It is important to keep the bathroom clean at all times. The bathroom isn’t an area that is frequented but the few moments we spend there shouldn’t expose us to health risks. If you have noticed, there is usually a form of mist air that is usually left behind after taking a shower.
Well, accumulation of this hot air isn’t a very good thing in your house. You, therefore, should think of a way in which this air can be extracted out of your bathroom or toilet for that matter. This is where the bathroom extractor fans are of great use.
These are small fans that are specifically designed to suck out the unwanted air from the bathroom environment to keep the place tidy. But what is the best bathroom extractor fan to buy? Well, here is a detailed look into some of the fans available in the market as we speak. Take a look at them and decide for yourself which one is likely to meet your expectations.
Our Picks for the Top 11 Bathroom Extractor Fans
Xpelair 93225AW Extractor Fan
This is a 4-inch grill-style fan that doesn’t require much to get installed. It has a timer that can be set to allow it run for a selected amount of time, usually between 30 seconds and 30 minutes. It is a single speed fan which can be controlled using a remote switch.
This fan can be fitted either on the wall or ceiling. Apart from being used in the bathrooms, this product is ideal for use in toilets and shower rooms as well. The extractor fan is IPX4 rated and conforms to Building Regulations Part F for installations in a bathroom whose conditions are either zones 1 or 2.
The white corrosion-free ABS material that forms part of its finish makes it eye appealing. It has power rating of 16 watts with a performance of 73 cubic meters/hour. It comes with a manufacturer’s guarantee of 2 years. Its face plate is a square of 150mm size with a protruding height of 15mm from the installation surface. What’s more, its 98mm rear spigot diameter requires a depth of 75mm for perfect fitting.
Pros
- Quiet operations
- Reasonably priced
- Quick delivery
- Beautiful and non-corrosive ABS finish
- Easy assembly
- Easy to clean
Cons
- No clear instructions on how to set the timer
Manrose XF100S 4-inch Bathroom Extractor Fan
This 4-inch standard extractor fan from Manrose is designed for installation on the wall or ceiling. The fan is very efficient and quiet in its operation, therefore, able to extract up to 85 cubic meters per hour. This makes it another great product worth mentioning when it comes to top-quality bathroom extractor fans.
The fan has been built using the ABS thermoplastic material for strength, durability and a nice finish. The material used in its design is also known for being easy to clean. Just like most of these fans, the XF100S conforms to Building Regulations on Ventilation, F1.
It operates using a motor whose bearings are pre-oiled for a smooth and maintenance-free operation. However, its connection wires tend to be all black which is somehow quite confusing.
Pros
- Easy and quick installation
- Quiet operation
- Well-priced
- Nice appearance
- Durable cover
- Secure fit
Cons
- Connection wires are all black which is confusing
Manrose MF100T Bathroom Extractor Fan
With a power consumption of 25 watts that results into an extraction rate of 245 cubic meters/hour, this fan features among the powerful ones you can come across. Its output power of 25 watts says a lot about its performance. It is approved by BEAB, CE and is compliant with Fully Building Code.
It is in-duct mounted and produces low noises during its operation. This extractor fan is versatile and can be used in a variety of applications; whether flexible or rigid ducting. The motor that’s fitted is a durable one and is warranted for up to 3 years. The ball bearings are top quality as well.
The fan is easily removable from the ducting for maintenance purposes. Its installation process is quick and easy. Additionally, it is double-insulated for more safety. It also has a run on timer that’s built-in which makes it more advanced compared to the other models from Manrose.
Pros
- Fits well in ducting
- Runs quietly
- More powerful motor
- Reasonably priced
- Variable speed setting
- Well-built and durable
- Easy and quick installation
Cons
- Setting the timer is quite a challenge
Manrose QF100T Bathroom Extractor Fan
The QF100T is another powerful yet quiet fan from Manrose that you can consider as well. It is built and can be installed on either ceiling or wall. To maintain an output of 75 cubic meters/hour, the fan is designed with a performance booster to maintain this high output.
The motor that it comes with is a low consumption one with an output power of 4.8 watts. It is built using an ABS thermoplastic material that’s durable and stable giving this fan a more shelf life. The fan comes complete together with back-draught shutters.
It is easy to install and its maintenance cost is almost zero. This product also has a run on timer for a more personalized operation.
Pros
- Quiet operation
- Easy to fit
- No maintenance cost
- Versatile and can be fitted on a wall or ceiling
- Has a performance booster
- Low power consumption
Cons
- The anti-reverse flap doesn’t work well with low water pressure
Manrose XF100T Extractor Fan
Just like many extractor fans from Manrose, the XF100T is designed for mounting on ceilings and walls. The 4-inch fan works so quietly and has an impressive extraction rate of up to 85 cubic meters in an hour. This fan has been built using a thermoplastic material that makes it quite strong and durable.
There is also an additional aesthetic that makes it easy to clean. The fan is powered by an induction motor that is single phase and has its ball bearings pre-oiled for maintenance-free operation. The product complies with the Building Regulations on Ventilation, F1.
It also comes with a built-in run on timer that helps you set its operations according to your own home environment.
