Bathroom Extractor Fan Bungalow

rachelandgromit

Hi

I need to get an extractor fan in the bathroom. I am in a bungalow and have a whirpool bath which I adore, however my baths are so hot and everything steams up.... it's so bad you can't even see and the tiles literally drip with condenstation. Whilst I quite like this, I've had some black mouldy patches in the bathroom near the ceiling and the only explanation is the amount of steam and condenstation that's in there and I've been quite lazy recently due the the cold weather and not been opening the window. My dad recommends I get a bathroom extractor fan on the celing which can go straight up into the loft (its a bungalow) and 'extract' outside which will obviously need a vent.. Can anyone recommend a fan that will do the job and what fixing kits I need to buy. I'd like something that isn't too noisy, won't cost a fortune in electric and of course 'looks nice; I've read some terrible reviews so any help would be apprechiated.

Finally, dad suggested it could be easily wired into the light so when I turn the light on the fan comes on.... I don't want a seperate pullcord.

WestonDave

Not that well up on which kits for the setting you need but I'd recommend considering one with a humidistat in it - these switch on when the humidity in the bathroom is above a certain level so it will run for as long as its needed when its needed. The ones wired into the light tend to run on a timer so will switch off after a certain time whether the bathroom is drying out or not. Its probably also worth getting one that has motorised shutters in it so it shuts off any draughts.

TimBuckTeeth

I would recommend a good quality centrifugal inline duct fan that would be placed in the loft in the ducting. There are several advantages over a standard axial fan : more powerful and suitable for longer runs of ducting, quieter, safer and allows choice of ceiling mounted grill.
The cheap fans are noisy and not effective especially when connected to ducting and the bearings wear out after a couple of years.

I have the Xpelair XID100 100mm fan and it is effective and running fine and quietly after 5 years, in hindsight I would possibly choose the larger more powerful 125 or 150mm version:

http://www.dealec.co.uk/acatalog/Xpelair_XID_Inline_Duct_Fans.html

or the plastic version, which is supposed to be slightly quieter and corrosion resistant (although the metal one is galvanised):

http://www.dealec.co.uk/acatalog/xpelair_xidp_plastic_inline_duct_fans.html

McKneff

Recommendation

Get an electrician to do it, water and electricity mixed is a killer.

I wouldnt wire it up to the light, because every time you go into the bathroom for the smallets thing, the fan is going to come on, when you dont need it to come on, its going to cost a lot of leccy over the year.

Seperate switch that you can turn on befoe you start running the bath, like I say, safest thing is an electrician.

PudseyDB

would also advise a separate switch......as you probably turn the light off when you've finished your bath and got dried. but if the room is so steamy you might need to leave the fan on for a bit longer. besides you dont need a fan on if you're just going to the loo or brushing teeth

re: positioning of the fan. In our old house the fan was over the bath - and I hated it as it made a cold draft when in use. Connected to the light switch so couldnt turn it off unless I bathed in darkess as there were no windows!

rachelandgromit

I will get an electrician to do it, yes I want to be safe. I'm just looking into buying the right kit. Humidity is very high, and you are probably right to get it wired seperately as the bathroom is very steamy for some time after so if it is on a timer I don't want it turning off. I could ask that the switch for it is put in the airing cupboard in the bathroom, out of sight so it's not seen, but at least I can control when it is on and off. The bath is a P shaped one with a shower screen. I think it is probably best going over the bath so it may be a little drafty - would you put it in the ceiling or wall then?

I'm been looking in screwfix, etc... but I really don't know which ones are best.

McKneff

Why not be guided by the electrician when he comes to give you a quote.

rachelandgromit

I like to get an idea myself of different products available, rather than go with an electrician sometimes recommending products they can make the most money on/get for you. In the past I've found that, e.g. gas fitters have recommended certain brands of boilers, so I always find it better to do my own homework.

I've seen some on Screwfix & B&Q but I really don't know what I'm looking for and what you are getting for your money. I am hoping someone on here can point me in the right direction.

SuzieSue

PudseyDB wrote: »

besides you dont need a fan on if you're just going to the loo or brushing teeth

Well, yes, sometimes you do need the fan when using the loo. So what happens if a fan has a humidistat and you need it to remove unpleasant smells? I assume the fan just wouldn't work if there was no humidity?

rachelandgromit

To be honest it's just the humidity that's a problem and the steam, there's only two of us and have coped so far without needing a fan for using the loo ;-)

Myser

McKneff wrote: »

I wouldnt wire it up to the light, because every time you go into the bathroom for the smallets thing, the fan is going to come on, when you dont need it to come on,

Bathroom fans are available with start-up delays and well as on-time duration. This means that you can set the fan to come on after a preset time (2-10 minutes) after the light has been on. The fan on-time duration can also be set after the light is switched off.

Have a look at the Airflow range:

http://www.airflow.com/productcat/pg_ICFN/iCON-Fan-Range

The start-up delay is an add-on module.