Bathroom extractor fan recommendation please

[Sabee]

Hello!

We have moved house recently. The fan in the bathroom is dead, and we need to replace it.

Our electrician said he would get one fitted etc for £70, including parts - but I suspect the fan might be a standard one and I would rather look into sourcing a proper one - but have no idea where to start!

I have seen posts on mumsnet a few years ago, where PigletJohn has suggested a few, but it is a few years down the line and I am hoping PigletJohn (or anyone else suitable qualified :) ) if you could be so kind to give me a recommendation!

The fan currently in situ is fitted on the top corner of the bathroom, away from the shower. It is vented through a wall to the outside. It says 'mentis' on it and is 6" wide (dont know if that helps!).

I'm looking for a fan which is powerful, and is able to deal with the whole family showering one after the other! We have a window, but there is a wasps nest somewhere so don't open it...when we have, there have been multiple bees coming in, and my husband has got stung once while showering!

Of course, it would be beneficial if it is quiet too!

Would really appreciate any suggestions!
Thank you

Most likely there is a 100mm 4" or thereabouts plastic duct built into the wall. Measure it to make sure. Many modern fans are a little over 100mm and will not fit old ducts (If your electrician knows one that will, ask her the make and model because I want to know)

If you have a 150mm 6" duct you can have a bigger, more powerful fan. If you have no duct, get a 150mm one made.

If your duct runs out of sight above the ceiling but is accessible, you can have a much better fan. This is the best option.

Does the existing wiring include a timer connection? Is so there will be three coloured wires, usually red, blue and yellow plus an earth wire that should be green and yellow striped but might not be present.

If there is just a red and black, or brown and blue, there is no timer connection but the electrician can add one if he has access above the ceiling, e.g. in a loft and doesn't mind crawling around in dirt and dust.

Thank you for your reply!

We took the cover off, here is a photo:

Just black and brown wires (a bit has a blue cover?) - and an earth wire?

It wasn't working from when we moved in, so I don't know about a timer connection - probably not as it doesn't have the wires you mention...

oh the duct goes straight out the wall to the outside - I can see a basic clay type grill on the wall outside

It does have a timer.

Clues are:

• 3 wires going up the top left side

• the word "Timer" on the label, bottom right.

Can you see a plastic duct in the wall when you peer through the fan blades with a torch? What colour? Or just bricks?

I can suggest a modern, good quality 4-inch modern fan, very quiet, but it needs a duct (gets measure) 102mm internal diameter (it has a slight bulge on the side for the motor connector, otherwise it would fit 100mm). A 110mm duct would be better.

A 4-inch fan is not very powerful, but I use one, in well-heated bathroom and it prevents damp and condensation because it runs a lot. Like yours, it comes on with the light switch and is always used, and is running before the taps are turned on. This also keeps it fresh. I have the same thing in the downstairs WC and the guest shower cube.

If you have lots of hot steamy showers you need something more powerful, preferably a ducted inline fan above the ceiling. Or you could set the fan to run 24 hours a day (it is very quiet and cost of electricity is negligible).

If you want to remove the fan your self, you must turn off the electricity at the consumer unit and test for dead. If you remove the screws holding it to the wall it will probably withdraw enough to measure the duct.

Turning off the light switch is not enough, it will still be live. This also applies to most lamp fittings.