Fresh AirNew bath ventilation fans offer quiet, energy-efficient operation in attractive packages.

Like most pros, Chris Folk knows the bathroom is a breeding ground for callbacks.

"One of the biggest problems we have is humidity," says Folk, owner of Evans Coghill Homes in Charlotte, N.C. If builders don't install bath fans that effectively remove humidity, mold or mildew could form, he says.

However, if a fan is noisy, the homeowner is less likely to turn it on or leave it on for the proper amount of time. (The Home Ventilating Institute recommends that fans be left on for at least 20 minutes after showering.) Meanwhile, some "people won't turn them on because if they leave the room they'll forget it and it'll run all day," says Jim Barrett, senior vice president of marketing for Hunter Fans.

Ventilation fans with humidity and occupancy sensors are the most convenient products for effectively evacuating humidity from a bathroom or other small space, manufacturers claim. For example, Broan-NuTone's humidity-sensing fans, which have sensors in the grilles, "actually sense the rapid rise of humidity and automatically turn themselves on," says Karen Collins, marketing communications manager.

In the meantime, fans with occupancy sensors turn on when someone enters the bathroom. Panasonic's Whispergreen ventilation fan, for instance, uses a DC motor that allows it to run constantly at 30 to 70 cfm and automatically boosts up to 80 cfm when a person enters the bathroom. And because the fan runs continuously, the unit helps improve the entire home's indoor air quality, the company claims.

"We didn't expect it to be this popular, but people are recognizing that indoor air quality is a big issue," says Vanessa Lontoc, marketing manager for Panasonic Home & Environment.

Timer switches are another option that allow fans to turn off automatically. Broan-NuTone fans have a switch that can be set to shut the fan off after 20 minutes
or keep the fan on for as long as 60 minutes.

GOOD LOOKS, TOO
In addition to new convenience features, bath fans are becoming more aesthetically pleasing. When Hunter planned its new product line, the company queried its employees and customers. "Generally what we heard is that they're ugly and loud," Barrett says.

Based on its research, Hunter claims its new line of decorative fans are as good looking as they are functional. "Our approach was to combine our expertise in
motor technology and air movement with the industrial design, metal, and glass-finishing techniques that have made our ceiling fans so popular," Barrett says.

In addition to the stylish fans that include lights, manufacturers are cranking out products that are simple to install. In many cases, builders only have to drill one hole into the ceiling and one switch into the wall.

"I especially like the Fantech model that offers both the light and ventilation in the same spot so that you have minimal recessed openings in your ceiling," says
Tim Carter, a former builder/remodeler who writes a syndicated weekly newspapercolumn and produces Internet videos.

Manufacturers also continue to push the envelope on efficiency. Efficiency is based on the measurement of efficacy in cfm per watt, which represents how effectively the fan operates with the power it consumes. The higher the efficacy, the better it performs in terms of energy efficiency, according to Erin Trager, an EPA spokeswoman.

To qualify for Energy Star, smaller fans up to 80 cfm must push 1.4 cfm/watt while larger fans (90 to 500 cfm) need to push 2.8 cfm/watt. Fans with lights must use pin-based fluorescent bulbs to be Energy Starrated.

Despite homeowners' growing awareness of energy efficiency, noise levels and performance are the biggest factors for choosing a bath fan. "Most of my customers are going to insist on quiet first, and from there how efficient it is and how much humidity does it evacuate," says Mike Holmes, president of Holmes Construction of Reno, Nev.

To address homeowners' complaints about noise, the EPA mandates that Energy Star-rated fans be quiet as well as efficient. The maximum sound level of a 130-cfm fan can't be more than 2.0 sones, while a 500-cfm fan can't be more than 3.0 sones.

Broan-NuTone's SmartSense fan has a sone rating of 0.3, so homeowners basically can't hear it, Collins says.

With sone ratings as low as they can get, manufacturers are working to refine technology, increase energy efficiency, and improve the appearance of bath fans.

Get Inline

A remote-mount inline fan is an ultra-quiet, super-efficient way to ventilate more than one bathroom, builders say. Remote-mount fans use one motor and exhaust from one location for more than one fan.

Standard, surface-mounted bath fans usually have the motor installed in the ceiling above the fan. Ventilation occurs in one area, and each bath fan requires its own motor.

With remote-mount fans, the motor is installed in the attic, 8 to 10 feet away from the inlet for the fan. Moisture is exhausted through an opening in the roof or the side of the house.

A remote-mount fan allows homeowners to have higher cfm minus the noise and permits two fans in a larger bathroom. 

One manufacturer, Fantech, introduced a Builders' Option to reduce installation costs. Builders can mount a Fantech inline exhaust fan in the basement or garage, and install one or more grilles without going through the roof, says Kathie Perry, Fantech's director of marketing.

Several companies produce inline fans and some buy private-label models from Fantech.

GE Light/Fan

GE. Designed to ventilate a medium-sized bathroom, this fan light provides 70 cfm at 4.0 sones and is UL listed to be installed over a tub or shower on a GFCI. The unit has a round, oil-rubbed bronze finish and a frosted, ribbed glass lens. 800-684-9975. www.geelectrical.com.

Ventergy Series Fans

American Aldes. Low-energy Ventergy series fans are used with the company's VentZone system and demand-controlled zone register terminals to control air flow on a zone-by-zone basis, saving energy and allowing for the use of smaller fans. One 200-cfm VS-6 Ventergy fan can ventilate up to eight bathrooms and can run the 200-cfm rate in a single room, the maker says. 800-255-7749. www.americanaldes.com.

Ulta-Silent Fan

Broan-NuTone. The manufacturer has combined its humidity-sensing technology with its ultra-silent fans to create an integrated ventilation system. Once there is a rapid rise in humidity within the room, the fan, operating at 0.3 and 0.9 sone, will automatically turn on to exhaust excess moisture and turn off when it's finished, the maker says. 800-558-1711. www.broan.com.

High Performance Series

Air King. The five exhaust fans in the High Performance series install using a mounting bracket instead of the traditional methods of hanger bars or mounting tabs. The 50-cfm and 70-cfm models are Energy Star-rated for medium-sized bathrooms and operate at 1.0 and 2.0 sones, respectively. 877-304-3785. www.airkinglimited.com.

Whisper Green Fan

Panasonic.The Whisper Green fan features a variable-speed control that allows the fan to run continuously at 30 to 70 cfm, and it can run at 80 cfm when switched on or activated by an integrated motion sensor. The homeowner can set the delay timer, adjustable from 30 seconds to 60 minutes, to return to the minimum cfm level after a set period of time. 866-292-7292. www.panasonic.com/ventfans.

Fan/Light Combo

Hunter. The manufacturer's fan/light combos feature metal finishes, hand-painted elements, and glass designs. The La Strada model includes a removable finial for cleaning and light bulb replacement, and can be used over any shower or tub with a ground fault circuit interrupter. 800-448-6837. www.hunterfan.com

Ventech Controls

Fantech. Ventech controls help homeowners maintain indoor air quality with automatic timers. One main control can be used with up to four auxiliary controls. The main unit includes a timer that can be programmed to control the fan's run time, and a 20-minute boost cycle can be activated from the touchscreen of the main control or any of the auxiliary controls. 800-747-1762. www.fantech.net.