How to choose the right bathroom fan, criteria and a review of the best models
The bathroom is a very humid room, which absolutely needs good ventilation. To do this, you need to buy a good fan that will circulate the air throughout the room. How to choose the right fan in the bathroom and what parameters you need to pay attention to in the first place, we will find out below.
Breakdown value
The hood installed in the bathroom performs the following functions:
- Maintains the correct microclimate, preventing the formation of harmful bacteria and microorganisms.
- Keeps renovations safe and sound, saving the family budget from unnecessary expenses.
Types of exhaust fans
Depending on the type of structure or features of its installation, hoods are divided into:
- radial;
- axial;
- centrifugal;
- roof.
Axial
The design of the axial cover consists of:
- cylindrical body;
- paddle wheels;
- electric motor;
- axis.
When power is connected to the motor, the blades begin to rotate, removing excess moist air from the room.
Among the advantages of the design are:
- high power;
- ease of installation;
- affordable price.
Defaults:
- high level of noise emitted during operation.
Radial
The design of radial fans is similar to their axial counterparts and the only difference is in the direction of the intake air movement. The advantages of the design:
- significant energy savings;
- small dimensions of the hood;
- resistance to high loads;
- are quieter than the axial ones.
Centrifugal
Centrifugal hoods work according to the radial principle, but they are not mounted on the wall, but inside the ventilation system. The main feature of this design is considered to be the preservation of airflow power, while significantly reducing noise inside the room.
Roof
Roof cowls can work on both axial and radial air intake.
Such devices are installed on the roofs of residential premises, protected from the weather by special covers.
Main selection criteria
Many shoppers who come to the store for hoods have a vague idea of what they want to get in the end, buying the first item they see.
To avoid this situation, pay attention to the following key product features:
- performance;
- Feature;
- the level of noise emitted;
- security;
- the amount of electricity consumed.
Performance
Performance is calculated based on the product of two numbers:
- the volume of the ventilated room;
- the required number of air changes from old to fresh air, carried out in one hour.
To note! For most bathrooms, hoods with a capacity of 95-100 m are suitable.3/hour. For standard tub sizes, try to choose a fan with similar performance.
Noise level
Any device that ventilates the air in the room makes noise during operation. It is believed that sounds above 35 decibels have an irritating effect on the human psyche. A mark of 25 decibels is considered comfortable.
Security
The main threat to any electronic device is considered water ingress, which will lead to a short circuit and fire. To avoid this, buy special range hoods designed to work specifically in bathrooms and toilets. They operate under a voltage of 24 V, which prevents fires in the event of force majeure.
Feature
This parameter is not important for all owners, but the better equipped the installed equipment, the better for you. Useful functions for the hood are considered:
- equipment with sensors;
- the presence of an on and off timer;
- the presence of a built-in light indicator;
- cord switch;
- check valve;
- Automatically adjustable blinds.
Additional sensors
Additional humidity sensors installed in the hood will allow the device to independently adjust the level of humidity, turning on if necessary.
Ordinary fans cannot do this, they only work when directly activated by the owner.
sleep timer
Another useful option, thanks to which the device works for a while after leaving the bathroom. The fact is that during the presence of the owner inside the room, the hood does not have time to remove all the humidity from the room. The timer helps to combat this problem without your participation.
Seeing
The indicator light activates the hood by itself by reacting to the switching on of the light in the bathroom. This function is extremely convenient, since it saves the owners from performing unnecessary actions.
Pull switch
Eliminates the hassle of connecting remote hood switches, saving you time and money. The device will be turned on or off by simply pulling the cord.
Automatic blinds
With their help, it is easier to regulate the inflow and outflow of air. If necessary, you can completely block the ventilation hole, limiting the entry of various debris and insects into the living space.
Check valve
Hoods are sometimes interrupted when old and unusable air begins to flow back into the building. To eliminate this problem, check valves were invented. Their installation is especially relevant in old buildings, the ventilation ducts of which are clogged with debris and dust.
Value for money
Determining an acceptable price-performance ratio without being an expert in the field is quite difficult. When buying a fan in the shower, try to pay attention to the availability of quality certificates and warranty documents.
Their presence will serve as a good signal to buy and, most likely, your money will not be wasted.
Energy consumption
This parameter directly affects the amount of electricity consumed by the device. The smaller it is, the less money will have to be paid to public services. Axial fans are considered the most cost effective in this regard. With slightly less power than radials, they consume 3 times less electricity.
