There were times when a device such as a fan was simply indispensable, especially in summer. Basically, they were used for internal ventilation of premises, although there were also such craftsmen who managed to make something similar to a kitchen hood out of them. But progress does not stand still, and fans have been replaced by more modern and reliable equipment. Various air conditioning and split systems have forever replaced the fan in the bathroom, toilet, pantry and other utility rooms.
Reasons for installation
Not everyone installs a fan in bathrooms. And many of those who use this device do not think about why they are doing it: they saw it at a neighbor's or installed it just to be. But for certain reasons, sometimes it is simply necessary to install an exhaust fan in the bathroom or toilet:
- Permanent condensation on walls, ceiling or furniture.
- Formation of mold. Primarilystrikes the seams of tiles and plastic elements of the room.
- Unpleasant putrid smell.
And don't wait for extreme circumstances (mold or extremely bad smell), the first point above should already make you think about possible problems with your ventilation system.
Checking ventilation
The first sign of problems with the main ventilation may be constant dampness in the bathroom. This is mainly due to the fact that the ventilation shaft is clogged and the outflow of air has weakened or stopped altogether.
You can check this with a piece of paper or an open flame (candles or matches), bringing the source of fire to the ventilation grill:
- In a normal situation, the flame should extend towards the ventilation duct or even go out.
- If the flame fluctuates very little or does not react at all, then there is a problem with the outflow of air.
If the situation has not changed after cleaning the shaft, then installing a fan in the bathroom will help fix this.
Types of fans
So, we finally decided that we need a fan in the bathroom. Now it's time to figure out what they are. They can be divided according to the place of installation:
- Ceiling fans. Usually mounted in a suspended or stretch ceiling system. They are connected to the main ventilation window using special fittings commensurate withfan diameter.
- Wall fans. Basically, installation takes place directly in the window of the ventilation shaft.
According to the type of installation are:
- Consignment note, that is, the installation takes place on the surface of the ceiling or wall, while the mechanical part is inside. The most common type of fan due to its low price and easy installation.
- Duct fan - directly the mechanical part itself, which is installed inside the duct shaft. Most reliable and quietest option, although installation is more complicated.
By design type:
- Axial - a fan that resembles a conventional propeller with an electric motor. The device is most effective in the presence of natural draft and a ventilation duct no more than 5-6 meters in height.
- Centrifugal or radial - the most silent fan in the bathroom. This design is able to pump air flows more quickly and efficiently (especially true for the first floors of high-rise buildings). In appearance, it resembles an industrial "snail", only much smaller.
Fan with check valve
This mechanism is designed to cut off foreign odors from the common ventilation duct when the fan is not working. But here lies an important disadvantage of this system: when the damper shutters are closed (during non-working hours), the natural outflow of air from the room is disturbed.
A spring valve is used in everyday life. Representsplastic blades (there may be one blade), fastened together by a spring and blocking the opening of the ventilation duct.
During the operation of the fan, under the pressure of the air flow, the blades rise, and there is an outflow into the mine channel. As soon as the fan stops its operation, under the action of the spring, the blades close tightly, although not hermetically. But for domestic use, a check valve bathroom fan does the job just fine.
The shape of the blades are:
- Horizontal or vertical - depends on where the fan is installed (wall or ceiling).
- Round or square depending on the shape of the duct.
- In the form of blinds. Two or three "curtains" independent of each other.
Fan with timer and motion sensor
Another type of bathroom extractor fan is a device with a timer or motion sensor.
The principle of operation, I think, is clear to everyone:
- The motion-sensing fan starts to work when a person enters the bathroom and turns off if there is no movement after a certain amount of time (depending on settings). Not a very practical option, as many false positives are possible, for example, due to a short stay in the room, which will be many during the day.
- Bathroom fan with timer. Not a bad version, but a lot depends on the settings. Usually turns on with the light, but whenbeing in the room for less than a minute, the timer does not work - this is an obvious plus. The fan turns off after the amount of time set on the timer.
The best option in this case would be a combination of these two options.
Fan with humidity sensor
A device equipped with a humidity sensor or a hydrostat is perhaps the best choice of all bathroom exhaust fans to maintain a he althy microclimate. The principle of operation is quite simple: when the humidity level in the bathroom reaches the mark set on the sensor, the fan turns on and runs until the humidity level drops below the set mark.
