Bathroom Ceiling Exhaust Fan

Energy adviser: Exhaust fans move air in sealed homes

Small electric exhaust fans do a lot of work in houses, pulling moist air and heat out of bathrooms and getting rid of cooking odors in kitchens.

It is far more effective, experts say, to quickly eliminate moisture and pollutants when they are created rather than allowing them to dissipate slowly inside your home.

Indoor air can be five times more polluted than outdoor air.

In 1991, Washington’s energy building code regulations were updated to require better air sealing for new homes as a way to conserve energy. Any space where air can enter the home is sealed during construction to limit uncontrolled exchange of air between outdoors and indoors, giving homeowners better control of air flow. Exhaust fans are designed to work in tandem with a home’s central forced-air heating and ventilation system.

Roger Heasley, store manager at Grover’s Electric & Plumbing Supply in Vancouver, said those shopping for an exhaust fan — either in a new home or as a replacement — should keep three things in mind: How much air the unit will pull, operating noise level and price.

“Obviously, quieter and more powerful units will cost more than less expensive models,” Heasley said. “Retail prices can range from as low as $39, up to $154. The more expensive models also may feature built-in lighting.”

Electrical engineers measure air movement by cubic feet of air moved per minute, abbreviated as cfm. They use a measure called “sones” to describe the sound a fan produces. The lower the sone value, the more comfortable the listening environment.

“One sone is equivalent to the sound made by your average refrigerator,” Heasley said.

If you’re getting ready to install an exhaust fan, start by reading the manufacturer’s instructions and following safety precautions. Before working with electricity, turn off the power at the service panel. Make sure your duct work is properly fitted.

The Two Types of Ceiling Exhaust Fans for Your Bathroom

When you are renovating your bathroom, it is always good to consider putting in an exhaust fan. But what kind do you need?  There are actually two kinds to choose from:  ceiling and wall type. The type to use will depend on where your bathroom is located in relation to your house, and if there is an attic above it. If one of the walls of your bathroom is already part of the wall of your house, then you can consider the glass-window type of exhaust fans. Because they are set on the wall, the air they suck out will be released outside. Ceiling exhaust fans , on the other hand, have a hose that is connected to the empty attic above, and that is where the sucked air goes to. These are good for those bathrooms situated between two rooms and there’s no direct connection to the outside.

The Bathroom

The fan, including the theory and practice of centrifugal and axial fans

Fan handbook, selection, application, and design

The bathroom

The Fan