Venting enclosed room ?

Posted by James on October 23, 2009, 5:18 pm

We have a vacation cabin in the remote mountains. This place was built
many years ago, and this county is so remote, not much attention is paid to
building codes, etc.

I have a very small bathroom adjacent to an upstairs bathroom, that was
built as an after-thought. It is real nice, but it has always had a
problem. It has NO ventilation. It is **fully** enclosed, except for
the door, which leads off our bedroom.

Because the bathroom has no ventilation, it stinks, not so much from human
use, but from mice droppings/ dead mice that get trapped in the walls, etc.
I know that if I could air it out, it would be 100% better.

I have thought of a small window. I know that would allow it to air out,
and would do the trick. Yet, that is a bit costly, and would not "match"
the exterior lines of the house.

I have also thought of a ventilation fan, but I know nothing about them.
Are they really, really, effective ? I know they usually ventilate
through a ceiling vent, but I would prefer not to go through my roof. Can
they be vented horizontally, with a hole on a side wall? Most
importantly, would a good exhaust fan do as well as having a small window
that I could open from time to time ?

There is another possibility..... on the single door on this small bathroom,
there is a transom area, currently covered with paneling. I could
physically install an exhaust fan there, but of course it would be blowing
out into the bedroom. The bedroom has plenty of windows, and thus is
well-ventilated.

Some of my ideas or comments may sound like I am a greenhorn, and I am.

I will appreciate constructive ideas and comments. I suppose one of my
main questions is how well an exhaust fan would ventilate this small
bathroom, especially compared to a small window.

(Please note: Although I want things to be safe and effective, there is no
worry about building codes here).

Thank You !!

James

Posted by terry on October 23, 2009, 6:16 pm

> We have a vacation cabin in the remote mountains. =A0 This place was buil=

> many years ago, and this county is so remote, not much attention is paid =

> building codes, etc.
> I have a very small bathroom adjacent to an upstairs bathroom, that was
> built as an after-thought. =A0 It is real nice, but it has always had a
> problem. =A0 =A0It has NO ventilation. =A0It is =A0**fully** =A0enclosed,=

except for

> the door, which leads off our bedroom.
> Because the bathroom has no ventilation, it stinks, not so much from huma=

> use, but from mice droppings/ =A0dead mice that get trapped in the walls,=

etc.

> I know that if I could air it out, it would be 100% better.
> I have thought of a small window. =A0I know that would allow it to air ou=

> and would do the trick. =A0Yet, that is a bit costly, and would not =A0"m=

atch"

> the exterior lines of the house.
> I have also thought of a ventilation fan, but I know nothing about them.
> Are they really, really, effective ? =A0 =A0I know they usually ventilate
> through a ceiling vent, but I would prefer not to go through my roof. =A0=

Can

> they be vented horizontally, with a hole on a side wall? =A0 =A0Most
> importantly, would a good exhaust fan do as well as having a small window
> that I could open from time to time ?
> There is another possibility..... on the single door on this small bathro=

om,

> there is a transom area, currently covered with paneling. =A0 I could
> physically install an exhaust fan there, but of course it would be blowin=

> out into the bedroom. =A0The bedroom has plenty of windows, and thus is
> well-ventilated.
> Some of my ideas or comments may sound like I am a greenhorn, and I am.
> I will appreciate constructive ideas and comments. =A0 =A0I suppose one o=

f my

> main questions is how well an exhaust fan would ventilate this small
> bathroom, =A0especially compared to a small window.
> (Please note: =A0Although I want things to be safe and effective, there i=

s no

> worry about building codes here).
> Thank You !!
> James

Interesting post. But if cabin is in the remote mountains does the
outside appearance of one small extra window matter very much; if at
all?
Also since it is a remote area one assumes that some sort of generator
(intermittent availability of power etc.) is used to provide
electricity. Since the possible use of a fan is mentioned, is whatever
electrcity available regular North American 115/230 volts or some
other type such as 12 volts from a battery/wind charger etc. In which
case something using say a computer or ex-motor vehicle 12 volt fan
could be employed?
Since no building codes almost anything that works and is sensible and
safe could be used?
Here, in this part of Canada electricity is available in many
organised 'Cabin areas' but in remote regions, sometimes only a few
miles from a town/city there is none.

