Understanding Bathroom Ventilation Technology | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House home technology expert Ross Trethewey teaches host Kevin O’Connor what he needs to know about the latest in bathroom ventilation technology.
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Home technology expert Ross Trethewey and host Kevin O'Connor discuss bathroom ventilation and indoor air quality. The two discuss the different types of exhaust fans and how to automate their ventilation. With a handy prop wall at hand, Ross shows Kevin how automatic switches and outlet sensors can activate exhaust fans remotely for convenience and better breathing air.
Where to find it?
Ross shares how to improve indoor air quality using smart bath ventilation products. Ross explains that modern buildings are now being built to be airtight and because of this proper ventilation is Important to improve indoor air quality. Smart control switches and bath fans are a cost-effective solution to poor circulation in a bathroom.
The products demonstrated by Ross are manufactured by Leviton [www.leviton.com/en], Soler & Palau [www.solerpalau-usa.com/], Fantech [www.fantech.net/], and by Swidget [www.swidget.com/].
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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
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Understanding Bathroom Ventilation Technology | Ask This Old House
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[@pgnehm]

Actually the smart Humidity/Motion switch shown in the episode is this one here: Swidget Temperature, Humidity & Motion + Wi-Fi Control Insert - Works with Swidget Outlets and Switches to measure temperature, relative humidity & detect motion (occupancy/vacancy). $135 for the combo (insert & switch).

[@PS-rr2jt]

Most of my homeowners, not being first time buyers, opted for fans that weren’t really quiet and ran the entire time the light was on. We also insulated the bathroom partition walls to deaden sounds. Nobody wants to be heard using the bathroom.

[@silentlou4375]

But a loud fan can also serve a purpose to mask other more personal sounds that may occur in the bathroom. Might be nice to have a fan with options… quiet & fart fan modes.

[@jeffreysmith4586]

I'd love to see a video on Balanced Whole Home Ventilation Systems. They bring in fresh air and exhaust dirty air at equal parts. Many will also keep the fresh air temperature and humidity very similar to the air being exhausted.

[@johndoe6032]

That's and ERV or HRV. They have videos about those also.,

[@xoxo2008oxox]

The inline fan demo was very helpful! Thank you for including links!

[@dzsink]

Great video again. The fan you have on the table Panasonic, does have motion and humidity sensor built into it and super quiet. We have them in our two bathrooms.

[@rgr3427]

Love it. Not sure on present code here in Florida, BUT at least in 2006 all that was required in a bathroom was a window that “could” be opened for ventilation. These items are what I was looking, (hoping) for, especially the fan that can be placed in the attic with just the grill in the bathroom. The intelligent switches are a plus. Thank you

[@rgr3427]

@@brianglade848 To late, I already own a bunch, but its called a marsh with a river running thru it to the Atlantic Ocean 7 miles away. Thanks anyway 😎

[@susanmitchell4820]

LOVE this info.

[@silentlou4375]

The nice feature of having a very old home equipped with a forced-air geothermal furnace… no need to add fresh air intake (plenty of natural fresh air leaks) and bathroom humidity is drawn into furnace ducting to either add needed heat/humidity thru house in winter or condensed at the furnace.

[@Thorum13]

Great vid. Thanks!

[@c31979839]

That receptacle indoor air quality sensor is pretty cool. I'd bet it costs quite a bit to get it all set up, but for some people/households it would work great. Lots of neat innovations out there.

[@paulct91]

Interesting, and very helpful!

[@blackstyle28]

Super informative. Thank you

[@TMM6900]

Crazy tech

[@c0mputer]

These bathroom sensors should also have a taco night sensor or Indian food sensor. Talk about bathroom air quality!

[@silentlou4375]

Good point and since such cuisine generates nearly as potent belched vapors, these sensors and exhaust fans are needed throughout the entire house.

[@nlvassassin]

This is dope

[@Guardducks]

Pretty cool . Now when your best homie who's always wrecking your bathroom asks hey bro can I use your bathroom, you can safely say yes.

[@janking2762]

Really good advice if you live in a place where it’s drier outside than in, except that much of the US isn’t that place. In my place, DE, opening windows( which my bathroom doesn’t have), works maybe in April and May, late September until maybe November. Feel free to explain to my wife why it’s ok to open windows the rest of the year…hasn’t worked for me in 40 years.

[@anthonyfigueroa7869]

Good 2 know☆☆☆☆

[@RI-uv3lm]

How does this work with mvhr or erv?

[@virgil3241]

I have a central exhaust system in a house I moved into 4 years ago. While when I first moved I didn't like it, because I was used to a fan per bathroom that all operated separately. This one is turned on anywhere, it sucks from all the areas. But now after using it with a central fan, its one exhaust out the side of the house, not 4 separate ones out my roof, so less holes in my roof. Only problme is its low voltage using the furnace as an intake, so I can only use the old school wind timers that tick, but they do the job

[@OGCJ10]

1) do you live up north or down south. 2) since your exhaust is on the side of the house have you had any issues whatsoever vs one that is through the roof ?

