Recommendations for silent inline extractor fan

[deema]

I've now been given the task of changing the noisy inline bathroom extractor fans with something that's quiet that can't be heard when someone over the Xmas period wanders off to the loo. There seems to be a lot of choice, and prices to go with them. Can anyone recommend a decent brand that I should look out for?

Thanks

 

[petermillard]

Airflow QuietAir - not sure if they do an inline version, but they're a very quiet fan.

HTH Pete

 

[Alexam]

There are a number of extractors that are low noie - only 16db level. I actually telephoned xpelair and discussed my needs and could then look that up on the Web. I then bought it.

Alex

 

[deema]

I need to upgrade the extraction, at the moment it's just a noise ceiling fan on 4" pipe. I think I need circa 15 air exchanges an hour for a bathroom / shower so that puts it at circa 350m3/h. The best solution is I think a 5" inline fan mounted in the roof. Have I got it right, any better solution?

 

[Mark Hancock]

Have a look at the Icon fans
https://www.airflow.com/productcat//pg_V/iCON-Range

 

[jimmy_s]

Normally for a bathroom you would need 15l/s to meet the building regs. 15ac/h is a lot for domestic bathroom - bearing in mind you have to draw in cold air from outside to make that up - the heating requirement would be about 2.5kw in winter. Commercial sower rooms in heath clubs etc are often about 15ac/h but in these instances the showers are in use virtually all day.

If the fan is ducted then you may have the wrong type of fan if its performing poorly - may be a prop. fan which can not take any significant external static pressure you would need a centrifugal or a mixed flow fan if its ducted. If you can duct it then the quietest solution is something like a vent axia (or similar) ACM 100 ot a 100T with a run on timer fitted in the ductwork out of the way (ACM is a mixed flow inline duct fan). A 4" fan should be finer you can fit a silencer in the duct but I doubt you would need it.

Jimmy

 

[deema]

Thanks For the feedback. I've now had a look at the regsti see if there are any recommended number of air changed....which I couldn't find if they exist is the standards, and also looked at various fan manufacturers recommended air exchanges. Wow, what a difference between the two!! 15l/s would not give me an air change an hour and that intuitively seems too low, 15 air changes seems high.

The cost between a 5" and a 4" fan is not that big.....if I get it wrong!! A4" would give about 10 air changes an hour. What should I be aiming for?

 

[Hemsby]

I have used Soler & Palau fans for many years currently have 2 in operation. Last property had one for 10 years. Never had any problems.

New range
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index ... index.html

Calculator, including Building regs requirements
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/ ... tion4.html

 

[deema]

Thanks Hemsby, that's one of the calculators I used to get 350m3/hr, which is consistent with other sites. Those fans look really nice, thanks

 

[jimmy_s]

For a domestic bathroom its normally a 15l/s fan that's fitted, that's the minimum requirement under the building regs. You can put in a bigger one but for a normal bathroom you wouldn't normally need any more than that.

I design ventilation systems as part of my job, mainly commercial and industrial but some domestic as well.

Jimmy

 

[deema]

Thanks Jimmy_s, a 4" inline looks to be a far better way to go than initially thought.

Really appreciate everyone's input and help. I'm ticking another job off the honey-do list. A million less one to do left.

 

[OLD]

I used a inexpensive in line all plastic unit mounted on a board and sat that on four car cleaning sponges this eliminated any transfer of vibration its very quiet. I also used insulated flexible ducting to minimize any condensing of the water vapor and reduce noise and a induct flap one way valve to minimize drafts on windy days.

 

[lurker]

I just open the window.
Low tech in our house