Newbie who wants to replace bathroom extractor fan

[fatah]

hey, so im a DIYer and learn most stuff from youtube tutorials. At the moment am doing a bathroom renewal, and want to replace the extractor fan for a stronger one. I've a very basic understanding of house wiring and electricity, however i think i could do something straightforward like replacing an extractor fan, if i know follow the instructions.

My worries are getting the right power rating fan, so could you guys give me some advice on this?

 

[Wilko]

Hi Fatah and Welcome to the Forum!
Can you tell us what fan you’ve got now? (perhaps upload a pic).

 

[Midwest]

In my experience, unless your running a rain shower, a Turkish steam room in your bathroom or have a really large bathroom, most of the typical bathroom fans you can buy will suffice.

Where they struggle, is too long or complicated ducting and vent to outside in the wrong place.

 

[Bobster]

An make sure enough free air can be pulled into the room to replace what is being extracted.

A small gap under the door will usually be sufficient.

 

[Octopus]

Why do you think you need a "stronger" fan?

Do you leave the window open too?
Do you have lots of condensation/mould in the room?
Does your existing fan actually "draw" air into it?
Can you feel air exiting from the vent with the fan on?
Is the gap under the door big enough to draw enough air into the room?
Does your existing fan continue to run after the the light is turned off?

 

[telectrix]

rule 1..... isolate supply at CU and test for dead.
rule 2.... take a photo of connections before you start.
rule 3 ..... panic.

 

[Midwest]

Think OP’s on nights.

 

[ipf]

Think OP’s on nights.

No.....he's in a bathroom opening a hole out for a bigger fan..

 

[Tony Reidy]

hey, so im a DIYer and learn most stuff from youtube tutorials. At the moment am doing a bathroom renewal, and want to replace the extractor fan for a stronger one. I've a very basic understanding of house wiring and electricity, however i think i could do something straightforward like replacing an extractor fan, if i know follow the instructions.

My worries are getting the right power rating fan, so could you guys give me some advice on this?

hey, so im a DIYer and learn most stuff from youtube tutorials. At the moment am doing a bathroom renewal, and want to replace the extractor fan for a stronger one. I've a very basic understanding of house wiring and electricity, however i think i could do something straightforward like replacing an extractor fan, if i know follow the instructions.

My worries are getting the right power rating fan, so could you guys give me some advice on this?

hey, so im a DIYer and learn most stuff from youtube tutorials. At the moment am doing a bathroom renewal, and want to replace the extractor fan for a stronger one. I've a very basic understanding of house wiring and electricity, however i think i could do something straightforward like replacing an extractor fan, if i know follow the instructions.

My worries are getting the right power rating fan, so could you guys give me some advice on this?

Most fans have around the same output if they are on an external wall and should be set to run on for 20 minutes to change the air in an average room, if its in ducting then you should use a centrifugal fan

 

[fatah]

Hi Fatah and Welcome to the Forum!
Can you tell us what fan you’ve got now? (perhaps upload a pic).

i live in a council house, so they dont replace anything until its broken, even if its degraded or barely functioning. we've temporarily attached a corded fan onto the existing fan, so its hard to see it, but definitely a cheap and old type.

 

[fatah]

In my experience, unless your running a rain shower, a Turkish steam room in your bathroom or have a really large bathroom, most of the typical bathroom fans you can buy will suffice.

Where they struggle, is too long or complicated ducting and vent to outside in the wrong place.

hi, my bathroom is roughly 2.5 x 2.5 meters, however;
-it doesnt have a window
-the door is usually closed at all times
-people take lo~ng showers
-decorator (my brother) decided to use wallpaper everywhere(including the ceiling)

and the current fan is barely functional

 

[fatah]

An make sure enough free air can be pulled into the room to replace what is being extracted.

A small gap under the door will usually be sufficient.

i'll try and see if we can have the door moved upwards slightly, great tip!

 

[fatah]

Why do you think you need a "stronger" fan?

