Bathroom Extractors, how to choose the most suitable one?

The best way to solve ventilation in the bathroom is undoubtedly the use of an extractor. To eliminate odors and also mold, as well as serving as protection against the proliferation of bacteria. In closed sinks, the use of bathroom extractors is practically essential. And depending on the type of spaces, it is a requirement. However, how do you choose the one that best suits our needs?

This task of finding the best bathroom extractor can be done by oneself, especially when it comes to home cases and private residences. And for this, several factors must be taken into account, such as where it will be installed or the expectations that are expected from the fan.

First of all, something that is highly requested -and that we have already talked about before- is how to choose a silent bathroom extractor. While this will depend on each particular case, eliminating the vibrations of the fan to make it as quiet as possible is important. Before that, however, it must be taken into account that:

1. Bathroom extractors cannot be installed above the bathtub or shower, it is prohibited for safety.
2. It is not recommended to install them near ventilation grills or doors, as they would lose effectiveness.

The usual classification of bathroom extractors is to differentiate them by axial extractors (placed on ceilings or walls and are smaller without evacuation ducts) and centrifugal extractors (of greater power to cover large lengths through evacuation ducts). To choose a good bathroom extractor, nonetheless, we must differentiate between:

1. Manual. These do not activate automatically when turning on the light or entering the room. They must be turned on by pressing a button. They are ideal for a home where the user prefers to decide when to use the extractor. They are not suitable for public places.
2. Light switch. They connect to the light switch, so they start working as soon as the button is pressed. They are also ideal for home use, in case they want to be used at all times, and they work well in businesses open to the public.
3. Presence detection. They are activated by infrared. In these cases, they are perfect in bathrooms that have light coming from other rooms, such as sinks near bedrooms. They are also very common in businesses.
4. Hygrostats: In these cases, the bathroom extractors include sensors that turn on the fan according to the ambient humidity. They are more expensive, but more effective.
5. Timed. Those that renew the air every certain time through a timer that must be previously regulated.

To be able to choose a bathroom extractor it will be necessary to take all these variables into account. We can help you:

• If you want them for your home and there is not much humidity, you can opt to install a bathroom extractor with switch operation, thus you decide when to use it.
• If you have a business, such as a bar or a shop, and you want the air to be renewed during each use, you can opt for one with a presence detector or connected to the light switch. Keep in mind that whenever someone is present, it will be on, so if you do not want it to always be active, you should install it in a sink with no constant traffic of people. For example, they can be installed in a restaurant as there are many hours a day without traffic. But in a 24-hour café that is heavily trafficked on the road, it may not be the best solution.
• If you want to adjust the use of the extractor to certain hours, such as in an office, you can choose to use it with a timer.
• If it is a space that needs a lot of ventilation and has notable humidity, although they are more expensive, one with a humidity sensor can be chosen.

Factors to consider in bathroom extractors

Besides the importance of installing the bathroom extractor, there are other considerations. Previously, it should be noted that it is not advisable to be near grills or radiators, and as we have previously mentioned, not above bathtubs or showers.

We must consider two factors in the home or in professional use, and that you can calculate yourself:

1. Extractor airflow. It must guarantee adequate ventilation and air extraction; some sources say it should be ten times greater than the volume of air in the room, although with nuances. For an accurate calculation, it is explained in detail in this article at Hágalo Usted Mismo.
2. The fans of bathroom extractors do not need excessive power like kitchen extractors. Their power in bathrooms usually ranges from 8 to 35 W. However, you must take noise into account. If you are looking for it to be silent, keep in mind that above 40 decibels it starts to be quite noticeable. And with more power comes more noise.

To finish, remember that bathroom extractors require maintenance. It is simple, as it is enough to clean them from time to time and ensure that dust does not accumulate on them.