Toilets and bathrooms retain a lot of moisture that can seep into walls and damage them. This moisture can also increase the humidity and make the space uncomfortable. The best way to ventilate this space is by installing an extractor fan. 

Extractor fans are designed to take up all the dampness from the air to leave you with a dry atmosphere. If you’re looking to install an extraction system, here’s everything you need to know about toilet extractor fans. 

What Makes A Toilet Extractor Fan Powerful?

Extractor fans are most commonly used in such locations because they extract odours, smoke, and moisture from the areas. There are several types of extractor fans, including axial, centrifugal, mixed flow and inline. 

The great thing about extractor fans is that they use little energy. 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.  

If you want to minimise your energy use, there are specially designed small extractor fans with low voltage features that reduce excess energy use. Despite their compact size, these extractor fans provide excellent air extraction qualities. 

Most households use larger extractor fans because they work best for bigger rooms with excessive moisture. High-voltage extractor fans also work best if smoke is a significant concern for the consumer.  

What Are The Best Toilet Extractor Fans?

With so many options, it can take time 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. 

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, moisture, and humidity. 

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 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 device allows you to enjoy powerful air circulation with excess energy charges. This is an excellent option for almost any bathroom as it works at an exchange rate of 15L/s or 21L/s. 

Airflow iCon 30 Extractor Fan

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

You can enjoy clean and dry air quickly with robust ventilation of 32 litres per second. Despite this larger capacity, the fan features silent running and easy installation, making it an ideal choice for homeowners. 

How To Choose The Right Toilet Extractor Fan?

With so many options, you need to create a checklist to find the best toilet extractor fan. Here are some essential factors to consider. 

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 metre 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 Toilet 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 your bathroom's height, width and length. 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 toilet 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 Toilet 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 toilet 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 toilet 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 toilets 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, toilet 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 toilet extractor fan. 

Why Are Extractor Fans Important In Toilets?

Alongside your shower, the toilet space should also have proper ventilation systems. A toilet extractor fan is crucial for multiple reasons. 

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) and other buildings' safety regulations state 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 humidity. 

When condensation happens over a long period, mould grows on your bathroom surfaces. Mould happens 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 difficult to get rid of, damaging your home and health. Long-term exposure to mould microbes and mould spores is hazardous to human health. 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. 

Investing in extractor fans is crucial even in regions with a milder climate. 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.