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To quickly remove moist air after taking a bath or shower, an exhaust fan in the bathroom will help. This is a small device that is installed at the entrance to the ventilation duct or directly into the route.
Types of fans for the bathroom
According to the device, exhaust fans are:
- Axial. It has an external rotor motor to which an impeller is attached. The air moves parallel to the rotor axis. These bathroom and toilet fans are small in size but have an average performance. A good option for small to medium-sized rooms where the ventilation outlet is located no more than 2 meters from the installation point.
Bathroom Exhaust Fan Device - Radial or centrifugal. In this embodiment, the blades are fixed on a special ring. Air is sucked in from the front, exits from the side, at an angle of 90°. They are more productive, used for rooms with a volume of more than 12 cubic meters. Air masses can move long distances.
Most often, the exhaust fan in the bathroom is of the axial type. They are inexpensive, they do a good job if the outlets of the ventilation ducts are nearby. If the distance from the entry point to the ventilation duct is more than 2 meters, it makes sense to set the radial one.
According to the installation method, fans are:
- Wall mounted.
- Ceiling.
- Wall-ceiling (can work in both positions).
- Channel.
Wall and ceiling options
There are no questions with wall and ceiling, everything is clear by name, but it is worth explaining about channel ones. This modification is installed in the gap of the ventilation duct. The code is mainly used for one exhaust channel, and several rooms must be connected to it, but it can also be used on an individual channel.
These models are used less often, as they are more difficult to install and maintain (harder to get access for preventive cleaning or replacement), but in many cases this is the only option. In private houses, the duct fan can be moved to the attic, where it is easier to maintain it.
Selection by technical parameters
Like any technical device, an exhaust fan in the bathroom must be selected primarily according to technical parameters. It should be said right away that the cases are usually made of plastic, and the case itself is waterproof (the minimum protection class is IP 24). The shape and type of the grille are arbitrary, the color of the case is most often white, but there are also colored ones.
In addition to external signs, we select the diameter of the outlet pipe of the exhaust fan. It is selected depending on the cross section of the duct (it is better not to narrow it, as the air exchange will drop).
Air exchange
It is necessary to choose an exhaust fan in the bathroom based on the volume of the ventilated room and the frequency of air exchange (registered in sanitary standards). For bathrooms, the recommended rate is 6 to 8 air volumes per hour. For families, an 8-fold exchange is considered; for 1-2 people, 6-7 times is enough.
For example, a bathroom has dimensions of 2,2 * 2,5 * 2,7 m. We multiply all the numbers to find out the volume, we get 14,85 m3. We round up, we get that the volume of the bathroom is 15 cubic meters. We will consider an eight-fold exchange: 15 m2 * 8 = 120 cubic meters / hour. That is, when selecting the performance of the fan, its performance should not be less than 120 cubic meters per hour.
Noise level
The second point that you need to pay attention to when choosing an exhaust fan in the bathroom is the level of noise produced. If the fan will only work during the day, the noise produced should be in the region of 30-35 dB. It’s not very loud, it doesn’t interfere with other noises. If the fan in the hood will work at night, the noise level should be less than 30 dB, and preferably 20-25 dB.
The quietest bathroom fan should be looked for among the radial models. Axial ones, due to the transmission of vibration from the motor, make louder sounds, but there are models in which these vibrations are minimized by the use of special vibration damping pads. Another way is to use rolling bearings. Such axial fans for the bathroom give out just 22-23 dB, which is very small.
