Bathroom exhaust fans do the thankless task of removing unwanted odors. That doesn't mean you have to put up with a loud and obnoxious fan, even in older homes with outdated mechanisms. Here's a few things to look for while looking to replace fans, with a few inexpensive models for a quick and easy weekend afternoon swap.
There are a few things that contribute to the noise level of a bathroom fan. If you want an effective fan the relevant number you're looking for is the CFMs. We previously explained CFMs (in reference to kitchen exhaust fans) as:
CFMs, or Cubic Feet per Minute, is a measure of volumetric flow. In the world of fans it's used to tell how powerful a fan is. The higher the CFM, the more air that fan pushes or pulls through. Depending on the application, there are specific requirements for how effective a fan must be.
Home Depot explains that for bathrooms under 50 square feet a 50 CFM fan is more than adequate. For anything over 50 square feet they recommend approximately 1 CFM to 1 square foot ratio.
The problem with a high power fan is usually that they generate a lot of noise, measured in sones. 1 or so sones is a fairly quiet fan, although everyone's opinion of "quiet" is different.
For a little bit more money you can get an extremely quiet fan such as these models at only .3 sones that still pump 80 to 110 CFM!
Broan QTXE080 Ultra Silent Bath Fan
$105.18
This white grille Broan model vents 80 CFM yet is rated at only .3 sones of loudness. This model is rated for use over a tub/shower as well with a GFCI circuit.
Panasonic FV-11VQ5 WhisperCeiling Fan
$111.07
Step up to 110 CFM while maintaining that low .3 sone rating. This Panasonic uses a double hanger bar system that allows you to position the fan anywhere in your ceiling between two joists instead of having to nail it directly to the side of a joist. It's also rated for tub/shower use.
Don't forget to check your duct size to ensure compatibility and space as well as whether you need lighting and if the electrical is properly in place.
MORE FANS ON APARTMENT THERAPY
• Not All Exhaust Fans Are Created Equal: It's All About the CFMs
• Ventilation Fans in the Bathroom
• Not Too Ugly Bathroom Fans
(Images: Shutterstock/kanate)
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We needed to use a wall model for a recent bath reno. We chose this one
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CGgQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPanasonic-FV-08WQ1-WhisperWall-Wall-Mounted%2Fdp%2FB000MNIB9C&ei=kqijUNGaIqT50gGilIGQCw&usg=AFQjCNHFG6QLUTXMOlcd6wolS3wz8lle6g&sig2=e5F0nx7HIC1guY-wSNJ4jg
I think these fans are often loud on purpose. Sometimes some extra white noise in the bathroom is actually a good thing.
^^ Yeah, not to be indelicate, but I was going to say that I've always considered loud fans a positive.
please warn ppl that if you want to change a fan, it's not that simple.
cutting out drywall, patching and painting will also need to be done.
in the end, it's only a fan. if you are having major problems, then obviously you need to do the work. a little extra noisiness? who really cares. i'd rather hear that than other noises. eek!
one issue we experienced with our super-quiet panasonic fan in the powder room: guests don't realize they've switched it on and it keeps running for hours.
Next, people will start being run over by quiet fans because they didn't hear them coming.
We changed last year to the panasonic you have on your post. I absolutely love it. I can't handle noise when I am getting ready in the bathroom. It is quite and there is no steam accumulation in the bathroom, not any fogging of the mirror, and it is so not there bcs it is streamlined with the ceiling. Of course we hired a contractor when we partially redid the bathroom, to change the ceiling fan. If you have an older model, it is a more complex job than just replacing the old one.
I think this is a good idea to have quiet fans, but I do understand the need for white noise. I know that too often fans are way too loud and often sound broken. I would welcome a quiet one.
It depends on where the bathrooms are located in the house, but yeah, white noise is not a bad thing.
you should really look into fantech products. they come in 2 separate parts: the motor housing is mounted in your attic/crawlspace and connected to the bathroom grille by ducting. it is a minimum 6 feet away from the bathroom grille. you can buy the cheapest thing they have (i. e. noisy) and it will still be quiet like a whispersonic because of the distance. also they were the only ones we could find, including the whispersonics we bought first, that had the flapper properly imbalanced to close when the fan shutoff. all the others would stay open and let in air from outdoors.
fantech was recommended to me by a bunch of handymen on a forum i joined to get advice (neither my husband nor i are handymen). our contractor hadn't heard of them and was skeptical of them, by the end of the job he was talking his wife into getting them for their bathroom. we have been super pleased with them. i ordered directly from fantech and it was cheaper than Amazon's price.
and always vent outdoors. we were having work done in our master bath b/c around here venting to the attic is how it's always been done. we had black and brown molds around the fan in the attic that made our house smell like a cigarette smoke and gave us the worst headaches and coughs. vent outdoors, always. if the contractor doesn't like it, insist.
Especially when someone is singing off-key...
Where's the "like" button?