Extractor Fans: Guidelines for Buying a Bathroom Extractor Fan
Mounting a bathroom extractor fan is essential to keep the room from developing mould and to regulate its humidity. However, you need to follow the building regulations in your locality when installing an extractor fan in your bathroom. The primary concern that you have to decide on is the type of bathroom fan to mount. You can choose from the three types of bathroom exhaust fans, which are as follows: The axial bathroom fans absorb the air at the front and expel it at the back. Compared with the centrifugal fans, they are smaller in size and are not as forceful; however, they are muted. If you have a shorter duct run, you can mount them onto your bathroom ceiling. The piping that travels from the rear of the fan to the external roof or wall is the duct run. The pliable or inflexible piping must be attached to the rear of the fan leading to the outlet so you can install the grille. It is best to mount them into your outer walls and windows rather than into your ceiling since the air is directly expelled outside. Installing them into your ceiling will lessen the power of the fan because of the longer duct. The good side of an axial fan is its small size, reduced energy usage and quieter sound.
The centrifugal fans rotate the air through 90 degrees within the fan resulting in the air pressure being maximized and an increase in the speed of airflow. They are best installed onto the ceiling because of their increased extraction velocity, which makes them work better for lengthier areas. These types of exhaust fans are bigger, noisier and consume more power. The inline fans can come in two forms – axial or centrifugal. To lessen their noise, it would be best to mount them in the attic or the space above your bathroom. However, inline fans are not appropriate for every bathroom because of limitations in space.You also have to consider the amount of noise that it produces as well as the color and style. The noise levels of bathroom fans can be found on the brochure that comes with the product. Most of them run from 25 decibels (which is almost without noise) up to 45 decibels.
Bathroom exhaust fans operate in various modes. Pullcord means it is activated with the use of a bathroom light switch or a central pullcord. A timer would allow you to set the time to keep the fan functioning even after you have turned it off. This will allow the fan to work at your pre-set time to eliminate unpleasant smells and vapor. Humidistat. This will instantly turn off the fan once the humidity level is obtained in the bathroom. This method of operation is best for bathrooms that have shower areas. The passive infrared sensor or PIR mode of operation turns the fan off immediately as soon as a person enters the bathroom. Installing an extractor fan will eliminate bad smells, molds and mildew that can damage your bathroom. A bathroom extractor fan will save you from repair expenses.