Choosing/Buying Bathroom Exhaust Fans

Replace older bathroom exhaust fans with new ones, if you are about to remodel your bathroom. New models are extremely more energy efficient than older units, and also quieter and largely more effective in removing moisture, odors and stale air.

Bathroom exhaust fans are a crucial part of any home's ventilation system. They are crucial to remove moisture, odors and pollutants... They can avoid some health problems and humidity and mold damages...

The manufacturers

Choosing a good fan manufacturer is an important buying criterion.

Panasonic is extremely well known in the field. But there are other highly rated manufacturers: American Aldes, Broan, Continental Fan, Fantech, NuTone, Rosenberg or Tamarack…

They all have excellent low-consuming energy exhaust fans, working very quietly. Be aware to models, and their differences, anyway.

Rating, quietness and energy efficiency

When shopping, take into account the rating of organizations like the HVI (Home Ventilating Institute) and Energy Star.

Look for their rating in the fan labels, and compare noise and energy-efficiency for alternative models and manufacturers.

Always prefer a high-quality and energy-efficient exhaust fan. The price differences are small, but the results – in terms of bills, the building structures or even the health of the people of your home - highly deserves them.

The size

Fan exhaust capacity is measured in Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) (or Liters per second: L/s), and that’s an important buying criterion.

Most bathrooms demand a 50 CFM, but very small or very large bathrooms (more than 100 sq feet) will demand different capacities.

HVI (Home Ventilating Institute) guidelines to determine the exhaust fan power, suggest around a 1 CFM per square foot of floor area for spot intermittent ventilation, and a minimum 50 CFM fan.

For very large bathrooms (with more than 100 square feet) the HVI recommends a minimum rate ventilation for each fixture: toilet (50 CFM), shower (50 CFM), bathtub (50 CFM), jetted tub (100 CFM).

In case of a continuous ventilation system, the HVI recommends a minimum rate of 20 CFM (10 L/s).

Other criteria

Prefer a fan with replaceable parts. Also prefer exhaust fans with permanent lubrication.

Ducts

Ductwork can affect powerfully the exhaust fan performance, namely un-insulated or undersized ducting. Likewise, droopy flex ducting, dirty dampers and exhaust louvers also interfere with the ventilation performance… Pay attention to these issues in your bath remodeling.

Smooth (low-resistance) exhaust ducting is a good option; just do not forget to seal the joints and insulate the ducts – or the sections of the ductwork – running in unconditioned spaces.

Fans with lights or heating lamps

There are bathroom fans with lights and heating lamps (see: Bathroom lighting). If you want to buy such a fan, do not forget the energy-efficiency issue. Also make sure that the lights or/and heaters are rated for the wet conditions of the bathroom. Some units approved for wet conditions include ground fault protection.