be there is too much moisture and you either need to install an exhaust fan or upgrade the one that is already there. By controlling humidity, an exhaust fan helps protect your home’s finishes and structural integrity, saving you money on costly repairs in the long run.

4. Increases Comfort

There are two main ways an exhaust fan increases comfort in your home. The first is what is known as local ventilation. This is an exhaust fan installed in a bathroom, kitchen or laundry room to remove contaminates when the room is in use. It will make a bathroom more comfortable by removing the excess moisture, odors and heat. In a kitchen it will remove steam, grease and odors. In a laundry room it will remove excess moisture, contaminates and odors (think about when your children throw their sports equipment in there). The second why to increase your home’s comfort is wholehouse ventilation, which is a fan in a central part of the home that runs continuously, ensuring that there is a constant exchange of stale air with fresh air for the entire home. When sized and operating properly, you will experience a home that just fells “fresher”. When used properly, exhaust fan creates a more comfortable space that you actually want to be in.

5. A Healthier Home

Indoor air quality can have a direct effect on the health of the people living in your home. Poorly ventilated homes are more likely to cause illnesses. Whenever mold or mildew is present and it is being breathed in by the occupants of the home, that can lead to all kinds of health items. Doing everything you can to prevent mold and mildew as well as other contaminates in the home is always going to be the best strategy. The common saying: "Treat the cause, not the symptoms" holds very true. In a past blog post we went a little deeper into this subject and looking at what is called Sick Building Syndrome. You can read that post by clicking here.   

Final Thoughts

The benefits of exhaust fans in your home are many. From increasing your indoor air quality to extending the life of your home, exhaust fans play a key role in maintaining a clean, comfortable, and efficient living environment. For more information about Air King’s solutions for bathroom ventilation, laundry room ventilation and kitchen ventilation, visit airkinglimited.com.

5 Tips to Installing an Exhaust Fan

If you are thinking about or have already started the process of installing an exhaust fan in your home, Air King has a few tips to help you through the process. An exhaust fan is a vital part of your home’s overall indoor air quality, so making sure you have the right product is critical.

Size it Correctly

Exhaust fans measure the amount of air they move in cubic feet per minute (CFM). This is the first step in determining what fan to use. A quick calculation is that you want 1 CFM per 1 square foot. So if your bathroom is 10 feet by 10 feet, you will want at least a 100 CFM exhaust fan. Depending on usage – hotter showers, more frequent use and so forth, you should consider a higher CFM fan to make sure you are ventilating the room properly.

Choose Correctly

There are many factors that go into how to choose the correct product when installing an exhaust fan – size, sound, features and so on. Air King has written many articles in this regard and encourage you to browse through the Blog archive. For this article we want to focus on some of the items that can get overlooked, like certifications. If you are installing the fan over a tub or in a shower stall, it will need a special certification to ensure safety. You will want to look for the statement: “Certified for use in a tub/shower on a GFCI circuit” or a similar statement. The same holds true if you plan on installing the exhaust fan on a wall. There are special certifications for wall mounting. This information is typically found in the product specifications or product description.

Connect it to the Correct Ducting

The size of ducting connecting to the fan can have significant performance implications. Most residential homes have either 3”, 4” or 6” ducting. It is ideal to use a fan that matches the ducting of the home or is able to transition to larger ducting. For instance, if you are installing an exhaust fan with a 4” duct, you want the ducting in the home to be at least 4”, larger is fine, but if you have smaller ducting in place, it will greatly reduce the performance of the fan.

Use the Correct Ducting

This could probably be a part B in the Connect it to the Correct Ducting section, but we think it is important enough to have it's own point. There are a few different types of ducting available and they all can have different effects on how your exhaust fan operates. For the most part, you will be using existing ducting and as we mentioned above, it is important to match the ducting of the exhaust fan to the size of the existing ducting. In cases where you will be installing ducting, there are a few things to consider. Generally, there are two types of ducting – flexible and rigid. When possible, rigid ducting is the best to use as it provides an ideal path for the air to flow out of the home. Flexible ducting provides an easier installation but can decrease the performance of the fan depending on the length and type. When comparing the two types of ducting, think of a car driving down a smooth road (rigid ducting) and how easy it is. Now think of the same care driving down a bumpy road (flexible ducting) and how the car needs to go slower and the ride is not as comfortable. Both ducting gets the job done, but one is definitely better than the other. In some installations, flexible ducting is the only option.

