Our Tips on Choosing an Exhaust Fan for Your Bathroom

By Steve George

September 7, 2022Industrial Equipment

Naturally, as summer draws to a close and the cooler months approach, we’re thinking more about heating than cooling. Your bathroom’s heating and exhaust system are among the many important factors to take into account. While being warm in the bathroom is essential for your comfort, the combination of warm air and wetness can be disastrous! Therefore, choosing the appropriate exhaust fan is crucial. The following tips may lead you in the process.

The Right Type

Ceiling Exhaust Fans

Ceiling Exhaust Fan in a Bathroom
Source: waypointinspection.com

If you look for efficient ways to ventilate a room, high-quality ceiling extractor fans will eliminate moisture and odours in your bathroom in one fell swoop. As their name suggests, these are ceiling-mounted fans. They exhaust air upward through the ceiling and can be routed to exhaust outside or into the cavity under the roof.

However, there are some considerations to be taken into account before purchasing a ceiling exhaust fan. If you’re replacing the old fan in the bathroom, you must remove it before measuring the size of the replacement hole. The size of the hole, on the other hand, is less important for new installations since you would need to cut a hole in the plasterboard regardless.

Most ceiling fans are now ducted outside, but if your roof area is well-ventilated, you might want to vent into the cavity. If you’re ducting the fan, it’s best to keep the duct run as short and direct as possible. Additionally, ceiling-mounted devices might be 3-1-exhaust, heat, and light or come with a light.

The 3-in-1 fans are quite popular in bathrooms and have an additional function of an integrated heat lamp element which provides the extra advantage of having numerous functions from a single device. This can be wonderful for saving space and elevating your new bathroom look. Heat lamps are a common option for the winter because they are made to deliver heat while you are directly beneath them.

Wall Exhaust Fans

A wall ceiling exhaust fan is especially helpful where there is little ceiling or roof space. It typically consists of an internal motor component connected to an external vent by ducting or tubing. A wall-mounted exhaust fan installation involves a few considerations. You must take the wall fan off and measure the size of the hole if you’re replacing an old fan. It is also vital to gauge the wall’s depth. You merely need to make sure your fan is appropriate for a new installation depending on the depth of the wall.

Window Exhaust Fans

Window Exhaust Fan
Source: buzzfeed.com

Window exhaust fans are frequently utilized in apartment buildings and in individual residences that may have limited roof space. They can theoretically be deployed in any space that needs ventilation. Two segments of window fans sandwich one another through a hole in the glass. This gives you the ability to direct exhaust to the outside while also providing a weatherproof seal. A window fan blows air directly outdoors to assist ventilate a space, typically in kitchens and bathrooms.

The size of the hole will be the most important factor in choosing which window fan to buy. It’s crucial to remove the old window fan before installing the new one so you can precisely gauge the size of the glass hole. Then, you can choose a new fan using this measurement. Also, you will need a glazier to cut the hole in the glass if you are first installing a window exhaust fan.

Ideal Capacity

When it comes to finding an exhaust fan with the ideal capacity, manufacturers often advise having an exhaust fan with a capacity of 10–15 times the room’s air volume-height x width x length. It’s typically preferable to increase the capacity of a fan when it’s being ducted out to counteract air resistance brought on by the duct, bends, grilles, etc.

Calculating the room’s height, breadth, and length as a starting point can help you determine the capacity you need. Multiplying the result by 10 for a standard toilet, 15 for a bathroom, and 20 for a bathroom that creates a lot of steam will give you the capacity in m3/hr. Keep in mind that these calculations are just general guidelines because every circumstance is unique depending on the space and the system being used. If you have any doubts, you better contact a professional than get the wrong capacity for the matter.

Installation Factor

Installation celling exhaust fan
Source: doityourself.com

The majority of bathroom exhaust fans are ceiling-mounted. In addition, some premium exhaust fans also provide the necessary supplies for installation. It is usually advised to have a licensed electrician install any electrical appliances, particularly when doing so in a bathroom.

Picking the proper location for your reliable ceiling extractor fans is equally important. Air must be vented outside, not within, your house. Too many people release warm, humid air into attics and other comparable areas, which only serves to move the issue. To make sure you get the most out of your bathroom fan, you should think about capacity and position when selecting the one.

Ventilation and Noise Considerations

When choosing bathroom exhaust fans, optimum ventilation and airflow are important factors to consider! Cubic feet per minute-CFM is a unit of measurement used to describe the airflow in fans. The bigger your bathroom, the higher the CFM rating you’ll require.

Therefore, estimate 1 CFM per square foot of floor space for restrooms that are 50 to 100 square feet in size, whereas 50 CFM for restrooms that are smaller less than 50 square feet. For larger than 100 square feet, you have to tally the CRM requirement for each bathroom fixture to estimate your needs. Add 50 CFM for each toilet, bathtub, or shower, and 100 CFM for jetted bathtubs.

The majority of individuals enjoy unwinding when taking a bath or shower. Therefore, nothing is worse than having your downtime disturbed by a noisy fan. So, when selecting a new fan, noise level ought to be a top consideration.

Modern exhaust fans are built with premium ball-bearing motors. This makes sure that every model is incredibly silent, enabling you to take pleasure in your downtime. Although some people believe that the more powerful a motor is, the noisier it will be, this couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to some premium fan designs. To give you the best of both worlds, they combine strong motors with extremely silent technologies.

Efficiency

Just like everything in your house, bathroom exhaust fans should be energy efficient as well. Additionally, the latest exhaust fans are more effective than ever. Energy-efficient appliances are better for your energy bills and reducing your carbon footprint. Not all fans are made equal, so it’s crucial to check the wattage to make sure you’re obtaining the highest level of energy efficiency.