Do you leave the window open too?
Do you have lots of condensation/mould in the room?
Does your existing fan actually "draw" air into it?
Can you feel air exiting from the vent with the fan on?
Is the gap under the door big enough to draw enough air into the room?
Does your existing fan continue to run after the the light is turned off?

i think i need a stronger fan because;
-there's no window in the bathroom
-people take long showers, so lots of steam
-the existing fan is barely functioning
-i'm thinking to move the door upwards because current gap is small
-current fan keeps spinning after light is off
here's a some visuals bathroom - https://Upload the image directly to the thread.com/a/RQkEV7c
thanks}

 

[fatah]

rule 1..... isolate supply at CU and test for dead.
rule 2.... take a photo of connections before you start.
rule 3 ..... panic.

cmon i wouldn't mind doing that, only problem is that some fan have different amp and volts and i'm not confident about that stuff~

 

[AJshep]

That fan you had was not a cheap fan it is a Greenwood Airvac CV2gip. They are known as continuous extractor fans, it should have been commissioned on install and flow rates set up for low speed and boost, these all have humidity and timer overrun options built in if a switch wire from the light has bern used.

If you do the calculations as per Part F in most modern propertys a standard intermittent extractor fan will not comply unless you have enough background ventilation and single glazing.

See the video below but I would select both humidity and Timer overrun options

 

[Midwest]

I got them in my new build house. Not bad fan, except I’ve had to turn off the humidity option on the ones in the kitchen and main bathroom, ‘cos it kept turning on the fan and then never turning off. Probably faulty, but not good 2 out of 5.

Also had to turn the trickle down to minimum, as could stand the noise.

 

[fatah]

That fan you had was not a cheap fan it is a Greenwood Airvac CV2gip. They are known as continuous extractor fans, it should have been commissioned on install and flow rates set up for low speed and boost, these all have humidity and timer overrun options built in if a switch wire from the light has bern used.

If you do the calculations as per Part F in most modern propertys a standard intermittent extractor fan will not comply unless you have enough background ventilation and single glazing.

See the video below but I would select both humidity and Timer overrun options

hi, thanks for the useful info, but i'm interested in getting a manual fan with a higher flow rate. my bathroom has no window and people take long showers, the current fan almost never speeds up and i have to remove the front plate cover every time just to temporarily increase the speed.

 

[fatah]

That fan you had was not a cheap fan it is a Greenwood Airvac CV2gip. They are known as continuous extractor fans, it should have been commissioned on install and flow rates set up for low speed and boost, these all have humidity and timer overrun options built in if a switch wire from the light has bern used.

If you do the calculations as per Part F in most modern propertys a standard intermittent extractor fan will not comply unless you have enough background ventilation and single glazing.

See the video below but I would select both humidity and Timer overrun options

hi, thanks for the useful info, but i'm interested in getting a manual fan with a higher flow rate. my bathroom has no window and people take long showers, the current fan almost never speeds up and i have to remove the front plate cover every time just to temporarily increase the speed.

 

[telectrix]

i think i need a stronger fan because;
-there's no window in the bathroom
-people take long showers, so lots of steam
-the existing fan is barely functioning
-i'm thinking to move the door upwards because current gap is small
-current fan keeps spinning after light is off
here's a some visuals bathroom - https://Upload the image directly to the thread.com/a/RQkEV7c
thanks}

just watched that. i'm dizzy.

 

[Midwest]

i live in a council house, so they dont replace anything until its broken, even if its degraded or barely functioning. we've temporarily attached a corded fan onto the existing fan, so its hard to see it, but definitely a cheap and old type.

I don’t know what you have done there, but it looks unsafe.

If that Greenwood fan still works, check its set up properly as @AJshep said. If you can get to the ducting, make sure it’s been installed properly, not squashed or full of debris.

 

[Wilko]

For the Electricians reading this thread - the installation instruction says the fan normally requires a 3A fuse unless it’s connected with a 6A breaker. Top marks for common sense

 

[Charlie_]

Have you checked the outside grille to make sure it’s not obstructed?

 

[Tony Reidy]

hey, so im a DIYer and learn most stuff from youtube tutorials. At the moment am doing a bathroom renewal, and want to replace the extractor fan for a stronger one. I've a very basic understanding of house wiring and electricity, however i think i could do something straightforward like replacing an extractor fan, if i know follow the instructions.

