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If family members keep forgetting to switch on the extractor when taking a shower, a humidistat fan such as the C4HTS is the perfect solution. Its built-in humidity sensor automatically turns on the fan when the level of moisture in the air hits a preset level (between 65% and 85%), and remains on for a set length of time, between 30 seconds and 30 minutes.
In a survey carried out by ventilation specialist Vent-Axia, 40% of respondents said that they or their children had been woken in the night by a noisy bathroom fan. Even the cheapest fans are usually very quiet out of the box, but as the motor bearings start to wear – typically after about two years with low-end models – the blades can start to oscillate against the main housing, producing an annoying rattle in the process. A higher-quality fan should last longer, but if you value quietness then at some point you’ll probably need to repair or replace your fan. How do you install a bathroom extractor fan? Your cooker hood is one of the most functional appliances in your kitchen. Still, it often gets overlooked when it comes to making style choices. While other design ideas, like your kitchen cupboards, worktops, and sink, have a significant impact on your overall finish, so too does the cooker hood you select.
The best bathroom extractor fans you can buy in 2023
Finally, if you think you (or anyone else in the house) will forget to turn the fan on, consider a model with a humidity sensor. This automatically activates the fan when the level of moisture in the air exceeds a certain threshold. This sensor may need occasional cleaning, though, or the accumulation of dust or grime will hinder its effectiveness. What about noise?
Most domestic bathroom extractors attach to a 100mm hole in the outside wall. If you’re replacing a standard-sized extractor fan, this hole will already be present and you should be able to install the new one yourself. Before you remove the old fan, it’s a good idea to take a photo of its wiring for later reference – and make absolutely sure you shut off the mains power before you take the old one’s front housing off. The iCON 30 is highly effective too, pumping through a huge 32l/sec of air. However, it does come with a couple of caveats: if you want an overrun timer, pull-cord or humidity sensor, you’ll need to splash out on an additional control module. It’s also quite a bit louder than most standard fans, and it may require some chipping away of your stonework to get it to fit properly. Still, it’s an amazing performer, and comes in a choice of silver, anthracite and sandstone finishes. This really is an excellent extractor that uses just 2W of electricity when running continuously and no more than 5W at full pelt. It’s also one of the most attractive models around – the fascia can be used bare or with the included white magnetic cover – and one of the very quietest.
When installing the fan you can also choose between two fan speeds. If your bathroom has a decent-sized window, you can take advantage of the whisper-quiet 15l/sec setting, while the louder 21l/sec setting is suitable for steamier bathrooms. The VASF100T’s two-speed motor gives you options. Set it to the lower speed when installing and it’ll pump out 15l of air per second at a near-silent 14dB – or, if you need more thorough ventilation, you can select full speed for throughput of 21l per second (although the volume goes up to a fairly audible 26dB). The PureAir Sense comes with two spigots (or sleeves): one for standard 100mm installation and another for larger 125mm portals. The larger spigot is the one to fit if you want to benefit from its excellent 39l per second flow rate. That said, its standard 32l per second flow rate is still better than most and easily good enough for the majority of bathroom installations.
