Shower spaces and bathrooms retain a lot of moisture and humidity. This moisture can be really harmful as it seeps into the walls and damages the building’s structure.

Settled water can cause tripping and other injuries in the bathroom if not taken care of. In addition, mould can also form in such an environment and pose numerous hazards to your health.

Investing in shower extractor fans is the best way to prevent these hazards. These fans remove the air's moisture to create a clean and safe environment. Here are all the essential things you need to know about shower extractor fans. 

Why Are Shower Extractor Fans Important?

One of the main functions of extractor fans is removing steam and humidity. Before installing extractor fans, it is crucial to understand how these two particles affect your living space. 

The UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings (UKCMB) states that multiple properties suffer from significant dampness problems. The leading causes of dampness include rising and penetrating dampness. 

These come from an outside source and take up space in your home through steam and humidity. It condenses as soon as steam and moisture come into contact with cold bathroom surfaces. 

When condensation happens over a long period, mould grows on your bathroom surfaces. Decay occurs because cooler air cannot hold high amounts of water vapour; therefore, it condenses back into liquid water. 

Think of the water left behind in your bathroom after a shower. This water seeps into your walls, windows, or even nearby rooms creating mould problems. This mould damages walls and floors and leaves a musty smell behind. 

Once mould appears, it's challenging to eliminate, damaging your home and health. Long-term exposure to mould microbes and spores is extremely dangerous to human health. 

This causes irritation, and you might experience coughing, sneezing, and skin rashes. If you experience respiratory problems, mould can amplify your symptoms leading to serious health complications. 

Extractor Fans Are The Best Solution 

As mentioned before, the best way to avoid this problem is by using extractor fans. The fans remove moisture-laden air from your shower, bath, and sink before the water vapour condenses into a liquid, creating mould. 

When hot steam is released, the extractor fan pulls out the moisture into a duct which is connected to a vent opening. Once the moisture-laden air is pulled outside, drier and fresher air circulates through the room. 

Even in regions with a milder climate, investing in extractor fans is crucial. While most homeowners prefer installing complete house ventilation systems for a constant flow of fresh and filtered air, you can also use extractor fans for a similar purpose. 

Instead of ventilating the entire house, an extractor fan provides individual rooms with clean and fresh air.   

How Do Extractor Fans Work?

An extractor fan is a variation of an electric fan, and these extractor fans are mainly used in bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry rooms. Extractor fans are most commonly used in such locations because they extract odours, smoke, and moisture from the areas. 

The great thing about extractor fans is that they use little energy ranging around 5-36W. Even the most powerful options make good use of electricity to provide comfort and convenience. 

Still, keep in mind that an extractor fan's electricity consumption depends on the product's brand and model. However, the highest wattage is typically under 40 watts, so you won’t have to worry about high energy bills.  

You can find commercial extractor fans if you’re thinking of large-scale installations. These have a higher air exchange capacity, making them perfect for commercial kitchens and industrial use. 

Some standard features of extractor fans include their size, voltage, noise level, and the fan’s ability to regulate temperature or humidity changes. Consider these factors when looking for the most powerful bathroom extractor fan.

Shower Extractor Fans

Out of all the rooms in your home, the bathroom tends to produce moisture that can damage the exterior if not dealt with.

An extractor fan removes all the condensation and moisture in the bathroom, which can potentially lead to long-term damage. 

You must install an extractor fan if your bathroom has no outside window. Most domestic extractor fans can pull about 20 litres of air per second for a medium-sized bathroom. However, you can always opt for more powerful options to ensure the area is adequately ventilated. 

Most bathroom extractor fans come with an over-run timer that keeps the fan running for a set period after you’ve switched it off. This allows more control of the bathroom’s ventilation and energy use. 

What Are The Different Types of Shower Exhaust Fans?

There are several options when it comes to choosing a shower exhaust fan. Here are some of the most common types of shower exhaust fans.

Ceiling Mount: A ceiling-mounted shower fan is one of the most common options. This type of fan works by connecting to an exhaust duct above the bathroom.

Wall Mount: Consumers often use a wall mount exhaust fan when the ceiling option is not practical. A wall-mounted shower fan extracts inside air directly outside without the need for additional ductwork and piping.

Inline: Inline extractor fans are installed in a separate location that fits into the ductwork in the attic. You would usually install a grill connecting the bathroom ceiling to the rest of the system. 

Window Mount: This shower extractor fan is inserted into the window unit just like a window-mounted air conditioner. Due to this installation, window extractor fans are not a popular option.

How To Choose The Right Shower Extractor Fan?

Even in one category of extractor fan, there are several options to choose from. Here are some essential factors to consider when choosing an extractor fan for your bathroom. 

Install According To Bathroom Zones

Not all areas in a bathroom get equal amounts of moisture. To find the correct location for your extractor fan, installing it according to zones is essential.  The different bathroom extractor fan zones will help you determine the type of bathroom fan you should purchase.

All electrical equipment, such as light fixtures and bathroom extractor fans, have an IP rating that clearly defines their suitable zone for installation. 

An IP rating defines the resistance against solid items and liquid/moisture. The higher the ingress number, the greater the level of protection. Use this measurement when placing your extractor fans. Here are three important zones to help you make the right choice. 

Zone 1: This is the shower and the area vertically 2.25m above the bath. If you’re installing an extractor fan in the zone, look for an appliance with a minimum IP45 rating. If you want a powerful option, get an extractor fan with an IP65 rating.

