From the Seattle Times:
The purpose of the bathroom fan is to ventilate the moisture normally generated by bathing or showering. When moisture is directed to a cool, closed attic, it will condensate back to a liquid and soak the wood framing and insulating materials. Mold and decay is a major concern in damp attics.
Normally, the bathroom vent fan is located near an outside wall of the home where the bottom of the roof system is closer to the attic floor. The fan will direct all the moisture to one spot on the roof's sheathing where a dark stain of decay or mold is often found. When an attic has loose-fill insulation, the airflow from the fan will create a void in the insulation, leaving a bare spot on the attic side of the bathroom ceiling. The non-insulated spot is now cooler than the remainder of the ceiling, and condensation naturally forms in the cooler areas. An unvented fan can cause as much damage as an unattended roof leak.
The kitchen fan is intended to remove odors and moisture from the kitchen, and it also needs to be vented to the exterior of the home. In modern homes, the kitchen vent fan is located in a hood above the gas or electric range. Over the years, grease and oils will accumulate inside the fan hood, which becomes a major fire hazard. If the fan is vented to the attic, a cooking fire can soon spread to the entire attic through the vent for the hood.
A range fan must vent through approved metal pipe all the way to the exterior of the home. Whether vertical through the roof or horizontal through a wall or foundation, the range fan must vent to the outside.
- Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. View more of his articles at the Seattle Times.
If your home is not vented and you would like to know how the lack of proper ventilation has effected your home's air quality... Turtle Clan Environment Testing follows the IAQA, IESO, AMIAQ Council and AIHA recommendations for testing indoor environments with mold contamination.
Their Level I Environment Site Investigation provides standardized procedures to be used in the evaluation and characterization of suspected mold colonization.
These activities include:
-Non-invasive preliminary site investigation
-Temperature and humidity analysis
-Identify visible and accessible conditions
-Recommendations for further evaluation/action
Level II Environment Site Analysis involves Level I investigation plus a visual, non-invasive inspection of the residential structure with sample collection and data interpretation to rule out sources of moisture and/or mold contamination.
These activities include:
-Sampling suspected areas of mold colonization
-Interpretation of the laboratory analysis
-Present reports supported by analytical data
-Mold assessment for real estate transactions and insurance investigations
This tells you how much mold have and what kind it is. We take samples either by swabs, tape, or bulk to identify surface mold and air samples. How much is in the air? Are you breathing it? Since mold is naturally occurring everywhere in nature, all homes and businesses have some mold. An outside air sample is used as a base for comparison.
For comprehensive, cost-effective answers contact us today at 914-361-9703 or turtleclanmold@aol.com.
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