Seal it Correctly

An item that regularly is overlooked when installing an exhaust fan is sealing the fan. No matter how precise you try to be when cutting the opening into your ceiling or wall for your exhaust fan, there is almost always going to be gaps around it. These gaps can allow unwanted drafts to come into the room from the attic or wall cavity. An easy solution is to seal around the housing. If you have access to the fan housing through an attic space, using spray foam or a bead of caulk all the way around the housing onto the ceiling material will be your best option. If you only have access at the room level, using caulk around the edge of the housing will be your best option as using spray foam might be a little difficult to control.

With a little planning and knowledge of your home, installing an exhaust fan can be a fairly easy project. Air King offers a full line of ventilation solutions that can help the overall indoor air quality of your home. To learn more about Air King exhaust fans, visit airkinglimited.com.

Choosing an Air Circulating Fan

When choosing an air circulating fan, there are many options available to you. A good starting point is to determine the type of air circulating fan that will meet your needs the best, then determine the size, features and other considerations. In general, there are four types of fans – Pedestal Fans, Mounted Fans (including window fans), Floor/Pivoting Fans, and Table/Personal Fans. These are general categories and there is some overlap. For instance, smaller floor fans might be considered table/personal fans. Let’s take a look at the different categories of fans and compare the pros and cons of each.

Pedestal Fans

A pedestal fan consists of a fan head mounted on a pole with a base. In most cases you are able to adjust the height and many also include the ability to pivot the head up or down as well as an oscillation feature.

Pros

Portability: Pedestal fans can be moved from location to location.

Flexibility: With a pivoting head and height adjustments, you can direct the airflow to where it is needed the most.

Options: Pedestal fans are available in sizes ranging from a 12-inch commercial grade fan for a small room or business all the way up to a 30-inch industrial grade fan for large areas like loading docks and factories.

Cons

Floor Space: Pedestal fans take up a bit of floor space and might not be ideal for tight spaces or heavy traffic areas.

Mounted Fans (Wall, Ceiling, I-Beam, Window)

Mounted fans, as the name suggests are fans that are mounted to a wall, ceiling or other structures in commercial, industrial or residential locations. Most include the ability to pivot the fans head up or down and some have an oscillation feature.

Pros

Space-Savings: Mounted fans free up floor space and are ideal for tight spaces or spaces with traffic.

Coverage: With a pivoting head, you can direct the airflow to where it is needed the most.

Options: Mounted fans are available in sizes ranging from a 12-inch commercial grade fan for a small room or business all the way up to a 30-inch industrial grade fan for large areas like loading docks and factories.

Cons

Installation: As the name implies, mounted fans need to be mounted. This requires finding a permanent location to install them that is also close to a power source.

Floor/Pivoting Fans

Floor/Pivot fans come in a wide range of sizes and provide an ultra-portable solution to your movement needs. Almost all floor fans include some type of pivoting head that allows you to direct the airflow to where it is needed most.

Pros

Portability: Smaller floor fans are easily carried from location to location while larger fans include wheels, making them very portable.

Options: Floor fans are available in sizes ranging from a 9-inch commercial grade pivoting fan for a small room or business all the way up to a 30-inch industrial grade fan for large areas like loading docks and factories.

Cons

Floor Space: Floor fans take up a bit of floor space and might not be ideal for tight spaces or heavy traffic areas. Their smaller size makes them easy to bump into.

Table and Personal Fans

These fans are typically smaller in size and designed for residential or commercial use. Most include some type of way to direct the airflow to the needed areas such as a pivoting or oscillating head.

Pros

Portability: In general, table and personal fans are very lightweight and easy to move from location to location. Many include a carry handle.

Compact: Their smaller size allows them to fit in more places than other fans.

Options: Table and personal fans are available in sizes ranging from 6-inches to 16-inches for commercial or residential usage.

