Bathroom ventilation without a window can be a bit tricky, but with a few helpful tips & DIY ventilation ideas — you can get rid of unwanted moisture without breaking the bank.
Before we get started, let’s go over why it’s important to ventilate a bathroom.
A bathroom with no ventilation or moving air will eventually lead to a build up of moisture and humidity, which creates mold.
Excess moisture from your shower steam can lead to mold growth. If left unchecked, it can cause damage to your walls, the interior of your bathroom, and possibly your health.
According to the CDC, “exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin. Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions.” So when it comes to mold, it’s best to take care of it early — before it becomes a big problem.
Luckily, there are plenty of bathroom ventilation solutions that you can do quickly and easily do to help ventilate a bathroom without windows.
1. An exhaust fan is the easiest — but most expensive way — to eliminate excess moisture in a windowless bathroom.
An exhaust fan will do wonders for your bathroom, especially one without a window.
They help pull the moisture out of the air, which helps keep your bathroom cool, dry, and prevents mold in the long term.
Not only will an exhaust fan take care of excess moisture, it will also help eliminate odors, help prevent mirror fog, and reduce rust on metal surfaces inside your bathroom.
Exhaust fans have an intense installation process — to the point you’ll probably have to hire an expert to do so — but it’s the king of kings for ventilating a windowless bathroom.
2. If an exhaust fan isn’t working — or you don’t have one — try using a dehumidifier to clear out some of the excess moisture.
A dehumidifier can act as a source of ventilation for a steamy bathroom without windows or a bathroom without exhaust fan. Installing a dehumidifier will suck humid air out of the area and blow back dry air — lowering the humidity of the bathroom and preventing excess moisture from building up.
Dehumidifiers tend to be a little expensive, especially if you need one for a larger bathroom that is showered in frequently. But maybe it’ll do the trick for a small, personal bathroom.
Just remember that most dehumidifiers need to be emptied, so if you live in an already-humid climate, you will need to empty your dehumidifier much more frequently.
3. The cheapest way to reduce moisture in a bathroom without windows? Wipe down your walls after you shower.
After you’re done showering, water droplets collect on your bathroom walls. Eventually, those water droplets will evaporate into the air, increasing the humidity levels and moisture content in your bathroom.
But! You can reduce a lot of the moisture in your bathroom by simply wiping down your shower and surrounding surfaces after you’re done. It’s a tedious process, but it’s simple and can help reduce excess moisture in a bathroom without windows.
4. Use an air purifier to move air throughout the bathroom and help reduce the buildup of new & existing mold particles.
Air purifiers are great for any room, but especially a bathroom. They help move air around — which not only decreases excess moisture buildup, but helps eliminate bad odors and captures tiny mold particles that already exist in your bathroom.
Personally, I use the VEVA 8000 Air Purifier in my bathroom and bedroom. It has 3 speeds and comes with a removable base, so it can stand alone or be set on a desk or nightstand.
5. It might sound weird, but try drying towels outside your bathroom — especially in the summertime.
Towels hold onto a tremendous amount of moisture. As they dry, all of that moisture evaporates into the air. So, if your bathroom isn’t ventilated properly or already has a humidity problem, then it’s probably best to let your towels hang dry somewhere else. You might even find that your towels smell better and last longer drying outside.
6. Do you already have an overhead light? Maybe try swapping that out for a ceiling fan.
Another way to help ventilate a bathroom without windows is through the use of a ceiling fan. Although a ceiling fan will not help eliminate moisture from the air —like dehumidifier and exhaust fan — they will still help ventilate your bathroom by circulating the air.
To help maximize the effectiveness of a ceiling fan, simply keep the bathroom door open when you’re showering.
7. Which leads us to our next and final tip: keep the bathroom door open when you’re showering.
A simple, but effective way to help reduce the moisture content of your bathroom is to keep the bathroom door open. Allowing air to freely flow from one room to another — especially if you have windows already opened in nearby rooms — will greatly reduce excess moisture in your bathroom.
It might be weird or awkward to shower with the bathroom door open, but give it a try and I’m sure you’ll notice a big difference in the moisture levels when you’re done.
Final Thoughts: When it comes to reducing moisture and humidity in a bathroom without windows or a bathroom without exhaust fan — I’m not going to lie, it can be tricky at times. But it’s not impossible! To recap, here’s all of our helpful tips:
- Run an exhaust fan inside your bathroom.
- Use a dehumidifier to eliminate excess moisture.
- Wipe down your walls when you’re done showering.
- Try using an air purifier to move & help clean the air.
- Dry your towels outside your bathroom.
- Install a ceiling fan.
- Keep the door open when you’re showering.