The bathroom is the one place that gets most dirty and wet during a given day. The bad odors and moisture in bathrooms can be unpleasant for the users.
Therefore it is ideal if the bathroom gets dried quickly and there is a proper ventilation system to draw out the odors. While several options are available for you, the exhaust fans are the best and most popular choices.
However, there are a couple of things that you should know before installing exhaust fans in your bathroom. This article will help you get a brief idea about the exhaust fans and their importance before installing them in your bathroom.
What are the types of exhaust fans?
There are basically four types of exhaust fans which you could choose depending on your bathroom’s configurations. These types are:
1. Ceiling exhaust fans
As the name suggests, ceiling exhaust fans are mounted on the house’s roof. Ceiling exhaust fans are the most preferred among most householders.
These fans will carry the air upwards through the ducts to the outside. Most individuals tend to vent the ceiling exhaust fans into the attic. However, getting them out outside the home is always better.
This is since your attic is not a temperature-controlled location. Therefore if you leave the vents in the attic, it could get heated and accumulate moisture which could lead to a whole set of new problems.
On the other hand, when installing ducts, ensure it has the shortest distance from the fan to the outside. If the distance is too long, then the exhaust fans’ effectiveness will be minimal.
2. Wall exhaust fans
These are the exhaust fans that are mounted on the walls of the bathroom. This is ideal when there is not enough space on the ceiling to install the ducts.
The wall exhaust fans will be installed on a wall that opens directly to the outside. Therefore this eliminates the need for long ducts.
3. Window exhaust fans
Window exhaust fans are generally used in apartments and places with limited roof space. Basically, window exhaust fans have two parts, which must be sandwiched together through a hole in the window’s glass.
This provides a weatherproof shield while the exhaust fans pull the air directly to the outside. Since window exhaust fans expel air directly to the outside, there is no need for a duct.
4. Inline exhaust fans
The inline exhaust fans are usually placed directly on a ceiling cavity and mounted in-between the lengths of a duct. These fans are usually in a remote location and connect to a duct that ends in a grille that opens into the bathroom.
While the inline exhaust fans are less noisy when compared to the ceiling fans, a single fan can serve more than one bathroom at a time.
These exhaust fans are also ideal when there is not enough roof clearance for ceiling exhaust fans. The extended ducts will expel the air to the outside through an opening on the wall or the roof.
How to pick an exhaust fan according to the size of the bathroom
Did you know that when picking an exhaust fan, you must consider its capacity? Yes, just like buying an air conditioner, you have to match the capacity of the exhaust fan according to your bathroom.
The required capacity of the exhaust fan will depend on the size of the bathroom and the number of air changes required per hour.
Number of air changes
The number of air changes means the number of times all the air in the room is replaced with new air. The number of air changes required in the bathroom will depend on the number of equipment in your bathroom. As a standard, these are the typical number of air changes required for different types of bathrooms and toilets.
- Bathroom with no shower – 6 to 8 times
- Bathroom with a shower – 15 to 25 times
- Toilet – 6 to 15 times
Size of the bathroom
Once you have a clear idea about the number of air changes required, you must measure the size of your bathroom. For this, you must calculate the room’s length, width, and height in meters and multiply them together.
For example, if the room is 2m wide, 3m long, and has a height of 3m, then the size would be 18m3 (2 x 3 x 3 = 18).
Combine the values
Once you have taken both the values, multiply them together to get a rough value of the required cubic meters per hour (CMH) you need when buying the fan. In some exhaust fans, its capacity is mentioned in CFM (cubic feet per minute). In such situations, convert the CMH to CFM.
When buying the exhaust fan, don’t buy a fan below the required capacity. Make sure to buy a fan that is slightly above the required capacity. It is ideal if you could seek help from a qualified person, preferably a licensed electrician, to select the suitable capacity.
Where should you place the exhaust fan?
This is a crucial decision since the place you fit the exhaust fan can significantly impact its efficiency. To get the best performance, consider placing them:
- Directly over or closer to the sources of steam or moisture. In a bathroom, it is ideal for fixing over the shower or between the bath and the shower.
- Place the exhaust vent directly opposite to the source of fresh air.
- If you use a wall or a window exhaust fan, place them as high as possible to catch the rising warm air.
- Make sure that the duct length is as short as possible if you choose a ceiling or an inline exhaust fan. When the duct is too long, the process becomes inefficient.
- It is for the best if you don’t end the air vent in the attic. It is simply moving the problem into another room. Let the air vents out into the atmosphere
Modern exhaust features
In earlier days, exhaust fans came in as a single unit. However, some exhaust fans in today’s market come in as 3-in-1. These units have exhaust fans, heating, and LED lights.
Therefore you don’t have to spend so much on wiring three separate units. This modern equipment will provide perfect lighting, heating and cleans the air.
Consider the noise levels
We like to enjoy some quiet time when we are in the bathroom. However, this can be ruined by noisy exhaust fans. Most old fans in the market generate noise, which can be disturbing.
There is a saying that the higher the motor power in the exhaust fans, higher the noise. This is true for some brands. Most modern brands in the current market have high capacity and minimum noise.
Therefore when buying an exhaust fan, consult your licensed electrician to get his opinion on the best available exhaust fans in the market.
Contact Mr. Electric
The ideal person to fix your exhaust fans is a licensed electrician. They should also have more experience and knowledge about the products in the market.
That is why Mr. Electric stays ahead in the Geelong community. We have been in the business for the last three decades, and our team has top-notch experience in the electrical industry. Don’t forget the 24/7 reliable emergency service that we provide to our clients.
If you are looking for a qualified electrician in Geelong, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will provide a free in-home quotation for your job.