[@virgil3241]

@@OGCJ10Is Canada North enough 🙂 We have never had any issues for the almost 5 years we have been here. Its nice to have less roof intrusions, because all my past houses were anything upstairs bathroom wise was exhaust out the roof. This way as welll, in the extreme cold, the exhaust doesnt have any ice build up on the outer portion of the port.

[@mukeshshah7752]

I need make and model of that switch. Please share.

[@XzTS-Roostro]

Johnson Controls had released the JCI Glas™ smart thermostat years ago, which also monitors the AQI both indoors and outdoors. If it detects poor indoor air, it'll turn on the HVAC's circulation fan. Unfortunately, they have discounted the device and its services, so anyone who currently has one will have it downgraded to being the fanciest programmable thermostat.

[@weekendwarrior3420]

I have a problem with standalone humidity sensors. Sometimes the humidity raises in the whole hose because of rain, then this thing kicks in and starts pulling even more humid air into the house. The really needs to be another sensor elsewhere and it should act on a difference, not absolute value.

[@fcscomptech4126]

The Swidget humidity sensor they demonstrate in the video actually uses an averaging algorithm as the comparison baseline that addresses this exact issue.

[@gwmkiwi]

My bathrooms have oversize inline extractors venting to the outside activated by movement sensors in the showers and over the bath tubs. The same set up in the lavatories

[@pgnehm]

Great idea to add motion sensors to the shower... Will do so too!

[@OGCJ10]

1) which in-line extractor did you use ? 2) did you do one for each bathroom or did you connect two bathrooms to one? I’ve seen it done both ways

[@Homebayview]

Awesome information but I can't find the switch or the power plugs in any of the links ....thought leviton was the brand but can't find it yet ...any help is appreciated it...would love to buy them

[@Homebayview]

@@Kevin-mp5of Thank you very much!

[@weekendwarrior3420]

Looks like a Panasonic fan - it's really nice an quiet, and even comes with metal parts to hang it between 2 joists. Buy it.

[@oscarwright179]

Got a link?

[@JM-qy5yd]

You didn't mention anything about the requirement of fresh air intake order for the exhaust system to work correctly? No air in no air out. Thanks.

[@fcscomptech4126]

The Swidget 204060 Timer Switch is a dry contact switch and can be wired to your ERV boost function instead of a fan to trigger an increase in air exchange instead of turning on a fan.

[@mavirek]

What if the fan in all 3 bathrooms are just a metal box with a small fan that blows into the box, but the box doesn’t lead anywhere-the box is just that, a box with just one side open to the bathroom?

[@ellie1543]

What if we can't go up, can we go out the side wall?

[@watchmenpropertyinspection3469]

I like it but concerned with more and more electronics and wifi everything EMF levels (electro magnetic field) are at all time highs. Major issue in homes and society in general. Hope to see episodes on how to protect against that if possible.

[@Aaron-kj8dv]

I bet someone can make something similar for kitchens, when the smoke gets to be too much it just kicks on the fan automatically.

[@oscarwright179]

Links? I need a bathroom fan and a range hood. Looking for the actual links to buy the product. Not links to manufacturers site with links to multiple products with links to varying distributors with links to retailers that may or may not actually carry the product.

[@davidlesley1328]

Excellent, did not know about the sensors

[@silentlou4375]

People have not known stuff for thousands of years. I didn’t know it was possible not to know about people not knowing.

[@davidlesley1328]

@@Kevin-mp5of we all learn

[@kokovox]

The Panasonic fan that you are using in the demo is super quiet and it can pull a lot of air. Big fan = quiet and powerful. No need for inline fan for a bathroom really. The kitchen hood is a different story.

[@JMCote112]

An inline fan for a kitchen hood would great

[@Lou_Mansfield]

Where can I buy that VOC sensor outlet,? And how do I get it to turn on the bathroom fan?

[@fcscomptech4126]

The smart wiring devices in the video are made by Swidget and distributed by Panasonic.

[@Lou_Mansfield]

@@fcscomptech4126 thank you

[@pf5658]

Cool but I just want to know what bathroom fan you guys used for the demo. That thing is as quiet as a mouse.

[@rosstret]

Panasonic “whisper” green is the ceiling in box unit and Soler and Palau TD inline fan is the other

[@pf5658]

@@rosstret Thank you for replying. Much appreciated. 😊

[@Alex.AL_26]

that outlet that senses air quality is far more complex than people think. you need to make sure that outlet and ventilation fan are on the same circuit other wise you have to start running wires

[@fcscomptech4126]

The Swidget IAQ Sensor Insert communicates wirelessly with the Insert in the fan switch to activate it. There are no additional wires to run.

