En-suite bathroom extractor fan

[RememberDecember]

Can anyone recommend a good one please?

Is it better to have it direct to the external wall or out via the ceiling? The builder wants to put it direct to the external wall but I am concerned we will just have a permanent draught if that is the case. I previously lived somewhere that had a cheap extractor fan that was basically like having the window permanently open and did nothing to remove steam!

We have another bathroom with no fan and it isn’t great just using the window, plus I presume we will need for building control sign off.

Currently planned to be on a timer related to bathroom light but I don’t think that is going to be good having it come on every time we turn on light rather than just when having a shower.

I've got 3 - one came with the house so I've no idea what make that is but the other two are Manrose and both work perfectly fine.
One goes direct to the external wall and I've never noticed a draft but I suppose because the flaps on the outside only open under pressure from the fan.
Each fan is controlled by a switch above the door so you could keep those switched off unless you want to use it for the shower - but I don't do that because I'm too short to reach.
Hope this helps.

You can get a good fan that vents through a tube in the wall. They are usually 100mm in diameter which is too small for much power, but adequate if it turns on every time you use the bathroom, and have an overrun timer. They are typically 80 to 100 cu.m/hr which is not enough if you have steamy showers.

The best modern fans, with a ball-bearing motor, and vibration-absorbing mounts, can be very quiet. You will not hear them through a closed door, or over the sound of a running tap.

For a more powerful fan, one option is a larger fan, 150mm diameter is suitable, around 280 cu.m/hr, which is enough. Some builders will not be keen if they only have a 100mm core drill (this is a very common size for plumbers). The powerful tool is large and heavy and not safe to use off a ladder.

An advantage of a wall mounted fan is that it is very easy to clean, or to remove and replace with a new one. Typical bathroom fans might last 5 to 10 years. Soler & Palau last significantly longer, I don't know how long as I have never had one wear out.

If you have access to the loft space, you can have an online ducted fan, which is bigger and can be considerably more powerful, but is a quieter design. 240 cu.m/hr or more. It will preferably be screwed to a padded board fixed to the roof timbers to absorb any vibration. It does mean that any maintenance means climbing into the loft. To reduce the risk of condensation leaks, the duct should be rigid pipe (not flexible) and slope slightly so any water runs outside. The short vertical from ceiling to fan can be flexible. The duct can be wrapped in indication, or bought ready- insulated, again to reduce condensation. Some builders can't be bothered.

This type is usually fitted by an electrician, and I strongly advise having a timer version, coming on with the light switch.

The best brand I know is Soler & Palau. I have no axe to grind and no connection with any maker or supplier. They are also sold under the Envirovent name. For example trade prices, please see www.tlc-direct.co.uk/tcl/search?query=palau%20silent&sort_order=&category_id=&sub_category_id=&manufacturer_ids=

I have no extractors in either bathroom in our house. I asked an electrician about it but he didn’t seem keen to do it. I don’t know who to ask to install it and trust they’re doing a good job. It’s a pain in winter to have to leave the window open all the time when having a shower.

@Letmeoutodhere this has been my experience previously, electricians don’t seem keen to do it, especially not ceiling mounted. Our builder just wants to put in hole in wall - I’m concerned it will be the equivalent of a permanently open window. There do seem to be backdraft protectors that might help with this though.

I don't know about brands I left that to the builder but ours are on separate switches as I am a light sleeper and don't want the extractor kicking in when someone uses the loo in the middle of the night. Just a double switch one is the light the other is the extractor so you put it on to shower but leave it off otherwise

I just changed mine to a pull switch one as I hate fans that come on with the light. Wall mounted and it’s not draughty.

It might be that you have not experienced one of the modern quiet fans,

You can apparently get them with flaps the stay closed until the fan is switched on. Hence less drafts. Mine is in the wall and it works fine. You can get them on their own switch, or designed to come on when the light switch is on and go off when it’s turned off (or remain on for a little longer and switch themselves off).

The modern fans have a lightweight butterfly shutter that opens and shuts silently. Some others have an electrically opened shutter that IME makes a loud click opening and closing. These are more common in offices.

On the outside of the wall, you will want something to deflect wind and rain, there is a type resembling a venetian blind with several little overlapping flaps. I do not recommend those because they rattle annoyingly in the wind, until they break off, which does not usually take long. I favour the "cowl vent" which has a fixed sloping cover to throw off wind and rain, and usually a single large flap inside. You can also get an internal shutter, fitted anywhere inside the duct in the loft, if you have that type, which can be sited far from the outside wall and is least likely to be audible.

I live in a windy coastal district, and my bathroom wall faces the weather, and I find the butterfly completely satisfactory. My kitchen extractor has a single flap type, and I do sometimes hear it rattle on windy days. The duct type are least affected by wind.

Thank you for the advice @PigletJohn!
I have ordered the Environvent Silent Design 100 with timer. Appears to be same product as S&P?

Not found a suitable cowl cover yet, not sure whether to go with plastic or metal, don’t want it rusting. Many seem to have a backdraft flap in, is that ok to have in addition to the flap on the back of the actual fan unit, or does doubling up cause issues?

Hoping we can get it put in a separate switch to the light, since there will be lots of time we will want light but not having a shower.

I’m still dubious about having a permanent 4 inch hole in the bathroom making it cold but I guess we will see. I expect it is required for the building regs anyway so not much choice (converting a bedroom to a new bathroom).

I find this cowl fine. IMO brown tones with the brickwork, and white gets grubby. There are also black ones, and metal ones.

Plastic can be painted if you want, a single flowing coat of oil-based non-drip gloss, without primer or undercoat. Before you fit it is much easier than after.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/manrose-cowl-vent-brown-100mm-x-100mm/14789

I favour running it off the light switch. It is not annoyingly loud. This will remove odours as well as damp.

My DH is a retired bathroom installer, he usually recommended and fitted Inline or Xpelair, he would fit them, but electrician would do the wiring and switches, he also recommended separate on/off switches outside bathroom

It is usual to have a fan isolating switch so you can clean or replace the fan, while keeping the light on, even when the fan is wired to the lamp. The isolator is usually fitted at high level, since it is rarely needed.

The electrician is fitting an isolator switch in a cupboard out of the way, I’m assuming that is different to a normal on/off type switch although I suppose it fulfills the same function. I’m sure the ones we have for other appliances are quite bulky.

Light switches (and fans controlled by light switches) do not cut all power to the fitting, so are not safe enough for cleaning or maintenance.

You can cut off the power at the consumer unit, but that would mean you would be working in the dark.

Fan isolator switches are a bit unusual because they cut PL, SL and N.
Most domestic isolators only cut L and N

They look slightly different but have the same external dimensions as an ordinary switch.

If they are not sunk into the wall they need a surface mounting box, so stick out more. It doesn't usually matter in a cupboard.