The different types of ceiling ventilation are ceiling fans, bathroom exhaust fans, and attic exhaust fans. Ceiling ventilation is required to keep the interior of the structure climate controlled while still allowing warm air to escape outside. This type of ventilation is most often used during the summer months or in areas that remain warm all year since the ambient temperature is typically hotter than desired. The air conditioning system merely blows cool air into the room and the ceiling ventilation removes warm air. Ceiling ventilation helps reduce energy costs by reducing the amount of air that needs to be cooled.
Ceiling fans typically hang from the center of a room and are operated by electricity. This type of ceiling ventilation works by spinning the air currently in the room to provide additional circulation. In the winter, ceiling fans rotate clockwise, which cycles the rising warm air throughout the room. In the summer, ceiling fans are set to rotate counterclockwise, so the air is pushed down and provides a breeze.
Another type of ceiling ventilation is the bathroom exhaust fan. There are two basic ways a bathroom exhaust fan works. One type is a centrifugal fan which pumps air out using centrifugal force. The other type is a propeller or axial fan. This is the most common type of bathroom ceiling ventilation and works by pulling the air out of the room using propeller style blades and a pump.
The primary reason for using a bathroom exhaust fan is to remove the humidity which forms while showering. Too much humidity can lead to mold problems, so the exhaust fan is used to dispel the moisture in the air. The air pulled out of the bathroom is vented either directly to the outside through the roof or in the case of buildings with an attic, the air moves through air ducts in the attic then out of the roof.
Attic exhaust fans are a type of ceiling ventilation used in conjunction with other forms of ventilation in the structure and on its own. Attic exhaust fans operate as part of the structures electrical system and work to circulate rising warm air either to the outside in the summer or back through air vents in the winter. Attic exhaust fans also work to reduce humidity by continuously circulating the air. This prevents humidity from building up and causing mold, mildew or foul odors.
