Bathroom fan how long

Many builder install the minimum fan required by code, but is if usually inadequate ventilation for the space A good rule of thumb is to have 1.

Turn fan on before showering Leave fan on for 20 minutes after showering Try installing a moisture sensing switch that automatically turns the fan on and off for you. Bath fans must me exhausted to the outside, not the attic Make sure the proper size duct is used for the fan Use the shortest run of duct possible with as few elbows as possible What to look for in a bath fan: There are two basic functions to start with: air movement measured in Cubic Feet per Minute CFM and sound measured in Sones.

The higher the number the more CFM cubic feet per minute the fan can move. Plan for 1 CFM for every square foot of floor space If you bath has a separate toilet room then get two fans Sone Rating A sone is an internationally recognized unit of loudness. Measure of how noisy the fan is Shoot for a sone rating of 3. The quieter the fan the more expensive it will be. Special Features Heater — a heater, even used in the summer, can help dry the bathroom faster Nightlight — low voltage night light moisture sensing switch — automatically turns fan on or off Motion sensing switch — turn fan on and off based on movement Thank you for reading!

All rights reserved. CRC Close What is your question? Related Questions Can I use a smaller diameter duct than what the fan is designed for? This is not recommended. It will cause the fan to run harder, greatly reducing the CFM performance of the fan and create excess noise.

Static pressure is the measurement of airflow resistance as it is pushed through ductwork which reduces the effectiveness of the fan. Learn more on the Home Ventilation Institute web site www. Both intermittent spot ventilation and continuous whole house ventilation should be considered. Intermittent ventilation is used to exhaust sources of moisture and odors, while continuous ventilation is used to remove accumulated indoor air pollutants. Ventilating fans should be located near the source of moisture and indoor air pollutants in A Metal Halide, florescent, or specialty bulb may flicker and turn off during the first hours burn in period.

A normal house hold bulb may acturally burn filiment off the outside of the glass as well. For example, if you take a steamy bath or a long shower, you will want to run the bathroom for longer than usual. As far as odours are concerned, simply run the bathroom fan until the smell has been removed. To avoid electrical issues, which we will discuss later on, you should never leave your bathroom fan on overnight.

About an hour should be the maximum time you let an extractor fan run. When it comes to extractor fans in the kitchen, you should typically run them while you are using the hob and for another 10 to 30 minutes after you are done cooking, depending on what you made. You may want to operate it for longer if you make fish or other pungent-smelling foods.

The run time will also vary somewhat based on how much smoke and steam are produced while cooking. Different bathroom extractor fans are turned on and off in different ways.

The most common, basic model of a bathroom fan is connected to the light switch, so it automatically turns on and off with the light. Other bathroom extractor fans have their own switch with a timer that can be adjusted. Some of the most modern extraction fans do not have a switch at all and, instead, have a humidity sensor. The sensor monitors the air in the space and automatically turns on and off the power when a particular level of humidity is reached.

I was here for 2 days before I realized why there is a switch in this bathroom for both fan and extractor. There are two types of fans on the ceiling!

As you use your fan, lint, dust, dirt, and hair are naturally sucked into the fan and build-up on the blades and around the wiring. This build-up of debris can overheat and combust, leading to an accidental fire. A build-up of dust and hair can also limit the functionality of the fan by clogging the blades.

In addition, faulty wiring can also lead to a fire. So, if you hear the wires sparking or notice a burning plastic smell, power off your extractor fan immediately and do not use it again until it has been inspected. You may even want to call an electrician to play it safe. If your fan also turns off at the same time as the light, remaining humid air will be left to cool and condense on your bathroom ceiling, walls and surfaces. It is advised, where possible, to install a fan with an over-run timer option as this will allow the fan unit to continue to run for a pre-set amount of time after the light has been turned out.

It is suggested for most bathrooms that you set the timer to allow the fan to run for minutes after the light has been turned off or longer for heavy use bathrooms and wet rooms.

Fans with humidity sensors will of course be triggered when the relative humidity in the room rises and will turn off again when it detects the humidity has dropped below the level the fan is set to detect. Most humidistat fans also come equipped with an over-run timer to ensure the humidity level in the room has dropped sufficiently, some kicking in when the humidity drops below that trigger level while others are attached to the lighting circuit like a regular timer fan.