| Name | РўРёРї монтР° жР° | working mechanism | Air exchange (performance) | Power Consumption | Noise level | Additional functions | Rotational speed | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vents 100 MAT | overhead | axial | 98 cu. m / hour | 18 W | 34 dB | timer, switch-off delay | 2300 / min | 30-35 $ |
| Electrolux EAF-100TH | overhead | axial | 100 cu. m / hour | 15 W | 33 dB | humidity sensor | without adjustment | 30-35 $ |
| VENTS iFan | overhead | axial | 106 cu. m / hour | 4.56 W | 31 dB | remote control, humidity sensor | step adjustment | $ 75-85 |
| Soler & Palau SILENT-100 CZ | overhead | axial | 95 cu. m / hour | 8 W | 27 dB | mechanical control | without adjustment | 25-39 $ |
| Blauberg Sileo 125 T | overhead | axial | 187 cu. m / hour | 17 W | 32 dB | timer, check valve | without adjustment | 45-50 $ |
| Systemair CBF 100 | overhead | radial | 110 cu. m / hour | 45 W | 45 dB | mechanical control | without adjustment | 65-75 $ |
| Systemair BF 100 | overhead | axial | 85 cu. m / hour | 20 W | 41 dB | mechanical control | 2400 / min | 32-35 $ |
| Systemair IF 100 | channel | axial | 87.1 cu. m / hour | 14 W | 44 dB | 2432 / min | 28-35 $ | |
| MARLEY MP-100S (SV-100) | overhead | from 10 to 83 m³/h | 1,1 W to 4,1 W | from 10 dB to 38 dB | electronic control | smooth adjustment | 209-225 $ | |
| VENTS Quiet 100… (Vents Quiet 100) | overhead | silent | 97 cu. m / hour | 7,5 W | 25 dB | check valve, rolling bearing | 2300 / min | 28-35 $ |
| Vents 125 Quiet V (125 Quiet V) | overhead | silent | 185 cu. m / hour | 17 W | 32 dB | check valve, rolling bearing | 2400 / min | 42-50 $ |
| Domovent VKO 125… | channel | axial | 185 cu. m / hour | 16 W | 37 dB | protection against overheating and moisture | without adjustment | 7-10 $ |
Also pay attention to such a moment as the material of the duct. The fan itself may make a little noise, but a metal duct can make noise when air moves through it. Therefore, when installing a ventilation system, it is desirable to use plastic. If you already have a metal box, you can reduce the noise level by gluing it with soundproof materials. The second way out is to sew it into a box, and fill the gaps with porous soundproofing material. It is best suited for this regular soundproofing made of mineral fibers. Mounting foam, of course, is convenient to use, but its soundproofing characteristics are very low. Styrofoam with polystyrene foam is not very good in this regard.
Power Consumption
Another parameter is power consumption. The smaller this parameter, the less you have to pay for electricity. From this point of view, axial fans for extractor hoods in the bathroom are more economical. For a set of high efficiency at low electricity costs, they give out significant air exchange. Radial ones are less profitable in this regard: with equal performance, they spend 3-4 times more electricity, but the air is transmitted over a greater distance.
It is also worth remembering that the fan performance (the amount of air moved per unit of time) depends on the power consumption. This parameter is also affected by the shape of the impeller and other design features (for example, the presence of rolling bearings), but the larger the volume of air to be pumped, the more powerful the exhaust fan is required in the bathroom.
Additional functions
In the simplest version, the fan in the bathroom hood is turned on by a separate switch. Some models have a chain, by pulling which you can turn it on or off. In this case, the device works for the entire time until the power supply is turned on. There are other options:
- Switching on when the lighting is turned on, switching off with a delay of 2 to 30 minutes. It occurs frequently, the delay is adjustable. When buying, you need to remember that special power is required here – you need a double phase (to supply power to the fan after the light is turned off).
- Motion detection + turn-off delay. In this case, the fan turns on when there is movement in the bathroom, and also turns off with a delay.
- Humidity detector. This type of fan is also called intelligent, as it turns on / off depending on the state of the atmosphere in the bathroom. This option is the most economical (the fan only works when needed), but the devices themselves are the most expensive.
How to connect the power: an exhaust fan in the bathroom with a shutdown delay (with a timer)
The most common models of bathroom exhaust fans are those with a turn-off delay after a blackout. But they can also be turned on through a separate switch, excluding the light bulb from the circuit. Installations with a humidity detector are more economical, since not every visit to the bathroom and turning on the light requires enhanced ventilation. For example, if you went to wash your hands, it is hardly worth turning on forced ventilation.
Another convenient option is different blade speeds. In this case, the exhaust fan in the bathroom can change the mode of operation depending on the initial humidity in the room. Switching is manual (mechanical), automatic (MARLEY MP-100S).
Check valve on the fan in the bathroom – needed or not
There are also exhaust fans with a built-in non-return valve. Sometimes this option is useful – if a reverse draft occurs, it will not allow air from the ventilation system to enter the room. But such models are still not very popular. It’s about natural ventilation. Most apartments and houses have natural ventilation. By installing a fan in the ventilation duct, we significantly impair the exhaust air output in a natural way – due to the difference in pressure and draft. Installing a fan with a non-return valve worsens the situation even more. In this case, forced arousal (using a fan) must work around the clock.
If you decide to install a check valve, it does not have to be in one housing. It can always be installed separately – in the channel in front of the fan.