Cons

Limited airflow: Table and personal fans are designed for targeted airflow for one or two people.

The number of options available to you when choosing an air circulating fan is a good thing as it will allow you to find the best fan for your specific need. Hopefully in this article we have been able to give you the ability to work through the options available, making that decision a little easier. For more information on Air King commercial and industrial grade fans, visit airkinglimited.com and click on the Air Circulating Fans tab at the top of the page.

Is a Bathroom Exhaust Fan Upgrade Worth It?

As a manufacturer of ventilation products, you might expect us to automatically say “yes” to a bathroom exhaust fan upgrade. But before we jump to conclusions, let’s explore why upgrading your bathroom exhaust fan could be a smart move—and when it might not be necessary.

Why Consider Upgrading Your Bathroom Exhaust Fan?

There are typically two main reasons to upgrade:

1. Your current exhaust fan has stopped working.
2. Your current fan is underperforming—too loud, too weak, or just outdated.

Let’s take a closer look at both scenarios.

Your Exhaust Fan No Longer Works

If your existing fan is no longer operational, this is a great opportunity to decide whether a simple replacement is enough—or if it’s time to upgrade.

Here are some questions to ask:

Did the old fan meet your needs?

If so, a one-to-one replacement might do the trick.

Is an upgrade worth the cost?

Sometimes, for just a bit more, you can get a fan that’s quieter, more energy efficient, or has additional features.

Will installation require changes?

Upgrading might mean enlarging or reducing the size of the opening in the ceiling or wall. Consider whether you're comfortable with DIY or if hiring a professional makes more sense. Labor for replacing a fan typically runs between $250–$400, depending on complexity—not including the cost of the fan itself.

Your Fan Isn't Performing Like It Should

Maybe your fan is technically working, but it’s not working well. Here’s how to diagnose and decide:

Noise Level

If your fan sounds like a jet engine, it may be time for a quieter model. Fan noise is measured in sones:

0.5 sone or lower – Nearly silent
1.0–2.0 sones – Quiet operation
3.0–4.0 sones – Noticeable, like a conversation
4.0+ sones – Loud and potentially disruptive

Ventilation Power

If your mirror constantly fogs up or you're seeing mold or mildew, chances are your current fan isn’t providing enough airflow. Fan strength is measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute). A general rule of thumb is 1 CFM per square foot of bathroom space. So, a 10' x 10' bathroom needs at least a 100 CFM fan. But that’s just a starting point. You may need more power (up to 20% more) depending on:

• How frequently the shower is used (how many people utilize it)
• Water temperature (more steam = more ventilation needed)
• Local humidity levels

A good solution to ensure proper ventilation is a humidity-sensing fan, which turns on and off automatically based on the room’s humidity.

Energy Efficiency

Most bathroom fans don’t consume a lot of power, so energy savings alone may not justify an upgrade. But if you're replacing the fan anyway, it’s smart to look for ENERGY STAR®-certified models, which offer efficient performance with lower long-term energy use.

So, Is a Bathroom Exhaust Fan Upgrade Worth It?

In many cases, yes. Whether your current fan has stopped operating, is too loud, or is just not cutting it in terms of ventilation, an upgrading can provide:

• A quieter, more comfortable bathroom
• Better protection against mold and mildew
• Smarter energy use and potentially lower bills
• A more automated and convenient user experience

Now that you have all the information, it might be the perfect time to go beyond a basic replacement. To learn more about Air King exhaust fans, visit airkinglimited.com. Also read through our other blog posts on CFM and sones.

Is a Dirty Exhaust Fan a Good Thing?

It might seem like an odd question, but is a dirty exhaust fan actually a good thing? The simple answer is no, but to answer the question fully, we need to look at it a little differently.

What is the Purpose of an Exhaust Fan?

The main purpose of an exhaust fan is to improve the indoor air quality of the room by removing moisture, odors and contaminates from the living space. This means that particles are going to be traveling through the exhaust fan and ducting.

How is a Dirty Exhaust Fan a Good Thing?

