Find Bathroom Ventilation Fans and information here.
So maybe you don’t have a bathroom exhaust fan now or you are looking to replace your current one, this is one project that is pretty simple to do.
As you probably already know, it’s fairly important to have a bathroom ventilation fan
Mold likes to grow in moist areas. Removing as much moisture from your bathroom as possible will help prevent mold from growing.
Maybe your existing fan sounds like you are living at the airport or it can’t keep up with demand. It is a very easy project replacing the bathroom fan. I replaced mine a short time ago, it took me 10 minutes from start to finish with a screwdriver.
In this article we are going to discuss what things to look for in new bath ventilation fans, the different kinds available-mainly with and without lights, installation, and bathroom fan replacement.
Quiet and Power
How quiet a fan is and how much air it can suck out are the key ingredients to look for when buying a new bath exhaust fan.
You can have ultra quiet bathroom fans (almost silent) and a powerful bathroom fan motor all together if you want to pay for it. As with everything, the better it is, the more expensive.
Depending on how much you want to spend, you can go with which one is more important to you or strike a balance between quietness, power, and budget.
The quietness of exhaust fan motors are measured in what is called “Sones”. Basically, the quietness of all bath fans fall on a Sone scale between 1-6. The lower the number, the more quiet the fan and vice-versa. A fan with a Sone rating of one is almost silent.
The power of a fan is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). The bigger the area of your bathroom, the more CFM power you need.
Luckily, all fans show both the Sone rating and CFM right on the box or in the product description if buying online. It will also tell you what size bathroom the fan CFM is good for.
Of the brands you are most likely to see, Broan-NuTone fills most of the shelves. They have fans ranging in all types, from the economical to the more high-end.
They used to be separate companies so you may see an older fan that just says Broan or NuTone. Broan bought NuTone in 1998 so now they make replacement fans for both older types.
Broan-NuTone new installation and replacement fans
Panasonic bathroom exhaust fans are very popular but a good selection is not always readily available in stores. A vast array of Panasonic bath fans
There is a line of Hunter bathroom fans that are very attractive and can really add a flair to your bathroom. Like the Panasonic line, the Hunter line may be difficult to find a vast assortment. Like the others, Amazon does offer a large assortment of Hunter bathroom exhaust fans
You can find a great assortment of not only brands of fans, but types. You can get just bath exhaust fans, a bath fan with light
Bathroom Exhaust Fan Installation
Depending on your current wiring configuration, adding bath fans with a light may require a bit of electrical work if one is not already wired there.
Bathroom fan installation is a fairly simple process for new installation that involves setting the fan, running the exhaust, and running any needed wiring. If you are not familiar with electrical wiring, you can always do the rest and hire an electrician.
There is a pretty good explanation on how to install a bathroom fan provided by Lowes here. It gives a pretty good explanation on wiring, setting the fan, and venting.
Bathroom Exhaust Fan Replacement
If it is time to finally replace the bathroom fan then your project is a little easier. You don’t need to replace your exhaust fan for the bathroom with another that has the same quietness and power.
If you are replacing just the fan with another fan or a bathroom fan light combo with another, by all means upgrade to more quiet bathroom exhaust fans or one with more power.
Replacing the fan might be as simple as removing the bathroom fan cover, unplugging the fan motor, and popping the motor out. Repeat in reverse order and you are done!
Be sure to read the specifications and directions. Some fans may require you to rewire their own electrical receptacle to plug the fan into up there.
Whatever your preference is for quiet bathrooms fans, power fans, or the best of both, you most certainly find the fan you are looking for. Bathroom fans usually last for many many years so think about that when the one you want is a few bucks more. You will live with it for awhile.
Good luck, I am sure you will find the one you want.