The purpose of bathroom fans is different from that of room fans. Rather than circulating the air to create a breeze, they suck out the humid bathroom air created by hot water through exhaust action. That is why they are also called exhaust fans.
In this article, learn more about how to choose the right bathroom fan, beginning with some basic considerations.
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Air ventilation or exhaust is calculated in cubic feet per meter (CFM). The golden rule is, one CFM per square foot of bathroom space. So, if yours is an 80 square feet bathroom, you will need a bathroom fan of 80 CFM capacity. Here is a CFM ready-reckoner:
Less than 50 square feet
50-100 square feet
Over 100 square feet:
An alternate approach to calculating the minimum CFM requirement for your bathroom is:
Length x width x height x 0.13
Bathroom fan noise is calculated in sones rather than decibels.
For simple understanding, 1 sone equals the sound of a modern quiet refrigerator. The industry standard for contemporary bathroom fans is 1.5 sones.
Before we go to the next tip, be sure to calculate the correct CFM that your bathroom fan should have, and check that its noise level is between 1.5 and 4 sones, depending upon CFM.
Fans with built-in lighting. Most contemporary designs offer this useful feature that will reduce your bathroom lighting consumption because you don't need a separate light. The lamps are LED, which additionally saves 40% energy. Either incandescent or white light is provided, with rare fans opting for colorful LEDs.
Built-in heat lamps that will keep the bathroom warm during winters. They also help to fight bacteria formation. Mold, a common bacteria forming on damp and wet surfaces such as shower curtains, can be contained with these lamps.
Humidity sensor. This will help you adjust the fan speed depending upon the humidity/moisture level. This feature also helps in containing humidity-related bacteria and keeping the bathroom hygienic.
Motion sensor. This feature will turn on the fan when you enter the bathroom and turn it off when you exit. It will also turn on and off the in-built light upon your entry/exit.
Timer switch. You can manually set this switch so that even if you forget to turn the fan off while exiting the bathroom, it will do so after the set time limit.
