Best bathroom fans in 2019

High humidity in the bathroom is no longer a secret. To keep the room clean and fresh air, you need to provide good ventilation. People try to deal with high humidity in a variety of ways. However, the time has passed when it is necessary to open the doors to the room after taking a shower and remove water from the floor. It's time to move on to drastic measures - buying a fan for the bathroom.

Attention! We talked about popular models of exhaust fans in 2024 in separate article.

Algorithm for choosing the right bathroom fan.

What is ventilation in the bathroom for?

Bathroom ventilation is important for human health. The standard bathrooms are small in size. Therefore, when taking a bath or shower, the room quickly fills with steam. Damp settles on the ceiling of the room and walls, which deteriorates the bathroom finish.

Splashes of water, condensation and fumes can lead to unwanted mold and mildew formation, which can lead to odors and harmful small insects and their waste products. Removing odors and humid air is essential for overall comfort and reducing the risk of allergic reactions and respiratory problems.

As a rule, there is no window in the bathroom. And the only way for fresh air to enter the bathroom is ventilation systems. When erecting a house, builders must plan natural ventilation channels. The efficiency of the ventilation system depends on the direction and location of the air flow.

Natural ventilation systems often fail to cope with their task.

To check if the natural ventilation system in the bathroom is working effectively, it is enough to carry out a little simple test.
You need to take a piece of paper and attach it to the wire rack. It will stick to the grate if the system is working properly, as it will be held by the air flow.
If the ventilation is not working well, the leaf will not hold.True, it should be remembered that a normally operating system also demonstrates low performance indicators, since its principle of operation is based on the difference in temperatures in the bathroom and outside. In the summertime, when it is hot outside, ventilation almost does not work.

Also, ventilation ducts become clogged over time and the entire system loses efficiency. It should be remembered that if condensation accumulates on the surface of walls, plumbing fixtures and furniture in the bathroom, mirrors fog up in the bathroom and an unpleasant odor is constantly present in the toilet, an exhaust fan should be installed in the bathroom.

 

Types of bathroom fans.

When buying a fan for a bathroom, it should be borne in mind that structurally such devices are divided into duct and axial, radiator and roof, which is determined by the peculiarities of their use.

Axial fans.

Axial exhaust fans for the bathroom are a wheel with cantilever blades, which is located in a cylindrical casing. The impeller is usually mounted on the motor shaft. During the rotation of the wheel, air is captured by the blades and moves in the axial direction. There is practically no movement of the air mass in the radial direction.

A collector is installed at the entrance to the bathroom hood to increase the aerodynamic characteristics of the fan. Axial models show a rather greater efficiency of work in comparison with other devices - the productivity is more than 100 cubic meters per hour, but they have low pressure characteristics. They can be installed directly into the wall.

This type of bathroom exhaust fans is quite common due to the ease of installation. Mount wall fans in the ventilation shaft openings. In principle, such an installation is a violation, because air circulation may be disturbed in general ventilation.
The disadvantages of wall-mounted axial fans include a higher noise level, which often reaches 30-50 decibels.

Radial fans.

Fans of this type are a blade wheel that is housed in a spiral casing. When the wheel rotates, air enters the holes between the blades, follows to the periphery of the blade wheel in the radial direction, it is compressed and thrown under the influence of centrifugal force into a special spiral casing and then enters the discharge hole.

The working hollow cylinder has blades along the lateral surface, which are located parallel to the axis of rotation at an equal distance. In cooling and air ventilation systems, the quietest fans for the bathroom are of the radial type, single or double suction, with blades that are bent forward or backward.

The use of radial fans, the blades of which are directed backward, can save 20% of electricity. Their other important advantage is the ease of transferring overloads in terms of air flow.

Bathroom exhaust fans with forward-curved blades are capable of delivering the same pressure and flow characteristics as those with backward-facing blades, with a smaller impeller diameter and low speed, helping to achieve good results, while creating less noise and taking up less space.

Centrifugal fans.

Duct-type centrifugal fans appeared quite recently (in the seventies of the XX century), but they gained great popularity due to their convenient use with considerable simplicity. Duct bathroom fans are used when the area of ​​the room is more than 15 square meters.

The devices themselves are quite powerful, but the noise level is assessed as low. Silent duct-type bathroom exhaust fans are designed to be placed in the flow path of the ventilation system. They come in rectangular or round sections.Typically, a duct fan is installed under the ceiling and hidden behind plasterboard panels.

It is advisable to choose semi-rigid or rigid air ducts, because their design is considered more reliable than that of flexible ones - this ensures a longer service life. The centrifugal fan can be mounted in the middle of the duct or in front of the air intake.

Although the latter option is not very convenient, since it requires the installation of an anemostat, which does not allow condensation to enter the ventilation system. However, in the first situation there are also disadvantages - due to the aerodynamic resistance of the air ducts, you need to install a more powerful fan.

Roof fans.

