In This Post:
– Fan size
– Check noise levels
– Extra features
– Wall-mounted or ceiling
– Maintenance requirement
– Efficiency
Maintaining indoor air quality matters is important, especially in closed spaces such as bathrooms, where there is high humidity due to steamy showers and tight closed windows. The stale air, humidity and foul smell linger in the bathroom, affecting the quality of air inside the washroom. There is only one solution to the problems stated above and that is installing a good quality bathroom exhaust fan. But how to select the one that fits your needs and preferences? Fret not, we can help you with our list of the best ways to choose the best exhaust fans for your bathroom.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Things to Consider when Choosing the Best Exhaust Fans for Your Bathroom
Choosing a bath ventilation system that works best is crucial. If you pick the wrong size, or an inappropriate vent method, the exhaust fan will not work properly, which means you will have to bear with stuffy, stale air in the bathroom. For your convenience, we have listed down some factors that we should consider when selecting the best exhaust fans for your bathroom.
- Fan size
- Check noise levels
- Extra features
- Wall-mounted or ceiling
- Maintenance Requirements
- Efficiency
Let us now discuss these in detail:
Fan size
Small and unobtrusive, bathroom exhaust fans work silently (or not so silently in some cases) to remove odor, mold spores and excess moisture. Due to advancements in technology, exhaust fans are now smarter, more efficient and quieter. In order to truly benefit from an exhaust system you must choose the right fan size for your bathroom. Bathroom exhaust fans are sized and rated by their ability to move air in cubic feet per minute (CFM).
Small and less powerful fans generate less CFMs which are best suited for smaller washrooms. Fans that generate higher CFMs work better in large bathrooms.
As a general guideline, if your bathroom measures 8ft by 5 ft with a standard 8 ft ceiling, use the following formula to find the right CFM.
320 cubic feet x 8 air changes per hour = 2,560
Now divide this number with 60 minutes to get the cubic feet per minute.
2,560 / 60 minutes = 42 CFM
For bathrooms larger than 100 sq ft, professionals also recommend adding 50 CFM to every toilet, shower or bathtub.
Check noise levels
The noise levels in a bathroom are measured in sones. A sone is a measurement of sound as it relates to how it is sensed by the average listener. One sone is equivalent to the light hum of a refrigerator. A higher number of sones equate to a louder fan. It is recommended to install fans with a noise level of 1.0 sones or less. There are numerous models available with ratings as low as .03 sones, making the exhaust fan a lot quieter.
Extra features
Exhaust fans in a bathroom also come with different features. Motion sensor activation, overhead lighting, night light, humidity sensing and built-in heaters. Let us take a look at these features.
Motion sensor activation turns on the fan when someone walks into the bathroom. So, even if you forget to switch it on, this feature in an exhaust system works on its own. You can keep the fan set to low volume to remove moisture that is generated from everyday tasks such as shaving etc. and activate the switch for high volume tasks such as showering.
Overhead lighting in an exhaust system helps illuminate a space. It can be switch activated or turned on using a motion sensor.
Night light equipped exhaust systems help you locate your way in the dark at night.
Humidity sensing bathroom exhaust fans immediately switch on when the unit detects high levels of humidity
Built-in heaters help create a warm environment in the bathroom, when it is a little chilly outside
Wall mounted or ceiling
Exhaust fans come in 3 different varieties: Ceiling mounted, wall-mounted or remote. Ceiling-mounted exhaust fans are installed in the ceiling and vent out through the roof. When there is no practical way to vent out, then the wall-mounted variety can be used. For example, if your bathroom is on the first floor, then a wall-mounted exhaust fan might work for you. Inline or remote fans are used when you want to place multiple vents in a large bathroom. Depending upon the kind of bathroom you have, choose and select your option wisely.
Maintenance Requirement
Another factor that determines the kind of exhaust fan you should install depends upon how much maintenance is needed. If the grill can’t come off when you want to clean it or if it is too high that it almost gets difficult to remove the grill to clean or service, then maintenance becomes a major problem.
Efficiency
Some energy star-rated bathroom exhaust fans consume way less energy than the normal varieties. Some of the bathroom fans also come with an on/off timer that saves electricity, is well-equipped with humidity sensors, which causes the fan to turn on only when there is moisture present. There are motion sensors installed as well, which saves energy by turning off the fan automatically once someone leaves the room.
So, we hope this would help you in choosing the best exhaust fans for your bathroom. You should also look at our guide on how to select an exhaust system for the kitchen. Subscribe to the Zameen Newsletter and get the latest information and happenings in the real estate industry of Pakistan. Stay tuned to the Zameen Blog for more of such informative pieces. Do write to us at blog@zameen.com and we will surely get back to you.
