Extractor fans soluton needed please

[Turtle Shed]

Hello PH

I'm replacing an ensuite and there's a big hole now where the extractor fan was. I'll be installing a new one. (Not interested in one that sits in a tube in the loft).

As I understand things they are typically powered by a light switch and have a permanent feed as well. Fan comes on, stays on while light is on, then stays on because of permament feed, switched itself off after a set duration.

That's fine in a normal ensuite, but mine will have a bath. It will be an oasis of calm and I don't want to listen to a fan, because no matter how silent they are, I bet they're not actually silent. (See below).

There seem to be smart fans that you just leave to get on with it, but reviews aren't great and that doesn't get around my requirement for no fan when lying in the bath.

I think the simplest idea is to just fit a wall switch (outside of the room itself), and just use the fan as and when. I am however keen to hear any better suggestions, or maybe even "Actually if you buy XXX they really are silent".

Cheers

[Panamax]

Depending on exact location modern reg's may well say it has to be low voltage with remote transformer. In my experience they're very quiet and might suit you, whether or not a legal requirement.

[bennno]

The more you spend the cheaper they get, but to meet regs there should be an isolator switch irrespective. So you can just turn off.

Vent axia are about the best in my experience - but not the cheap ones.

[Rough101]

Vent Axia Svara can be speed controlled from your phone, so you can silence it when in the bath then whack it up full when you get out.

They shift enough air for building regs on a reasonable duct length.

They’re about £100 most places. Although ‘list’ is about £250

[psychoR1]

bennno said:

The more you spend the cheaper they get, but to meet regs there should be an isolator switch irrespective. So you can just turn off.

Vent axia are about the best in my experience - but not the cheap ones.

This - just put the isolator switch in a convenient place - that way when you go in in the night the fan doesnt run on forever!

[Simpo Two]

Rough101 said:

Vent Axia Svara can be speed controlled from your phone, so you can silence it when in the bath then whack it up full when you get out

If you don't drop your phone in the bath...

I would turn the fan down before getting in the bath, then turn it back up afterwards. No phone needed!

[Panamax]

Simpo Two said:

If you don't drop your phone in the bath...

Yup, definitely Hugh Hefner.

[Turtle Shed]

Comments appreciated, and if the mods can fix the typo in my title then that would be great.

There will be an isolator switch, but I'm not going to be getting into the habit of effectively throwing a breaker every time the bath gets used.

Will probably end up with the basic idea of switching it independently, and buying the quietest fan I can find at around £100.00.

[tux850]

Turtle Shed said:

(Not interested in one that sits in a tube in the loft).

Howcome? That's what I was going to suggest. We had a simple inline Manrose MF100 and whilst it was a few years ago now I seem to recall it was practically silent in use given its remote location.

All that said, *any* fan will make some noise even simply as a result of the movement of air. An islolator might therefore be your best best if you really do want absolute silence.

[Pheo]

You won’t hear a Svara on low, they’re excellent in my experience.

[Wombat3]

An Inline duct fan is exactly what you need. They are significantly quieter than anything you put in the wall /ceiling.

[B'stard Child]

Mrs BC had the same issue - on a long (and we are talking bloody long) hot soak she doesn't want to hear a fan when she is in the bath........

My solution was a bathroom light switch pull cord type (to control the power to the fan) mounted on the ceiling with the cord that reaches down to the head end of the bath.

Run the bath (humidity brings fan on)

In the bath pull cord - zero fan

Get out dry off - pull the cord and fan operation restored runs for 30 mins or so and turns off on it's own

She doesn't care how bloody noisy it is as long as it's not on while she is in the bath

[dxg]

Panamax said:

Depending on exact location modern reg's may well say it has to be low voltage with remote transformer. In my experience they're very quiet and might suit you, whether or not a legal requirement.

I have one of these. It's above the bath.

It's an ventaxia savra running off 12v and I really rate it. Bluetooth into it and you can set it up however you want. I' just running if off it's humidity sensor so no link to the lighting circuit, although it's also got a light sensor so it can function with the light if you want (but only at night when the light makes a noticeable difference!)

[Belle427]

Pullcord fan isolators are available and that's the easiest option.

[clockworks]

I've got my extractor fan wired up to a Shelly smart switch. I also have smart lightbulbs (Tapo) and a smart cabinet with Alexa, lights and demister.

In normal use (toilet, brushing teeth, etc) I've got a Tapo motion sensor that turns on one of the 3 downlights.

From dusk till dawn, the cabinet's nightlight comes on.

For showering, I say "Alexa, shower" and all the downlights come one, the cabinet main lights and demisters come on, as does the extractor.

After 20 minutes, the fan goes off (controlled by Alexa).

Everything can be controlled separately by voice commands if necessary.

Easy to change things (light brightness, delays, etc) using the Alexa app for fine tuning - could have the fan off while actually showering, but coming on after 15 minutes or whatever.

[Turtle Shed]

Thanks all, some comments:

Inline fan? I just didn't fancy cutting a hole in the ceiling and a different hole outside when there is already a suitable hole in the wall. However, I'm putting up expensive tile panels and on reflection there is an appeal to not having to cut a big hole in one of those, even though it would be covered by the fan.

The Shelly kit mentioned above opened quite the rabbit hole though, and now I want some because PH. Bookmarked.

Ventaxia Svara looks very good I must admit. No idea how I didn't find that.

So it's either going to be inline and making new holes. (Can this go in a soffit and point downwards? Looks like it can) or Ventaxia Svara.

Once again, thanks for replies.

Edited by Turtle Shed on Wednesday 9th October 09:24

[megaphone]

I just open a window.

[clockworks]

megaphone said:

I just open a window.

Some modern houses don't have bathroom windows

[Turtle Shed]

clockworks said:

megaphone said:

I just open a window.

Some modern houses don't have bathroom windows

Just for the record, my ensuite does have a window, but it doesn't open. The room has another big window though, which does open, and there will be double doors to the ensuite, so ventilation isn't going to be a big problem but I still want (and rules require) an extractor fan.

[98elise]

tux850 said:

Turtle Shed said:

(Not interested in one that sits in a tube in the loft).

Howcome? That's what I was going to suggest. We had a simple inline Manrose MF100 and whilst it was a few years ago now I seem to recall it was practically silent in use given its remote location.

All that said, *any* fan will make some noise even simply as a result of the movement of air. An islolator might therefore be your best best if you really do want absolute silence.

Agreed. We have a manrose in our loft and I much prefer it to a room mounted one. Ours has been going about 30 years now.