Bathroom extractor fans

[Luckystar82]

Can anyone recommend a bathroom extractor fan brand/ model please?

We are buying a concrete terrace house and it does not currently have a fan, which is strange considering the bathroom is very modern and is nicely done out (with digital Aqualisa shower). It is possible they just open the window but I think a fan is a priority. I also noticed the sealant around bath not so great, so will be re-doing that by filling bath.

Planning to get a plumber in to do:

• check under bath for leaking water from sealant
  
• re-do sealant on bath
  
• install extractor fan (outside wall)
  
• fit a bath panel (there isn't one at the moment- just MDF)
  

How long would this take and what sort of budget would this need? Don't have very much to spend as I'm pregnant and about to go on maternity leave!

Thanks all :)

[PigletJohn]

Most 100mm (4-inch) fans are very weedy, but they are so cheap that most builders lob them in. You can get very quiet and powerful ducted inline fans that are fitted in the loft, with a duct to take the steam out through the wall or eaves; otherwise, look at a 150mm (6-inch) fan. I have looked for a good 100mm extractor but not found one.

Don't mount it directly above a bath or shower tray as the electrical safety regulations are them more rigorous. Put it as high as you can because water vapour rises. Have it wired to come on with the light switch and run on with a timer for long enough to clear the steam. With a quiet fan this will not be a nuisance.

You will need an electrician to wire it, he may also need to bring your bathroom wiring up to standard.

Quite a good range here. Look at the extract rate in cubic metres per hour (80 cu.m/hr is very poor) and the noise in db. Larger fans are generally quieter and more powerful than small ones. Better fans will have ball-bearing motors which last longer and are quieter. If the room happens to have an airbrick, measure the hole and get as big a fan as will fit.

[PigletJohn]

p.s.

If I was buying one for myself, I would probably choose this

[Luckystar82]

Thanks Piglet John

That's very helpful advice I will use when shopping for a fan and scoping out plumber - so I guess we need a plumber and electrician then? Or just an electrian.

Trying to work out our budget - don't want to spend too much but then a good fan is worth while as it saves the bathroom and rest of the house getting grotty!

[Luckystar82]

Approx £100 for the fan inc VAT is reasonable

I guess a few hours to fit so £150 for labour

£300 all in? Or is that optimistic?

[PigletJohn]

most electricians will be used to fitting bathroom fans. Mention that you are choosing a 6-inch though as they may normally carry only a 110mm core-drill (cheap fans are much more common), and if your house is concrete, mention that, as it is harder.

Core drills can be hired if necessary. They are rather heavy and make some dust.

If for some reason you need to vent via the loft, it will be easier to put the duct through the eaves. Vent tiles and ridge vents are available but I would always ask a roofer to fit one as I wouldn't want a leaking roof. I notice they are more often fitted to new houses.

[totallyrandom]

I have just had a Zehnder timer silent wall fan fitted and am pleased with it (comes with a 3 year guarantee) - I think it is the standard size extractor. The guys in the plumbing shop recommended it and the electrician said it was the best fan he has seen to date (not sure how many fans he fits though). It isn't too loud and is wired into my light (that is what I wanted but I have an isolator switch too so I can turn the fan off if I don't want to use it when the light comes on). You need to think about how you are going to use the fan and if you want it wired into the light or on a separate manual switch. This fan has some sort of back draught blocking mechanism too. My electrician charged 250 pounds to fit 3 wall lights and the extractor and he had quite a lot of chasing out of walls to do and had to wire from scratch in that room (outer London suburb).
Re venting into loft, my roofer said previously that this isn't a good idea as can create a lot of humidity which isn't good for roof timbers in an old house even if there are vent tiles. So in my upstairs bathroom I don't use the extractor that vents into the loft but just open the Velux windows. I am no expert but more than one roofer has told me this. However, totally possible that the one fitted in my house (by previous owners) just vented into the loft rather than through the eaves and out.

[PigletJohn]

venting into the loft is shocking, but occasionally found where bodgers have been at play. It should be possible to see the steam blowing out of the duct on a frosty day.

[PigletJohn]

(I meant, the duct attached to the tile vents, not just blowing into the loft)