How to Select the Right Exhaust Fan for your Bathroom

Exhaust fans are a important consideration in any bathroom design. They remove excess humidity from the air and clear away bathroom odors. Moisture generated by steam from the shower or bathtub can damage the walls, ceiling and woodwork in your bathroom, and all that warm moist air can create the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. It’s important to install an exhaust fan to control the humidity levels; this will maintain a healthy environment and protect your home from damage. Learn how to select the right exhaust fan for your bathroom in this Build.com video:

There are a few things you need to consider when choosing an exhaust fan:

Bathroom Size: Bath fans are rated by CFM (cubic feet per minute). This rating refers to the amount of air that a fan can move in one minute. Ideally, an exhaust fan will be able to move a room full of air about eight times per hour or about once every 7-1/2 minutes. There’s a formula to calculate the size fan you need. Multiply the length, width and height of the bathroom to get the volume of the room in cubic feet, then multiply that number by 0.13 to get the CFM required. Once you’re ready to shop for your fan, you can sort the selection according to CFM.

Installation Type: Standard exhaust fans are mounted to a ceiling or a wall, and the motor is part of the unit. This is probably the most familiar type of bath fan and can include a light or other features. Inline exhaust fans have the motor mounted in the attic or crawl space. The motor pulls the air out of the bathroom and then pushes it outside the home through ductwork. Since inline exhaust fans are not mounted directly to the bathroom ceiling, they are a quieter option.

Features: You can choose which optional features you want such as integrated lighting, heaters, humidity sensors that automatically activate the fan, and even built-in Bluetooth speakers.