When to Replace a Bathroom Exhaust Fan
Ontario bathroom exhaust fans — the workhorses of bathroom humidity and odour management that run every time someone showers — are one of the most important and most underappreciated pieces of home infrastructure. An inadequate or failing exhaust fan directly causes the bathroom moisture accumulation that leads to mould growth, paint failure, and the humidity-driven deterioration of bathroom surfaces over time. Knowing when to replace (not just clean) a fan is worthwhile knowledge for Ontario homeowners.
Signs a Fan Needs Replacement
- Excessive noise: New bathroom fans are remarkably quiet (modern fans are rated at 0.3–1.0 sones, near-silent). If your fan sounds like a small aircraft engine, it is almost certainly undersized for the bathroom, worn out, or both
- Age over 15 years: Fan motors degrade over time. A 20-year-old fan running at 80% efficiency provides meaningfully less ventilation than its rating
- Bathroom still fogs after showers: If the mirror stays fogged for more than 10 minutes after a shower with the fan running, the fan is inadequate for the bathroom volume (the standard recommendation is 1 CFM per square foot of bathroom floor area)
- Visible deterioration: Yellowed plastic, damaged grille, or the fan visibly rattles or vibrates
Modern Fan Features Worth Upgrading To
Modern exhaust fans offer features that meaningfully improve humidity management: humidity sensors that automatically run the fan when humidity exceeds a set level (and turn off when it drops), motion sensors, built-in LED lighting, and heat lamp combinations. The Energy Star rating indicates efficiency. An electrician installs a replacement fan in 1–2 hours; the typical cost in Ontario is $150–$350 including the unit.