My worries are getting the right power rating fan, so could you guys give me some advice on this?

Is the fan in the shower (zone 1) if so it should be 12 volt

 

[Charlie_]

You mentioned the council only replace broken items..
Tell them it is broken.

 

[telectrix]

Is the fan in the shower (zone 1) if so it should be 12 volt

cobblers. a 230V fan is allowed as long as it's IP44 or better. would you insist on a 12V shower unit in zone 1?

 

[Octopus]

here's a some visuals bathroom - https://Upload the image directly to the thread.com/a/RQkEV7c
thanks}

don't give up the day job as that video clip shows nothing.

back to my original post - have you checked the "output" from the vent outside?

Also if you don't have any heating is a shower room the steam will be worse...........

 

[Tony Reidy]

cobblers. a 230V fan is allowed as long as it's IP44 or better. would you insist on a 12V shower unit in zone 1?

Fair comment never thought of it like that

 

[Rpa07]

‘Press the minus button 27 times - for the purpose of this video I shall only press it 4 times’ - no staying power, that girl, though I did mildly fall in love with her voice!
Looks like a good fan, Fatah - i’d certainly make sure that it’s not working correctly before doing anything drastic.
Check the ducting and the outlet as the members have said.

 

[James]

one thing worth considering, there is no other way that steam can exit the room.
do not expect any extractor fan to keep a room free of steam and moisture whilst you are having a shower or immediately after.

your room contains around 16,000 litres of air, assuming that you have a good supply of air into the room, either from a vent or under door etc it will take 15 minutes to do a complete air change of the room,
because of mixing of the air (dry air drawn in and damp air inside room) it will take 2 to 3 changes of air for the humidity to reduce to a low enough level to prevent condensation on cold surfaces.
your fan should be running on at full speed for 30 to 40 minutes after showering before the room will be dry.

if you are wanting the room to stay steam free whilst you are having your long hot showers, then I suggest a 300 to 400mm fan and ducting will be sufficient.
Note: it will be draughty and if the door is not closed properly it may pull open with the airflow!

 

[telectrix]

there speaks the prophet of doom^^^^^. .

 

[James]

there speaks the prophet of doom^^^^^. .

That's the problem with maths and physics, sometimes the calculations provide you with information you don't want to hear!!

 

[Tony Reidy]

cobblers. a 230V fan is allowed as long as it's IP44 or better. would you insist on a 12V shower unit in zone 1?

Makes sense but now you mention it a 12 V shower does sound safe

 

[telectrix]

Makes sense but now you mention it a 12 V shower does sound safe

try heating the water with 12V. the amperage would be around 800A. some serious cable size there.

 

[James]

Makes sense but now you mention it a 12 V shower does sound safe

I have come across in injection moulding machines heaters that run on 5v dc. a 1kw heater element drew 200A
maybe all showers should be 5volts, fed off an isolating transformer in an adjacent room (center tap to earth = +/- 2.5v) shower would be considerably safer but the cable size for 2000A would be bigger than the pipework!!!

 

[Octopus]

hi, thanks for the useful info, but i'm interested in getting a manual fan with a higher flow rate. my bathroom has no window and people take long showers, the current fan almost never speeds up and i have to remove the front plate cover every time just to temporarily increase the speed.

the very LAST THING that shower room needs is a manual fan.

Higher through put and longer timer ......

 

[fatah]

don't give up the day job as that video clip shows nothing.

back to my original post - have you checked the "output" from the vent outside?

Also if you don't have any heating is a shower room the steam will be worse...........

the heater was removed and will be replaced.
i havent checked the outside fan and its been left unchecked for around 40 years. maybe all it needs is a good cleaning, i suppose?

 

[fatah]

the very LAST THING that shower room needs is a manual fan.

Higher through put and longer timer ......

i'll try cleaning out the vent/duct and the outside cover, before replacing fan

 

[Octopus]

before replacing fan

With what fan ? How will you decide?

Unless you detail the run of the vent, you won’t have a clue......

 

[Midwest]

Is the 'old' fan broken (not working)?

 

[fatah]

Is the 'old' fan broken (not working)?

it works, but i'd rather a replace it with a higher power one