Roof hoods are installed on the roofs of residential buildings. Rooftop ventilation units consist of a fan, an electric motor, anti-vibration gaskets, as well as automatic control devices, which are enclosed in one housing. These devices use axial or radial devices with a large number of blades and single or double suction vanes.

What to look for when choosing a bathroom fan?

When choosing a bathroom fan, you need to keep in mind some parameters and technical characteristics, such as air exchange and performance, noise level and safety in relation to the environment consisting of humid air, as well as the functionality of the appliances and the price-quality ratio.

Performance.

To calculate the required fan performance for a bathroom, you need the following information: room volume and air exchange rate - the number of air changes per hour. The product of these two indicators will be equal to the fan performance.

You can calculate the fan power using these calculations. The volume of the room should be calculated by multiplying the length of the room by its width and height, and also rounded up. To get performance, the volume of the room must be multiplied by a number that shows how many times the air in one hour should be changed to a fresh stream.

The air exchange rate always depends on the type of room and is set in building codes.

The building code number for a bathroom is 6-8. You should take 6, if 1-3 people use the bathroom in the house, if more than 3, then you need to substitute 6 or 8. The air exchange rate for the toilet will be 6-10.

After the calculations and the obtained performance, you can select the best bathroom fan according to the parameters of various manufacturers that produce exhaust fans. Practice shows that it is necessary to take a fan that has technical indicators slightly higher than the calculated parameters. Typically, the capacity of bathroom fans is 95-100 cubic meters per hour.

Noise level.

Each bathroom fan is driven by an electric motor, which is always accompanied by two types of noise - mechanical and aerodynamic. The first noise is able to penetrate into the premises, while spreading along the duct, and the second arises as a result of vibration of structural elements, that is, the walls of the protective casing of the exhaust fan and the air ducts themselves.

Noise, which is more than 35 decibels, irritates the human psyche. Therefore, the fight against noise appears as an urgent task when choosing and installing exhaust fans for the bathroom. Thus, the noise generated by the device should not exceed 30 decibels. In order to turn on the device at night, the noise level in this case should not exceed 25 decibels. Noise indicators are indicated in the passport data.

The noise level can also be reduced by installing a noise isolator behind the fan and lining the inner surface of the duct with sound-absorbing material. Noise isolators have two basic designs: tubular and plate.In any case, the diameter of the air ducts should not be too small, so that due to the turbulence of the air currents, air plugs are not formed, but at the same time it should not be excessively large, since this increases the material costs for a large bathroom fan.

Fan safety.

Another important requirement for a bathroom fan is its protection against moisture penetration into the device. The exhaust fan is an electrical device and the bathroom is always humid. Contact with unprotected parts of the device or water switch (and they are available for any electrical device) can provoke a short circuit and significant consequences for the wiring, that is, a fire. This should be taken into account every time the question arises, which fan to choose for the bathroom.

To avoid this, you should look in stores for fans designed for a specific bathroom. They are marked accordingly. These are ordinary fans, which are additionally protected against water penetration. For complete safety, 24 volts are predominantly used in bathroom exhaust fans. If a short circuit occurs in the wiring, then such a low voltage will save the life of a person who is directly there.

Fan functionality.

One should not overlook such an important parameter as the functionality of the fan. There are two types of bathroom fans - automatic and standard. Standard exhaust fans are conventional axial systems with a non-return valve that blocks the return of exhaust air to the room.

Such fans work very simply: when the light is turned on, the air exhaust starts working at the same time, and when it is turned off, the fan stops. This is convenient, but not always practical, especially when the moisture level is very high, because such a fan in a short period of time will not be able to remove all humid air from the bathroom.

Automatic bathroom exhaust fans are naturally more advanced, but also more expensive. They are equipped with special timers for setting the device for a certain operating time. After the user leaves the exhaust fans with a switch-off timer, they run for about 25 minutes and then switch off automatically. A fan with a humidity sensor and a timer will turn on when the humidity rises above the set limit and turn off after a user-defined time interval.

How to choose a bathroom fan if the bathroom ventilation system is linked to the kitchen ventilation system? There are also bathroom hoods with a non-return valve on the market. These devices will become a real godsend if the bathroom and kitchen ventilation systems are a single whole. Such a fan draws air out of the room, preventing it from entering the kitchen.

Value for money fan.

Next, you should pay attention to the quality of the bathroom fan, because excellent technical characteristics do not always guarantee the long-term operation of the device. Better to look through the offers of well-known manufacturers of bathroom fans. Positive characteristics and consumer reviews will be a signal that the choice fell on a decent device.

The quality is confirmed by the compliance of the exhaust fan with quality standards and the availability of certificates of special commissions, warranty documents and markings, which indicates the protection class (it should be based on the lowest value, that is, from IP34). It should be remembered that a bulky fan will not always be of high quality.

Today the dimensions of bathroom fans are in most cases compact, but the appliances are powerful enough. Also on the market are built-in appliances that forcibly remove humid air from the bathroom into the ventilation shafts.

A good quality bathroom fan isn't always expensive.Even the most inexpensive and simple domestic device will perfectly cope with its tasks for 3-5 years. However, if fan functionality is a priority, you should look at the more expensive models.

