Silent Bathroom Extractor Fan?

Xstyle

Hi,
I am having a new bathroon fitted, and want to get a really silent extractor fan for the wall... preferably flush and minamalist looking.

Any idea's please?

Also, is PIR version better than having it come on with the light switch?



Cheers,
Xstyle

Xstyle

I might go for this:

http://www.epicair.co.uk/silent-fan-contemporary-timer-100mm-p-64.html

70% less noise than conventional fans. The Silent Range has been developed in response to customers who want to eliminate the nuisance noise of good ventilation.
Includes Decorative Front Cover with 3 inserts in the Contemporary range.

• Dimensions: 100mm
• Safety Zone siting: 1, 2 & 3
• Integral Backdraught Shutters: Yes
• Timer: Yes
• Guarantee: 3 years Manufacturer Guarantee
• Stock Item: Yes

only 26.7 db !

and get a funky cover on it.... on a timer, so still whirs away for a while.

Xstyle

Can you get near silent ceiling light fan kits?

Greenwood £80

http://www.greenwood.co.uk/product_detail.asp?product=HC115

looking at the physical performance, its db rating is 42 db. Thats farily high.

This has "back draught shutters" to eliminate draughts when unit is not in use, which I believe the Marley one (£35) does not.

Any quieter ones? The light would be useful for shaving!

moonrakerz

If it is very quiet it isn't shifting much air ! You will end up with damp and mould.

A bathroom can require up to 15 - 20 air changes per hours, a small quiet fan will come nowhere near that.

You need to work out the volume of your bathroom. Lets say 2m by 3m by 2.5m = 15 cu m. The HC115 fan in one post will (under perfect conditions) move 85 cu m/hr.
That is less than 6 changes per hour - no good !
You will need a 150mm unit.

It also needs a timer on it so it will keep running for at least 15/20 mins after you leave the room.

The building regulations are very poor in this area - just because it meets the regs doesn't mean it will keep your bathroom dry.

knightstyle

That is sooo right. If it is the noise at night you are worried about you can put a switch, (high level) to switch it off when you just want the light on.
Also centrifugal fans are generally quieter and more efficient.

TimBuckTeeth

I would get an inline duct mounted fan, as the fan blade noise is much reduced, and they are better suited to use with ducting. Some of the direct mounting axial fans are useless with more than a metre or two of ducting.

I have one of these : http://www.applied-energy.com/en/xpelair/products/range/1712
I chose it for performance rather than low noise, it certainly isn't silent but the noise is due to the air roaring through the grill on the bathroom ceiling rather than an annoying high pitched fan blade noise that you get with some of the small cheap axial fans.

Here are some of the range from Xpelair
http://www.applied-energy.com/en/xpelair/products/range/1609
and Vent-axia
http://www.vent-axia.com/products/category.asp

The pitch of the noise made by the fan is important as well as the actual noise level.
Larger fans have a lower pitch noise and are less annoying than smaller fans. I would avoid cheap fans and go with a quality brand as they are have better designed and balanced fan blades which are quieter.

moonrakerz

knightstyle wrote: »

That is sooo right. If it is the noise at night you are worried about you can put a switch, (high level) to switch it off when you just want the light on.

I think the regs require a 3 pole isolator switch.
This is the fan I went for, it's not very "minimalist" but it does the job !

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/39977/Heating-Cooling/Extractor-Fans/Xpelair-Slimline-Fan-Humidistat-Timer-150mm