A dirty exhaust fan, or one that has a build-up of dirt on it is a good thing in the sense the fan is operating correctly and effectively. As contaminates travel through the fan, they are inevitably going to build up on the inner workings on the fan. Most commonly on the fan blade and the fan grill. In its simplest form, this means the exhaust fan is doing its job and removing the unwanted contaminates from the living space. If you exhaust fan runs for any length of time (months/years) and you never need to clean it, it means one of two things. One, you live in a home that has no dust, no contaminates, no pets, and probably no people. Second, the fan is not being used as much as you think it is or should be.

How is a Dirty Exhaust Fan a Bad Thing?

Before the screaming, yelling and rebuttals start pouring in – yes, we agree that a dirty exhaust fan is not a good thing for the overall function of the fan. As dirt and debris builds up in and on the exhaust fan as well as the ducting, the performance of the fan is going to reduce. You will typically see a decrease in the amount of airflow the fan is able to produce and an increase in the sound level. As we mentioned before, the most common place for dirt build-up is on the fan blade in the form of what is going to look like lint. This build-up on the fan blade adds weight and causes the motor to have to work harder. This not only can reduce the effectiveness of the exhaust fan; it can also shorten the motor life. The same holds true with build-up in the other areas such as the grill and especially the ducting. The narrower the openings become, the less effective the exhaust fan will be.

What Should I Do?

The best way to combat a dirty exhaust fan is to have a regular cleaning schedule. Most maintenance can be done by the average homeowner. There are however a few steps to take to reduce the chance of injury or damaging your fan.

First and foremost, consult the cleaning instructions for your particular model. While most cleaning instructions for exhaust fans are similar, there are differences. Fans with a light will have slightly different instructions than one without. In general, never use water or liquid cleaning products directly on the fan motor. For parts you can use a liquid cleaner or soap/water to clean, always makes sure they are completely dry before reinstalling and restoring power.

Second, always make sure to turn the power off to your exhaust fan before starting any cleaning or maintenance.

Third, if you are unsure of how to clean your exhaust fan, consult a HVAC or Electrical professional. Duct cleaning service can also be another resource to consult.

While we will admit, asking the question – Is a Dirty Exhaust Fan a Good Thing, is a bit of a leading or trick question, it does prove that it is doing what it is supposed to be doing. As we outlined, taking a few steps to ensure your fan is clean and properly maintained will benefit your home’s indoor air quality as well as the life of your fan.

Learn More

To access Air King user manuals, including maintenance instructions, visit the User Manuals section of the Air King website. To learn more about Air King exhaust fans, visit the exhaust fan section of the Air King website.

Using Flex Ducting with an Exhaust Fan

A question that comes up often is if flex ducting can be used to exhaust a fan. The simple answer is yes, but it is a little more complicated than that. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of flex ducting:

PRO – Easier to Install

There is no doubt about it, flex ducting is a lot easier to install than rigid ducting. With rigid ducting, you have to plan out the system and account for elbows as well as needing to bind the ducting together with tape or adhesive. Flex ducting allows you to run one continuous line right to the wall or roof cap without much thought.

PRO – Easier for Room Level Installations

When installing an exhaust fan in a location that does not have attic assess, using flex ducting is an almost must. It allows you to make the connection to the fan’s duct collar without needing to cut a larger opening (and then repairing) in the ceiling.

PRO – Cost Effective

Generally, it will be less expensive to use flex ducting over rigid ducting, especially when you add in the extra labor involved.

CON – Lower Performance

When using flex ducting, one of the biggest issues is reduction in performance of the exhaust fan. The ducting will reduce the airflow and increase the sound level. The issue comes from the ridges in the ducting. Air gets “trapped” in them and causes a higher static pressure (read our earlier post here regarding static pressure to learn more). Higher static pressure causes the motor to work harder, which causes it to run less efficiently and louder.

CON – Not Meeting Specifications

This is a continuation of the lower performance. In situations where a specific airflow (CFM) is required, the lower performance from the ducting could cause the fan to fail inspection. For instance, if you have a fan that you expect to perform at 50 CFM but you are using flexible ducting, it might only produce 40 to 45 CFM. That might put you below the required airflow and cause the fan to fail.

