Had almost the same thing happen in our last place—spent extra on green board thinking it’d be a silver bullet, but the fan was ancient and barely worked. Ended up with that same musty smell after a year. I’m way more careful now about where I actually spend the money. I wonder if anyone’s tried those window vent kits as a cheaper fix? Curious if they’re worth it or just a waste.
Green board’s great in theory, but yeah, I learned the hard way it’s not magic. We did a bathroom reno a few years back and put in green board plus fancy paint, but skipped upgrading the vent fan to save a bit. Ended up with that same damp, musty vibe after a while. Turns out you can’t really cheat airflow.
I’ve actually tried one of those window vent kits in a powder room—super easy to install, but honestly, it didn’t do much more than crack the window would’ve. Maybe helps if there’s zero ventilation, but it’s not a real substitute for a proper fan. If you’re dealing with serious moisture, I’d say it’s worth biting the bullet and getting a decent exhaust fan. Otherwise, you’re just moving the problem around. Learned that lesson after peeling paint and a couple of moldy corners...
- Gotta push back a bit—my place is pushing 100 years old, and I’ve managed to avoid a fan in the main bath so far.
- I use green board, but I also keep the window cracked year-round. Maybe it’s just drafty old walls helping out, but haven’t had mold issues yet.
- Wonder if the age of the house or how airtight newer builds are plays into this?
- Not saying fans are pointless, but sometimes the “old school” approach with windows and regular cleaning does the trick... at least in my experience.
- Curious if anyone else with an older home finds fans less necessary?
Wonder if the age of the house or how airtight newer builds are plays into this?
Definitely think you’re onto something there. Older homes basically breathe on their own—sometimes whether you want them to or not. I’ve worked on plenty where you can feel a breeze even with the windows closed. Newer builds are sealed up so tight, it’s like living in Tupperware. That’s when fans really earn their keep.
I do see folks with old houses skip the fan and get away with it, but I’ve also seen some gnarly surprises behind tile when there’s not enough airflow. Guess it depends how much you like rolling the dice.
Curious—anyone ever tried one of those humidity-sensing switches in an older place? Wonder if they’d even kick on, or just sit there bored because the air’s already moving...
- Humidity sensors in old houses? Honestly, I’ve put a couple in and they barely ever kick on. The air just moves too much on its own—sometimes you’re fighting drafts more than moisture.
- Newer builds, though, those things are worth their weight. You can practically see the mirror fog up if you forget to run the fan.
- Green board’s fine for basic splash zones, but I’ve seen it get mushy if there’s a real leak or the grout fails. If you’re already opening up walls, I’d go with cement board or one of those waterproof panels. Costs a bit more, but you won’t be cursing yourself later.
- Had a 1950s ranch where the bathroom fan was basically a hole in the wall with a rusty vent cover. Never had mold issues, but man, it was drafty in winter.
- Bottom line: old houses breathe, new ones need help. Green board’s okay, but don’t expect miracles if your ventilation’s not up to snuff.