LESLIE: Cindy in Ohio needs some help with a bathroom vent fan. What can we do for you?
CINDY: Hi. We have a pretty good-sized bathroom; I think it’s about nine by ten …
TOM: OK.
CINDY: … and we have an exhaust fan in the ceiling and we just got a little ceramic heater. And when we run the exhaust fan alone, it doesn’t defog the window or the mirror.
TOM: Right.
CINDY: But when we run the heater it defogs everything and I wanted to know if we should run both of them, because it’s wallpapered, or if we should just run the heater or just the exhaust fan. I don’t know which one to use.
TOM: Well, basic physics going on here, Cindy. When you warm air, it absorbs more moisture. So the warmer that room is with that ceramic heater, the less moisture there is in the air and the less condensation – otherwise known as fog – on your mirrors, so that’s why it’s doing what it’s doing.
Generally, you want to have a good-quality ventilation system that pulls out enough air so that doesn’t happen. I see no reason why you can’t run both together, if you want a little bit of extra heat. So long as you’re not blowing breakers, you could certainly go ahead and do that.
CINDY: OK. And then my wallpaper will be safe?
TOM: I think your wallpaper will be safe either way.
CINDY: Alright. Thank you very much.
TOM: Alright, Cindy. Good luck with that project. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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