What's lurking in your bathroom?

Between the sink, shower and toilet, there’s so much water running through your bathroom every day. That’s why, if not properly ventilated, bathrooms are a breeding ground for mold, mildew, fungus, rust and decay. Water is perhaps the most damage-causing element on earth, and bathroom moisture is no different. So, what’s lurking in your bathroom?

Water damage can be caused by high humidity and condensation from long hot showers, splashing in the bathtub, leaks and poor caulking. Excessive moisture can lead to airborne mold spores, structural damage, peeling wall paper, ruined fixtures, blistering paint, and mold and mildew, which could ultimately affect your health.

The combination of moisture and heat occurring in your bathroom causes humidity, which is the perfect climate for mold spores to grow. This ideal environment forms every time you shower or bathe in warm or hot water. Mold spores may go undetected at first and can spread quickly if not managed. Cooler dry air will reduce the moisture problem and help prevent mold from taking hold.

Excess moisture can also ruin expensive fixtures and cabinetry by encouraging rust and surface buckling, while providing a breeding ground for mold. Don’t discount discoloration on walls. Many homeowners dismiss odd coloring, wrinkling or softness on walls. Pay attention to excess moisture before it causes damage.

The best place to start?

Ventilating your bathroom with the proper ventilation fan will exhaust excess moisture and keep it drier. Even better, models with built-in condensation sensors will automatically turn the fan on when humidity is detected. And if your current fan is old, noisy and ineffective, installing a new fan is much less costly than restoring a damaged bathroom.