CON – Less Durable

Typically, flexible ducting is constructed of either thin plastic or thin aluminum. Both will deteriorate over time or are very easily punctured. Rigid ducting is either going to be PVC plastic or thicker wall metal and should last a lifetime.

While using flexible ducting has a time and place, we do not recommend it in situations where rigid ducting can be used. Rigid ducting will almost always provide, better ducting, better performance and longer life. To learn more about Air King exhaust fans, visit airkinglimited.com. Also, read through our many blog posts regarding ducting, static pressure and choosing exhaust fans.

Garage Ventilation

Garage ventilation is something that is very easy to overlook but can have a big impact on your home’s overall indoor air quality. Let’s first look at what is happening in a typical garage and what contaminates are being produce. 

Automobiles

The biggest source of contamination in a garage is almost always going to be a car. While a gas-powered car will certainly produce larger amounts of contaminates in the form of carbon monoxide, electric cars also produce contaminates. Automobile contaminates include off gassing from tires, dirt and debris, fluid or oil leaks and so forth.

Storage

For many, the garage is a storage area for everything from a lawn mower to holiday decorations to paint to spare gasoline and the list goes on. Many of these items produce some unwanted contamination into the air.

Trash

A lot of homes store their trash cans in the garage. While the contaminates mostly are smells (that chicken container that has been sitting for three days in a hot garage), some can be a little more aggressive like oily rags, old cleaners, painting supplies and so forth.

Heat

In the summer months garages can get really hot. That heat can stay trapped in the garage and warm the entire home.

Now that we have identified what is happening in the garage, we need to talk about the types of garages. There are basically three different type of garages and all of them have varying ventilation needs.

Attached Garage with a Room Overtop (FROG)

This is a garage that is integrated in the design of the home. Some refer to them as FROG or Front Room Over Garage. Builder’s use this style to maximize space and add square footage. This building type requires the highest amount of garage ventilation. The reason being that contaminates from the garage can penetrate into the living spaces in multiple ways. Depending on the construction and the amount of contaminates building up in the garage, they can seep into the room above the garage through the floor. Hopefully the home was built with barriers in place to prevent this but unfortunately some are not or those barriers fail over time. A second way contaminates can enter the home is through the attached walls. As with the room above the garage, if not properly constructed, contaminates can seep through the walls. The third and most common way that contaminates can enter the home is through the connecting door. This happens each time the door is opened and a person walks into the home. The process is going to allow contaminates to come in with the air or brought in when people enter. Depending on how tight the door is sealed, this could also be a source where the contaminates are seeping into the home.

Standard Attached Garage

A standard attached garage is going to have all of the same possible points of contamination as the FROG just without the room overtop. While this has the potential to produce less infiltration into the home, there is still a need for garage ventilation.

Detached Garage

A detached garage is one that does not have any connection to the home’s main living areas and therefore will not be a direct source of contamination into the home. The contaminates that you need to be concerned with are only when occupying the space – especially if it is used as a workshop or a place that is occupied for extended times.

Now that we have identified the contaminates and the type of garages, why and how do we to ventilate them? Many argue that a garage is typically not as well sealed as the main living areas so there is significantly more natural ventilation than the rest of the home. An additional argument is that opening the garage door provides all the ventilation that you need. Both points are valid however the amount of contaminates that can build up in a garage may not be able to be properly ventilated through these means. Think about when you walk into the garage after it has been closed for a while. Is there a strong scent of gas, rubber, paint, chemicals and so on? Those are all the contaminates that are building up and are possibly seeping into your home (for attached garages) or you are breathing in when you are in the garage.

Having some type of exhaust fan system in place is the best solution for mitigating these contaminates as well as any heat buildup. A solution like the Air King EWF-180 is designed to vent contaminated air directly out of spaces like garages. If you don’t want a fan running continuously, adding a timer is an option. With a timer you can have the fan operating during the times of day where the most contamination buildup is occurring. While opening widows (if present) is helpful, it will not provide the airflow you need for proper garage ventilation. Having windows open in your garage could also be a security risk. To learn more about Air King’s ventilation solutions, visit airkinglimited.com.