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Bathroom Exhaust Fans
Bathroom exhaust fans, restroom fans, and lavatory fans have a very important role in removing fowl odors, moist or stale air from a small to medium-sized space, and replacing it with fresher, cleaner, dryer air.Â
Industrial Fans Direct has a full line of quality bathroom fans for most residential, commercial, and industrial applications.
Types of Mounts
A high-quality bathroom fan, bath fan kit, or duct inline fan is important because the areas that they work in necessitate their use at all times, and failure of the fan can lead to mold, mildew, and other air quality issues that can become costly over time.
These fans can be purchased in either a ceiling mount or wall mount version depending on your individual situation. The ceiling mount version works with your home or building's existing ductwork to exhaust the air to the outdoors. The wall-mount type of bath fan typically mounts from outside the building and removes the air from the restroom or locker room directly through the wall without needing any ductwork.
Sizing and CFM Rating
Bathroom fans are rated like other types of exhaust fans, by the amount of air movement or CFM they produce. Sizing of your bathroom fan is very important and should produce at least 1 CFM for every square foot of the room.
In larger bathrooms such as public restrooms, fitness centers, hospitals, schools, etc... where the lavatories or locker rooms are over 100 square feet, and have multiple toilets, showers, and sinks more CFM is required. Typically it’s suggested that an additional 50 CFM per toilet or shower is appropriate. Again, under-sizing your bath fan can cause issues with odor, mold, or mildew.
Features of Bathroom Fans
Features that may be offered in a bathroom ventilation fan are things such as:
- Lighting - for a subdued light ambiance if full lighting is not necessary
- A speed control - for varying the CFM volume of air movement the fan produces. This can be good when you are not needing to remove excess moisture present in the air.
- A timer - so that you can set the fan for when people are showering and causing a moist atmosphere
- A humidistat - which will automatically turn the bathroom vent fan on or off based on the humidity level.
Noise Level and Sones
Noise level of the fan is also a very important feature of any high-quality ventilator. The level of noise these types of fan produce are rated in what is known as Sones.
Sones rating is the measurement of sound as it relates to how it is sensed by the average listener. One sone is the equivalent of a refrigerator hum. Finding a bath fan that’s rated at or below 2 sones is recommended. Fans rated above this can cause a white noise or worse. Unless you are fond of a noisy fan, you should stay away from a unit that is rated at 5 sones or above.
Brands and Purchase Options
Industrial Fans Direct carries a variety of high-quality ceiling or wall-mounted bathroom exhaust fans for almost any residential home or commercial facility. We offer top brand names like Soler & Palau, Canarm, VENT-US, Aerofan by Continental Fan, and more.
FAQs
To find the best bathroom exhaust fan that’s right for you, choose based on room size: small bathrooms (up to 50 sq. ft) need 50 CFM; medium (50-100 sq. ft) require 70-100 CFM; larger bathrooms (over 100 sq. ft) use 100+ CFM. Always round up for efficiency.
A bathroom fan specifically ventilates bathrooms, removing moisture and odors. An exhaust fan, which can be used in various spaces, expels indoor air to the outside. Both promote air circulation, but bathroom fans target bathroom-specific issues.
A good wattage for a bathroom exhaust fan typically ranges between 20 to 60 watts, depending on size and performance. Choose one that's energy-efficient and appropriate for your bathroom size.
Yes, bathroom exhaust fans should be vented outside to effectively remove moisture and prevent mold growth. Avoid venting into attics or crawl spaces.
Bathroom fan CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) is calculated based on bathroom size. Typically, you need 1 CFM for every square foot of bathroom space. Adjust for larger bathrooms or added features like a shower.