[@JonnyDIY]

What about stink 🤭💩 detecting fan for bathroom? Are those available? 🤔

[@silentlou4375]

I think sonic sensors are superior. There may be air pockets where the stink vapors are absent, but sound travels everywhere… and these sensors could be tuned to the flatulence frequency range.

[@JonnyDIY]

@@silentlou4375 genius!

[@QIKWIA]

How much should a new QUALITY venting unit cost? Thanks 👊🏾

[@mitchdenner9743]

They can cost as low as 50 bucks for a simple on/off inline fan that would have to be ducted and exausted outdoors by the purchaser of course. Or as expensive as a few thousand dollars for an erv/hrv which is a more comprehensive system which would not only exhaust bad air and humidity from the home, but bring in fresh air from outside into the home filtering it and tempering it before dispersing intothe home. They also have better controls and programming to make a more automated system.

[@QIKWIA]

@mitchdenner9743 👀Wow!! The latter price isn't too bad. I was actually expecting it to be more. Thanks Mitch, very good information. I appreciate it.

[@QIKWIA]

@@brianglade848 😂🤦🏽‍♀️🤭😂

[@mitchdenner9743]

@@QIKWIA no problem, Broan actually makes a real nice erv for indoor air quality which I purchased myself and I think I paid 800 or 1000 bucks for. I love it.

[@darshany2d]

Can you cover how to use ERV and HRV ... I'm specifically in Canada our new built came with it but can't find how to use it.

[@rapfreak7797]

It should have been set by the HVAC installer to run automatically

[@A6Legit]

If it's not already set up best bet is googling the model you have and reading the manual

[@rd-ch1on]

@@Kevin-mp5of nah...we keep sending you guys Chinese balloons

[@fcscomptech4126]

The Swidget 204060 Timer Switch (shown in the video) is a dry contact switch and can be wired to your ERV boost function instead of a fan to trigger an increase in air exchange instead of turning on a fan.

[@1252PFC]

Would have been nice to cover ductless vents

[@THEODINOFFICIAL]

I have excessive moisture on walls after shower….. what speed fan would help fix this issue?

[@A6Legit]

Higher than you have lol. Less hot water/leave the fan running

[@DavidShinabarger]

Calculate the size of your bathroom and then get a Panasonic one from Home Depot!

[@THEODINOFFICIAL]

@@A6Legit I like to cook my balls… so yeah there’s that 🤣

[@silentlou4375]

I only get fans that have a setting up to 11.

[@barkbarkatthemoon]

in the winter time I do not want the humidity to be pumped out of the house. I need it inside where the humidity is already too low. additionally i need this exhaust vent pipe to seal closed so that hot air that my heater is working so hard to create does not go flying out of the house. vent fans in bathrooms are for noise privacy, you would not want that fan to be quiet.

[@andrewahern3730]

Um, no everything you said is incorrect. There aren’t codes for bathroom ventilation simply because of odors.

[@marksternweis4598]

We a new fans and lights in the Bathroom

[@RandomVids519]

Ya well mine has none smfh shouldnt be allowed to sell a house “as is”

[@A6Legit]

What'd you expect lol. "As is" means "there's issues"

[@QIKWIA]

Your inspection didn't catch this ..

[@RandomVids519]

@@A6Legit im saying houses should be up to code when selling just like getting a certified vehicle!

[@SomeDudeQC]

What lol who thinks bathroom fans are for odor control?!

[@smurfofsanity]

Me

[@adatshhc]

So basically exhausting technology has not advanced much in the last 30 years.

[@gayan1742]

Yeah in rest of the world, except Japan

[@ryanbentley1965]

Open a window, save thousands

[@rd-ch1on]

Yeah but TOH sponsors will lose millions

[@Brad_R]

Not advisable in winter. Then Richard would need to replace my furnace for one with higher efficiency.

[@silentlou4375]

That’s a greenhouse gas you’re letting out the window. Please use a catalytic converter type window screen.

[@Craigthepope]

Can't do that during hot humid summers or during cold winter nights.

[@tonyjohnson2256]

I agree with opening windows. I've also been in a lot of houses that don't have windows in the bathrooms. If you don't turn the fan on during a shower and leave it on for a while after a shower, It can be like a sauna in there for hours after.

[@avalon449]

Wow, let the wokness begin. What’s next Kevin, gas stoves are evil?

[@thenexthobby]

FFS, it's a video about bathroom venting. Go sell hate and stupidity somewhere else.

[@silentlou4375]

A truly efficient system would exhaust the bathroom to a “natural gas” energy recovery system and fuel the gas stove.

[@CarlosGonzalez-mr5qz]

Wokeness? If you are offended by a bath fan then you have other problems.