For many people, there is nothing better than pampering themselves with a warm bath or relaxing in the shower after a long day at work, after exercising, or simply in between. However, this creates water vapor that settles on the walls and in the tile joints. If you do not ensure adequate ventilation, mold growth is usually the logical consequence. Especially in rented apartments and condominiums, the bathroom is often oriented towards the interior of the building and is not equipped with a window. This makes regular ventilation impossible. Mold has many negative effects on health: it impairs the immune system and can lead to concentration problems, fatigue, and even asthma in sensitive individuals. A bathroom fan provides a remedy – this article reveals what you should look for when buying one.
Helpful tips for the purchasing decision
Anyone interested in a bathroom fan will find a wealth of offers. It is not always necessary to dig deep into your pockets for this. You should keep in mind that a bathroom fan can only work efficiently if it has been selected to match the size of the room. A helpful criterion for this is the room air circulation. It is calculated using a simple formula, which is 10 x room volume in cubic meters.
Not only the appropriate size should be included in the purchasing decision, but noise development is also an important criterion. Especially if the bathroom or toilet for which the bathroom fan is intended is located next to the bedrooms, the noise caused by it can be perceived as particularly disturbing. Less sensitive people perceive bathroom fans with a noise level of up to 30 decibels as quiet.
In addition, you should clarify how the bathroom fan is to be put into operation. In most cases, it is coupled to the light switch. However, this system is not suitable for toilets and bathrooms that have a window. Here, you would have to turn on the light even in daylight to ensure adequate air circulation. When coupled to the light switch, a run-on time should be possible. This way, the bathroom fan continues to run for a certain time even after the light has already been switched off.
Smart bathroom fans measure the humidity independently and switch on automatically when the value exceeds a certain limit.
Retrofitting a bathroom fan
When a house is being planned, house and bathroom fans should be part of the basic equipment from the start. They are usually intended for rooms where air cannot circulate easily – for example, in interior sanitary rooms or utility rooms.
In existing buildings, retrofitting is also possible, but certain conditions must be met: this includes, for example, an existing ventilation shaft with a pipe connection through which the exhaust air can be discharged. If this is available, you can also install the bathroom fan yourself. A few steps are required for this:
- First, you should ensure that the fan corresponds to the diameter of the exhaust pipe and fits cleanly into the pipe. The fan is then attached to the wall or ceiling using dowels and screws, which are included in the scope of delivery.
- In the next step, the connection to the power circuit is made: for this, a terminal block can be found in the housing of the fan. A standard device without additional functions is usually coupled to the light switch with 2 poles. Devices with additional functions require a 3-wire connection. However, there are also fans that are equipped with a motion sensor or a brightness sensor. These only require a fixed power supply, without a cable connection to the room light.
- Now, only the outer housing of the bathroom fan needs to be closed. It is usually snapped on and secured with a screw if necessary.
Conclusion
A bathroom fan prevents annoying mold growth. If the necessary connections such as a ventilation shaft and a power connection are available, it can also be installed subsequently. In rooms without windows, it is often coupled to the light switch. In this case, a run-on time should be set so that the bathroom fan continues to ensure air circulation even when the light is switched off.