Read more about the criteria for choosing a fan - in the video:

The bathroom is one of the most humid places in an apartment or private house. And there are some patterns according to which a bathroom fan is chosen. For wet rooms, compact, but powerful fan models are designed, endowed with a moisture protection function. Their design prevents water from entering the duct, reducing the risk of short circuits to a minimum.

Fan models that have proven themselves in the market.

Soler & Palau Silent 100 Design 3C is the best design solution for the modern bathroom.

This is a design model of the popular Soler & Palau Silent fan series. Besides the fact that they are available in several colors (white, silver, gray, beige, red, and any color from the RAL palette can be made to order), each product comes with 4 interchangeable color strips. Otherwise, everything is the same as that of the top model of this series: power of 8 watts, productivity - 95 cubic meters of air per hour, waterproof case and low noise level. The latter indicator, however, largely depends on the quality of the fan installation.

• an abundance of colors;
• the presence of moisture protection;
• beauty for a small price;
• power;
• replaceable strips included.

• noise is higher than permissible due to incorrect installation of the fan.

Average price: 2500 rubles.

Electrolux EAFR 100 is a bathroom fan with aesthetic beauty.

This is a stylish designer fan from Electrolux. There are 10 color options on the market - from crystal white to absolutely black. The power of the motor on bearings is 15 watts, it pumps up to 100 cubic meters of air per hour. The impeller should be cleaned every six months to maintain its normal operating condition. The model is easily mounted - both on walls and on the ceiling. Fan noise within acceptable limits (30 decibels).

More information about this line of devices is in the video:

• durability;
• great design;
• an abundance of colors;
• decent power;
• the presence of moisture protection.

• not easy to maintain.

Average price: 2000 rubles.

Soler & Palau Silent 100 CZ is the best silent fan.

This is the middle model of the popular series of bathroom exhaust fans. There is no humidity sensor, the device is switched on manually, but the price is quite affordable for such a quality. Otherwise, everything is the same as that of the top model: power is 8 watts, productivity is 95 cubic meters of air per hour, waterproof case and low noise level. The single-phase electric motor with ball bearings is attached to the casing with silent-blocks, which prevent the transmission of vibrations to the fan casing.

• the presence of moisture protection;
• durability;
• excellent power of 8 watts;
• actual noiselessness.

• not quite simple fan maintenance.

Average price: 2600 rubles.

Electrolux EAF-150 is the best option for large bathrooms.

This is a high power fan that pumps 320 cubic meters of air per hour. It turns out that this model is one of the best options for large bathrooms or heavily used rooms. The product with a 25 watt motor does not look too much like a traditional fan due to the exclusive front panel. If necessary, it can be easily removed and replaced with another color. You can mount the model anywhere: on a wall, duct, ceiling. Even though the fan cannot be called silent, 35 decibels is not the volume that will interfere with comfortable rest.

• the presence of moisture protection;
• easy maintenance;
• easy installation;
• decent performance;
• power.

• lack of noiselessness.

Average price: 3000 rubles.

VENTS 100 Quiet is the best budget option.

It is an inexpensive and very economical exhaust fan. Consuming only 7.5 watts of energy, it blows 97 cubic meters of air through itself per hour. The shortened pipe (81 mm) allows you to easily install the fan in a shaft or connect to an air duct. The motor is equipped with ball bearings designed for 40,000 hours of continuous operation without maintenance. Has overheating protection. The fan is turned on using a conventional room switch, although automated solutions are also possible (this requires the purchase of additional equipment).

Video review of the device:

• low price;
• durability;
• low power consumption;
• almost silent (25 decibels);
• excellent power;
• moisture protection.

• tight check valve.

Average price: 1300 rubles.

Soler & Palau Silent 100 CHZ is the best fan with a humidity sensor.

This is the most functional model of the famous series from Soler & Palau. The fan is equipped with a humidity sensor (hygrostat). It turns on when this indicator rises relative to a certain level. The SILENT 100 CHZ also features ball bearings that extend its life by up to 30,000 hours. There is also a timer with a delay of up to half an hour.

Productivity, as in the younger models, is 95 cubic meters per hour, which is quite enough for a bathtub with an area of ​​2 by 2 meters and even a little more. The fan works quite quietly, its maximum noise level is 26.5 decibels (the volume is comparable to a human whisper).

• not bad performance at all;
• noiselessness;
• durability;
• timer;
• humidity sensor;
• low power consumption, only 8 watts.

• high price;
• initial adjustment of the device is done "by eye".

Average price: 6500 rubles.

So what should you choose?

Of course, first of all, you need to focus on the type of bathroom, its area and internal structure, as well as on your own desire to get something from the purchase of the device. For example, quietness, aesthetic beauty or power.

However, it is not enough just to know theoretical information. You also need to have practical knowledge: how to install the fan, how to use it correctly and what to do in case of malfunction.

With the totality of this knowledge, you can already safely make a choice towards one or another model.