Posted by charlie on October 26, 2009, 1:59 pm

> We have a vacation cabin in the remote mountains. This place was built
> many years ago, and this county is so remote, not much attention is paid
> to
> building codes, etc.
> I have a very small bathroom adjacent to an upstairs bathroom, that was
> built as an after-thought. It is real nice, but it has always had a
> problem. It has NO ventilation. It is **fully** enclosed, except for
> the door, which leads off our bedroom.
> Because the bathroom has no ventilation, it stinks, not so much from human
> use, but from mice droppings/ dead mice that get trapped in the walls,
> etc.
> I know that if I could air it out, it would be 100% better.
> I have thought of a small window. I know that would allow it to air out,
> and would do the trick. Yet, that is a bit costly, and would not "match"
> the exterior lines of the house.
> I have also thought of a ventilation fan, but I know nothing about them.
> Are they really, really, effective ? I know they usually ventilate
> through a ceiling vent, but I would prefer not to go through my roof. Can
> they be vented horizontally, with a hole on a side wall? Most
> importantly, would a good exhaust fan do as well as having a small window
> that I could open from time to time ?
> There is another possibility..... on the single door on this small
> bathroom,
> there is a transom area, currently covered with paneling. I could
> physically install an exhaust fan there, but of course it would be blowing
> out into the bedroom. The bedroom has plenty of windows, and thus is
> well-ventilated.
> Some of my ideas or comments may sound like I am a greenhorn, and I am.
> I will appreciate constructive ideas and comments. I suppose one of my
> main questions is how well an exhaust fan would ventilate this small
> bathroom, especially compared to a small window.
> (Please note: Although I want things to be safe and effective, there is no
> worry about building codes here).
> Thank You !!
> James

Posted by James on October 26, 2009, 7:14 pm

thanks Peter and Charlie for these comments and advice....

James

Posted by RBM on October 23, 2009, 6:22 pm

> We have a vacation cabin in the remote mountains. This place was built
> many years ago, and this county is so remote, not much attention is paid
> to building codes, etc.
> I have a very small bathroom adjacent to an upstairs bathroom, that was
> built as an after-thought. It is real nice, but it has always had a
> problem. It has NO ventilation. It is **fully** enclosed, except for
> the door, which leads off our bedroom.
> Because the bathroom has no ventilation, it stinks, not so much from human
> use, but from mice droppings/ dead mice that get trapped in the walls,
> etc. I know that if I could air it out, it would be 100% better.
> I have thought of a small window. I know that would allow it to air out,
> and would do the trick. Yet, that is a bit costly, and would not "match"
> the exterior lines of the house.
> I have also thought of a ventilation fan, but I know nothing about them.
> Are they really, really, effective ? I know they usually ventilate
> through a ceiling vent, but I would prefer not to go through my roof.
> Can they be vented horizontally, with a hole on a side wall? Most
> importantly, would a good exhaust fan do as well as having a small window
> that I could open from time to time ?
> There is another possibility..... on the single door on this small
> bathroom, there is a transom area, currently covered with paneling. I
> could physically install an exhaust fan there, but of course it would be
> blowing out into the bedroom. The bedroom has plenty of windows, and thus
> is well-ventilated.
> Some of my ideas or comments may sound like I am a greenhorn, and I am.
> I will appreciate constructive ideas and comments. I suppose one of my
> main questions is how well an exhaust fan would ventilate this small
> bathroom, especially compared to a small window.
> (Please note: Although I want things to be safe and effective, there is
> no worry about building codes here).
> Thank You !!
> James

>You can get bathroom fans that vent directly through a wall , or through a
>side wall via the rooms ceiling, provided that the framing is going in the
>correct direction.Personally, I think it would be healthier, if you could
>close up whatever access the mice have into the bathroom walls

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