Of the main advantages are:
- Does not require a separate point to place the switch.
- Works only to increase humidity, that is, there are no idle turns, and this is energy saving.
- Completely autonomous operation of the device that does not require human intervention. What is called - turned on, set up, forgot.
- Possibility to independently adjust the humidity level (usually from 60 to 90%).
The most important drawback of hydrostats (although not all) is that if there is a lack of air flow from the outside (no draft), false alarms of the sensor are possible.
By type of accommodation can be:
- Internal or channel, that is, installed in the ventilation shaft.
- Outdoor or indoor, that isa fan is installed in the bathroom.
In some cases, the hydrostat can be purchased separately and connected to an existing fan.
How to choose the right one
The right choice of fan directly affects how well it will pump air in your bathroom or toilet. Therefore, when buying, you should pay attention to the following points:
- No matter what type of fan you prefer, the first thing to consider is the diameter of your duct. It should be measured before going to the store, otherwise it is possible to buy a larger fan. In this case, only the expansion of the ventilation window will help, which is not always desirable.
- Be sure to pay attention to performance. It makes no sense to overpay for more powerful models if you do not need it. The calculation of productivity is carried out according to the scheme: 6-7 volumes of a bathroom - for 1-2 people and about 10 volumes for families. The volume is measured in cubic meters of air pumped per hour of fan operation.
- An important detail that is also worth paying attention to is the noise level of the operating fan. The average is 30-35 dB, but there are both smaller and larger rates. It all depends on the performance (the higher it is, the more noise the fan makes) and the type of design: the radial fan is quieter compared to the axial fan.
- Power consumption, the lower it is, the lower the electricity bill will be. Here is the advantage behind the axial fan design: consumptionelectricity is 3-4 times less than that of a radial device.
- Material and workmanship of the fan. It is preferable if the body is made of ABS plastic instead of conventional copolymers.
Preparing the site for installation
Preparatory work for installing a fan in the bathroom is carried out before the walls or ceiling are finished and are as follows:
- The most important thing is to determine the installation location (ceiling or wall), the type of fan (duct or overhead) and the switching method (that is, how the device will be actuated).
- If the fan will be installed on the ceiling, a new duct must be installed to the existing ventilation window.
- The cable should be laid to the installation site and the switching point (if the device will be switched on separately from the light). Be sure to check for performance.
- Expansion of the ventilation window. Performed when it is necessary to install a fan with a larger diameter than the opening of the existing duct.
Connection and method of turning on the fan
How to connect a fan in the bathroom, a question that depends not only on the type of fan, but also on how it will turn on. Also, the connection scheme is affected by the presence of additional options for the fan: a timer, a hydrostat or a motion sensor.
- With the help of a cord - switching on occurs due to the switch built into the case. The string coming out of the fan housing acts as a button for a conventional switch.
- Turning onalong with a light source. A fairly common option, but not very practical: a lot of unnecessary (idle) fan starts. This can be avoided if a timer is provided in the ventilation device. The scheme for such a connection is quite simple: the phase wire goes to the switch and power to the fan, the zero wire goes to the lamp and fan, the wire coming out of the lamp goes to the switch and power to the timer.
- Self-activation, that is, the presence of a separate switch. Perhaps the simplest circuit of all and is no different from the circuit for connecting a conventional lamp. If there is a timer, the connection diagram is similar to the previous paragraph, only without a lamp: the wire from the timer goes to the switch.
- Switch on with humidity sensor or motion sensor. It can be connected in two ways: completely autonomous switching on (that is, the fan is operated only with the help of sensors, without a switch) and forced autonomous (that is, using a switch in the fan connection diagram).
Installation
How to install a bathroom fan depends on the type of installation. Installation of overhead equipment can be done in two ways:
- Using the hardware normally included.
- Using sealant or liquid nails applied to the back of the fan frame and firmly pressed against the wall.
Duct type fans are installed inside an existing ventilation duct or anywhere when installing a new duct.
The most important thing during installation is to prevent air leakage, that is, to make the connection airtight. The location of the fan should also be considered, as some models are only allowed to be installed in a horizontal or vertical position.
