# Leaving bathroom ventilation fan on for 2 months **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 7, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447 "2016-01-07T22:08:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/1 "2016-01-07T22:08:02Z")
I’m traveling abroad soon. Could I leave the bathroom ventilation fan on for 2 months nonstop to keep air moving in the apartment, or would that wear out the blades? ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/2 "2016-01-07T22:18:33Z")
What would be the harm in leaving the air still? Unless I had a really compelling reason I would think it’s a waste of electricity. That said, unless the fan was on the old side it should be able to run for 2 months without issue. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/3 "2016-01-07T22:21:04Z")
Could burn out, or short and start a fire? I would leave nothing on for two months. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/4 "2016-01-07T22:46:29Z")
The idea of doing this makes me cringe. I routinely turn off fans and lights that my family leave on. When we leave for a few days I do a walk-thru to make sure everything is off, and even mundane stuff like chargers and those insidious plug-in air fresheners get unplugged. If the fan starts to malfunction or get noisy, I am sure your apartment neighbors will want to have a word with you upon your return. Leave it off and when you get home just open the windows for 15 minutes and you will have all the fresh air circulating you need. Would you leave your lights on non-stop for 2 months? ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/5 "2016-01-07T22:54:47Z")
It won’t wear out the blades, but could wear out the electric motor. Maybe leave a window open just a crack. If you have any sliding doors or windows, you can leave a board in the tracks to keep someone from breaking in. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/6 "2016-01-08T00:07:51Z")
You could but perhaps it is better to let us know why you would want to. There may be better ways of accomplishing your goals. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/7 "2016-01-08T04:26:44Z")
Elaborate way of setting a fire. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/8 "2016-01-08T04:48:28Z")
I’m sure most apartments are not airtight. There will likely be air movement at some level. . ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/9 "2016-01-08T05:05:40Z")
> [@JerrySTL](#): > > It won’t wear out the blades, but could wear out the electric motor. Yeah, I’m trying unsuccessfully to imagine how the _blades_ could wear out. ---
**Author:** ![Richox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@Richox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richox)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/10 "2016-01-08T06:03:59Z")
Strongly not recommended. just a basic google search throws these generic links: > **[The warning firefighters want you to hear about bathroom exhaust fans](https://www.wtvr.com/2015/02/12/bathroom-exhaust-fan-fire)** > > Firefighters issued the warning after they responded to “several fires” that started in ceiling mounted bathroom exhaust fans. [http://www.countrysidefire.com/bathroom-exhaust-fan-lint-is-a-fire-hazard/](http://www.countrysidefire.com/bathroom-exhaust-fan-lint-is-a-fire-hazard/) both a little clickbaity but the message in each is valid and backed up by my experience. These fans normally don’t have a 100% duty cycle, and additionally you would likely not run it if it was making lots of noise when you were home (i.e. when it is on the way out and is likely to get hot or spark). However if you leave it on for 2 months and bug out, you won’t be there to determine if it starts playing up. Yeh, its relatively low likelihood to occur, but it \*is \*within the realms of possibility. Therefore no way would I do this if I was you. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/11 "2016-01-08T06:20:12Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Could I leave the bathroom ventilation fan on for 2 months nonstop to keep air moving in the apartment And the advantage of that would be… ? ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/12 "2016-01-08T06:25:28Z")
Another vote for the “are you nuts?” response. Note to mods: I am NOT suggesting the OP has any mental or cognitive disabilities. the term “are you nuts?” is a shorthand for ‘really bad idea’. Those fans are NOT rated for continuous duty, and leaving them running unsupervised would be a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/13 "2016-01-08T06:29:19Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > And the advantage of that would be… ? Keeps the O2 from getting mossy, kinda like rocks. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/14 "2016-01-08T06:38:23Z")
In an apt it would drive the neighbors mad. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/15 "2016-01-08T06:44:00Z")
I guess setting up a room fan with a timer to go on at intervals is out of the question? ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/16 "2016-01-08T15:55:50Z")
I am also failing to imagine why anyone would want to do this, at the same time thinking it’s a horrible idea to run a fan for weeks that is designed to run for minutes. In addition to the electricity use of the ventilation fan, you would also be steadily sucking the heat out of the apartment (assuming you are in an area that requires heat). It’s a terrible idea for several reasons, and I really can’t think of an upside. Bathroom vent fans are used to remove moisture and unpleasant smells, and are intended to run for 5 to 15 minutes, not days and weeks on end. Please, OP, come back in and tell us the goal. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/17 "2016-01-08T18:06:58Z")
Bathroom fans are designed for intermittent use, not continuous. Leaving it on for that long would likely cause it to overheat, and since it’s not only sucking in air, but also all the dust that’s _in_ the air, you’d be creating a fire hazard. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/18 "2016-01-08T18:56:09Z")
Why not just set the AC to some temperature that you’re reasonably certain will cause it to cycle on and off a few times during your absence? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/19 "2016-01-08T19:47:26Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > I’m sure most apartments are not airtight. There will likely be air movement at some level. At the very least, air will circulate via the ductwork that the bathroom fan is connected to. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447/20 "2016-01-08T19:50:35Z")
Generally when one leaves for any significant length of time, one turns off water, electricity, and gas. Indeed your household insurance likely mandates that you do so. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leaving-bathroom-ventilation-fan-on-for-2-months/742447.md?page=2)