Introduction
Exhaust fans are necessary additions to any contemporary household, especially in spaces like bathrooms and kitchens. They help dispel stuffy air and odours away from these areas while keeping your home fresh and clean at the same time. Yet, choosing the right exhaust fan for any space is always a task which requires you to do a little homework.
Types of Exhaust Fans
Here are some of the fan types that you should keep in mind if you wish to buy best exhaust fans without any worries.
- Ceiling-mounted- These are the commonest fan types, usually installed in kitchens and bathrooms. They are positioned on the ceiling and are linked to ductwork for venting air outside.
- Inline exhaust fans- They are usually for the attic or between the roof and ceiling. This makes them suitable for bigger zones or rooms where ceiling-mounted options are not viable.
- Wall-mounted- These exhaust fans are mounted on exterior walls with direct external venting. They are better for smaller areas or rooms where ductwork is not possible.
Nowadays, there are several feature-packed and efficient exhaust fans available from leading brands.
Choosing the Right Exhaust Fan Size
Selecting the right exhaust fan size is vital to ensure proper efficiency and ventilation in any space. Here are some pointers that will help you understand this aspect.
- The basic thumb rule for knowing the right size is to calculate 1 CFM per square foot of the room area. The area can be determined by increasing the width and length of the room. For example, in the event that the room is 14 feet in length and 10 feet wide, the area will be 14 x 10 = 140 sq. ft. This is the essential estimation technique that you really want to continue for this situation.
- CFM stands for cubic feet per minute) and this indicates the volume of air that can be moved by the fan. Some fans may come with specific figures for CFM too. Watch out for this figure, since it will influence the size that you opt for.
- An excessively small fan will not work well for a larger space at all. In the same way, an excessively large fan is not ideal for a smaller space.
- Hence, if the bathroom or kitchen is 100 square feet, then you will require an exhaust fan which has a CFM rating of 100 at least.
- Sometimes, going for a slightly oversized fan is a good idea to ensure maximum effectiveness. Consider the length and duct size while choosing the right exhaust size. Duct size will also go up as you move further upwards in the CFM range. The number of fittings, elbows, and the length of the run will also impact the air that the duct can carry. Make sure to note this aspect carefully before finalizing your purchase decision.
- For big bathrooms, you can opt for a rating of 250 CFM if you have a bathtub, shower, toilet or jetted tub. If you have only a toilet and shower, then you can stick to 100 CFM exhaust fans.
- For bigger rooms that have higher ceilings (more than 8 feet), you can multiply the ceiling height and square footage. Divide the figure by 60 (minutes in an hour) and then multiply by eight (recommended air exchanges each hour).
To take an example, suppose the ceiling height is 10 feet and the square footage is 100 square feet. In this case, you will first multiply 100 by 10, thereby getting 1,000. Then you can divide this by 60 and multiply by eight to arrive at the final figure. In this case, it is 133 CFM. This calculation method will help you work out the ideal figure that you need to keep in mind for your space.
Conclusions
These are the pointers regarding exhaust fan size that you should keep in mind. This will help you buy best exhaust fan without worrying about any size or efficiency mismatches. Choosing the right size will help the fan keep your bathroom or kitchen well-ventilated and clean while performing without any strains. CFM calculations should be done carefully and you should look out for these ratings/figures while purchasing exhausts from reputed brands.
FAQs
Which size of exhaust fan is best for the kitchen?
An exhaust fan that has a sweep size of approximately 200m and a motor with 1300-1400 RPM is suitable for a mid-sized kitchen area of around 100 square feet. This will ensure good air delivery and proper ventilation alike.
Is a 52-inch fan too big for the kitchen?
A 52-inch fan might be too huge for your kitchen, particularly in the event that it is a more modest space. For regions up to 100 square feet, the fan size ought to be 36 inches and it can go up to 42 crawls for up to 200 square feet. This can likewise be 52 creeps for 400 square feet and 60 crawls for rooms greater than 400 square feet. You can also opt for two 52/56-inch fans in this case.
What is the standard CFM for a kitchen exhaust fan?
A base figure is around 200-600 CFM and you should choose your exhaust fan based on the right size for your kitchen area and other parameters. Make sure that your exhaust ensures adequate ventilation throughout the space.
Is an exhaust fan enough for the kitchen?
Yes, an exhaust fan will help ventilate your kitchen to a large extent. However, you can also include a kitchen chimney to make sure that your kitchen stays grease and oil-free, while expelling smoke and gases outside.