Review of the best manufacturers
Modern stores offer a wide range of goods, which is difficult for an inexperienced buyer to understand. If you came to buy a range hood for the bathroom for the first time, pay attention to the following brands that have positive reviews among buyers:
- Blauberg;
- Soler & Polau;
- Time;
- COSTS;
- vents;
- Elicent;
- CATA Electrodomesticos S.L;
- Mmotors JSC.
Blauberg
A popular German brand that manufactures fans in different configurations.
Among the main features of the company are:
- German manufacturing quality;
- a wide range of products for all needs;
- Client orientation.
Soler & Polau
Proven Spanish brand specializing in the production of ventilation systems. It has a research center and 2 powerful factories. Company advantages:
- the products have a low noise level;
- high build quality;
- availability of a special program that allows you to select the model of hood you need, taking into account a large number of equipment parameters.
Time
A domestic manufacturer of ventilation equipment, which, thanks to its quality and reasonable price, is recognized in the world market. The brand is constantly modernizing its production tool by introducing innovative technologies.
COSTS
Another popular foreign brand that produces high-quality and inexpensive equipment. A large assortment and an attractive price only add to the popularity of the company among consumers.
Vents
A powerful Russian manufacturer offering a full line of high-quality equipment for room ventilation. The product assortment includes more than 10,000 items, among which everyone will find a suitable option for themselves.
Elicent
The brand is engaged in the manufacture of not only domestic, but also industrial hoods, which significantly expands the range of products offered. In the presence of the function of designing unique air ventilation systems and their delivery to their destination.
CATA Electrodomesticos S.L.
Spanish company for the production of kitchen equipment and hoods, founded in 1947. Since then, the company's products have been used in 80 countries around the world, including Russia.
Mmotors JSC
Bulgarian manufacturer of kitchen hoods for general use and equipment used for agricultural purposes. Hoods equipped with energy-saving motors are available.
Review of popular models
Among the popular models of ventilation equipment sold in the domestic market, the following products are distinguished:
- SILENCER-100 CZ;
- 4Standard ETF;
- mm-100 motors;
- EBB-250NS;
- OBR 200M 2K Bahcival;
- AURA 4C MR D100.
SILENCER-100 CZ
Axial hood from the Soler & Polau brand, whose strengths are:
- Good performance.
- Low noise level during operation.
- The life of the product exceeds 30,000 hours.
Weaknesses:
- not suitable for large rooms.
4ETF Standard
Axial fan designed to be installed in the ventilation openings of standard prefabricated houses. Most equipment:
- the presence of built-in thermal protection, which will protect the thing from damage in the event of overheating;
- equipped with a photo timer to facilitate work with the hood;
- easy to mount and connect.
mm-100 motors
Air fan to evacuate hot air from a bath or sauna. Its productivity is 105 m3/ hour, and the maximum number of revolutions per minute does not exceed the 2750 mark. The following mounting options are possible:
- ripe;
- ceiling.
EBB-250NS
EBB-250 NS centrifugal fan equipped with three speeds and non-return valve. Equipment Features:
- a special stainless steel filter prevents clogging of the air duct;
- equipped with a centrifugal impeller;
- shows itself well in conditions of increased air humidity.
Cata CB-100 Plus
A device designed to be installed in long ventilation ducts. Benefits:
- nice design;
- reliability;
- great labor resource.
OBR 200M 2K Bahcival
An extractor hood that has the following advantages:
- the presence of a speed switch;
- compact design;
- does not make noise during operation.
AURA 4C MR D100
Low-noise ventilation, the working resource of which is at least 40,000 working hours. It has built-in draft protection and a controller that allows you to switch the device to different operating modes.
To note! You can find more information about the features of the equipment you like on the company's website or from authorized dealers.
How to install correctly
If you bought an extractor hood, but you do not know how to properly install new equipment, use the action instructions described below.
Wiring
Mark the place where the cable supplying the fan will pass, then attach a special cover for the wires to it. If the fan has a long cable, you can skip this step.
Facility
During installation you must:
- adjust the ventilation hole to the size of the device;
- mark and make holes for the fasteners to which the hood will be attached.
Link
After the cover is securely fixed, we connect an electric cable to its contacts.
Review
We verify the performance of the equipment. If the hood works according to the instructions, do not hesitate to use the hood.
Expert tips and tricks
When purchasing and installing ventilation systems yourself, pay attention to the following tips:
- It is not necessary to spend large sums on the purchase of expensive ventilation equipment, especially in rooms with small dimensions.
- Do not forget to provide access to fresh air inside, otherwise all the efforts of the hood will go down the drain.
- The presence of air conditioners in the house does not mean that it is not necessary to equip a normal hood.
- Do not forget preventive maintenance in order to increase the life of the equipment used.