Zone 2: This is the area from 0.6m from Zone 1. This zone should have an IP rating of at least IP44.

Zone 3: No IP rating is required as there is no water exposure in these areas.

Check The Air Exchange Rate

The best way to ensure you have a powerful bathroom extractor is by measuring its’ air exchange rate. This rate is measured in either metres cubed per hour or litres per second (L/s). 

The extraction rate is crucial as it shows how much air is removed when the fan is operational. Most building regulations look for an extractor fan with a rate of 15L/s for domestic bathrooms. Larger or frequently used bathrooms may require a higher rate. 

Consider A Heat Recovery Option

Some extractor fans are prone to overheating, damaging their components and reducing their lifespan. To avoid this issue, some of the best extractor fans come with a heat recovery option. 

These devices extract stale air from shower rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and utility rooms and pass it through a heat exchanger. When fresh air is brought in, it is filtered through the exchange, recycling the heat.

Size Consideration For Shower Extractor Fans

When it comes to extractor fans, there are several sizes to choose from.  If you install a new extractor fan into an existing space, the fan size will be the same. 

But if you’re renovating and designing a new space, you need to find the right extractor fan according to the size of your space. 

To start, you need to measure the size of your shower area or bathroom. With the tape measure, note the height, width and length of your bathroom. This measurement will give you an idea of how powerful the extractor fan needs to be. 

Some standard fan sizes include:

• 4 inch Fans: these are ideal for smaller rooms in a house, such as showers rooms and en-suite bathrooms. 
• 6 inch Fans: you would use this fan in medium-sized rooms requiring higher moisture extraction. A 6 inch fan is also ideal if multiple people share one bathroom, meaning the extractor fan will be used frequently. 
• 9 and 12 inch Fans: These are much larger fans ideal for commercial spaces.

With these options, you can see that the ideal size range for a shower extractor fan lies between the 4 to 6 inch range. This measurement gives you a better idea of what to look for when choosing a shower fan. 

Extra Features to Look For In Shower Extractor Fans

All extractor fans come with a set of basic features; however, some models with additional settings can change how you use them. 

You should look for these settings based on how you will use the fan.  Here’s a look at some important features of extractor fans. 

Run On Timer

This excellent feature ensures all moisture is removed from the air. The run on timer keeps the fan running even after it gets switched off. This timer keeps the fan operational until all the moisture has been extracted from the air. 

Most shower extractor fans come with options but with varying time settings. Usually, this will range between 5 to 30 minutes. 

Some building regulations state that an extractor fan should have a run on time of 15 minutes in spaces with no openable window. Consider this feature when choosing a shower extractor fan. 

Trickle Ventilation

Trickle ventilation allows the fan to provide a constant low level of extraction even when it's not in use. This feature only boosts the fan to maximum power when needed. 

All shower rooms should always have a low level of background air extraction, so this is a perfect option for many. This feature is ideal for a small bathroom without a window or with poor air filtration. 

Silent Running

If you find an extractor fan with this setting, you can expect a smooth and quiet running experience. Most fans with this feature only have a noise level of around 14 decibels when working with their minimum rate of 15 litres per second. 

However, it’s important to note that these fans often come with 2 speed setting with the low noise only happening on the lower setting. If this is a major concern for you, make sure to test the noise level before purchasing. 

Safety Extra Low Voltage (SELV)

Extractor fans are electrical equipment, meaning most models will be fitted in bathroom zone 2. However, shower spaces often come under zone 1, so you will need a low-voltage or SELV extractor model. 

SELV extractor fans come with a small transformer box that should be mounted in an accessible location separate from the fan unit. So make sure to plan for this when installing a shower extractor fan. 

What Are The Best Shower Extractor Fans?

With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to narrow down the right extractor fan for you. If you’re looking for high-quality extractor fans, visit Meteor Electrical. 

Meteor carries a wide range of extractor products that keep your home humidity-free without taking up too much electricity. Here are some of the best extractor fans Meteor has to offer. 

1. Xpelair Simply Silent Shower Extractor Fan

If you’re looking for an integrated shower extractor, this Xpelair model is a great option. This shower extractor can easily fit into your ceiling without taking up too much space in the bathroom. 

Alongside this fan, you will find flexible ducting and a white external grille to make installation easier. You can operate this fan with a remote switch or sensor for better functionality. 

Designed with Ghost Air Movement technology, you can keep this fan running without worrying about any noise pollution. Use the integral timer feature to clean your shower air or moisture and humidity. 

1. Xpelair Simply Silent Extractor Fan

One of the best options at Meteor includes the Xpelair Simply Silent Extractor Fan. This powerful extractor device features an over-run timer for better operation and is also compatible with a sensor device. You can toggle the timer between seconds to 30 minutes. 

The Xpelair fan is highly efficient and uses Ghost Air Movement technology for silent running. This is an excellent option for almost any bathroom as it works at an exchange rate of 15L/s or 21L/s. This device allows you to enjoy powerful air circulation with excess energy charges.  

1. Airflow iCon 30 Extractor Fan

Another great option is the Airflow iCon shower extractor fan. This device is perfect for larger shower rooms that need a higher extraction rate. 

With robust ventilation of 32 litres per second, you can enjoy clean and dry air in no time. Despite this larger capacity, the fan features silent running and easy installation, making it an ideal choice for homeowners.