Pros
- Powerful motor
- Strong and durable
- Easy installation process
- Inexpensive
- Quiet
- Lightweight
Cons
- Reported cases of missing screws while on transit
Vents TT-150-T TT Extractor Fan
The Vents TT-150-T is a powerful extractor fan that operates using a 60-watt motor. It fits perfectly into a 6-inch flexible or solid ducting. Its extraction capacity is 520 cubic meters in an hour. It comes with a high pressure flow impeller to help balance the extraction rate for a more sufficient performance.
The fan works with a supply voltage of 240 volts and is often quiet during operation with a sound level of 44 dBA at a distance of 3 meters. This fan can be loft mounted besides being well recommended for long ducts. It’s cost-effective and easy to set up at the same time.
Pros
- Powerful motor
- Well-made and long-lasting
- Quiet operations
- Easy installation
- Nice appearance
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Setting the timer right is a little difficult
Xpelair DX100 Extractor Fan
The DX100 from Xpelair is a 4-inch bathroom extractor fan that is not only stylish but compactly designed for small bathrooms. It comes with a window/wall kit that contains an external grille as well as a telescopic ducting for easy installation. It can be fitted on a wall, window or ceiling. It is well suited for a bathroom without window.
This bathroom fan is approved by BEAB, complies with Building Regulation Part F1 and is IPX5 rated. Its extraction capacity in an hour is 76 cubic meters which is achieved at a sound level of 35 dBA at a distance of 3 meters. It is built with timer delay that turns it on and off when there is a rise in humidity.
Its output power is rated at 12 watts which is supplied by 240 volts. The fan is easy to clean as it comes with a front cover that can be clipped off. The motor is not only lubricated for life but also comes with a thermal protection mechanism.
Pros
- Well-made cover
- Straightforward installation process
- Reasonably quiet operations
- Compact and saves space
- Cheap
- Comes with installation accessories
Cons
- Poor quality control which sees some incomplete fans get into the market
Greenwood Airvac AXS100TR Extractor Fan
The AXS100TR from Greenwood Airvac is a single-speed extractor fan that can either be wall or ceiling mounted. To avoid doing new installations, you can install it together with light switch. Even when the switch has been turned off, the fan will still run for a pre-set amount of time.
Its extraction rate is 72 cubic meters per hour and comes with a back-draught shutter which is removable in case it’s ceiling mounted. Its consumption is 16 watts which produces just 35.1 dB(A) at 3m. Unlike many bathroom extractor fans, this one doesn’t come with a pull-cord.
The product has a run on timer. Additionally, it fits well into ducting of 4 inches. However, most people complain that it is not very durable hence something should be done about its durability.
Pros
- Easy installation
- Efficient and quiet operation
- Reasonably priced
- Easy to adjust timer
- Quick delivery
- Perfect packaging
Cons
- Not very durable
Primeline PEF4020 Extractor Fan
This is another extractor fan made by Manrose only that it is badged Primeline. It has a 4-inch exhaust as well as a run on timer that is easily adjustable to allow it operate at a pre-set time even after the light switch has been turned off. This means that you just have to include this fan in the already existing switch line without running a new electrical cable.
Its extraction rate is 85 cubic meters in an hour. The fan is supplied using a 240-volt power supply for its operation. It measures 163mm by 163mm but has a 30mm projection away from the wall. Another good thing about this fan is that it doesn’t require much for its installation exercise.
This model is slightly different in design with the earlier versions. It, therefore, means that if you bought this as a replacement for the older versions, you have to drill new screw holes.
Pros
- Easy and quick installation
- Very quiet air extraction process
- Adjustable timer keeps it running for desired time
- Reasonably priced
- Quick delivery
Cons
- Adjusting the timer when the fan is running or already installed is hectic
Xpelair 93224AW Extractor Fan
This is nicely finished fan. The white corrosion-free ABS thermoplastic from which it has been made makes it really stand out among many other fans. The product can be mounted either on the wall or ceiling.
It complies with Part F Building Rags as well as being IPX4 rated. This fan is a single-speed model, no run on timer, that can be easily controlled using a remote switch. You can include it into your light switch’s circuit to avoid making new installations.
Its exhaust is a 4-inch one that fits so well into most of the ducting. The fan is usually accompanied with user instructions as well as fittings to make the installation process an easy one. Its extraction rate is 73 cubic meters/hour. The motor that does all this work is rated at 16 watts. Additionally, it has a 2-year guarantee from the manufacturer.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Quiet
- Nice appearance
- Quick and timely delivery
- Easy to install
- Well-balanced and made
Cons
- Offset wiring terminals making it difficult to make the connections
Vent-Axia VASF100T Extractor Fan
VASF100T is quiet and stylish fan that has been designed to help in extraction of air from the bathrooms. It has two selectable speeds from which you can choose from for the best performance. Additionally, the 100mm fan has a back-draught shutter which is removable in case it is to be mounted on the ceiling.
Its overrun timer is adjustable and can be set anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes. What’s more, this fan is also fairly quiet and this is something that most people love about it. It also has such a nice appearance and is therefore quite appealing to so many people. With an adjustable overrun timer, this is what you have been looking for in an ideal bathroom extractor fan.
Pros
- Fairly quiet
- Easy and quick installation
- Nice appearance
- Reasonably priced
- Adjustable overrun timer
- Reasonably built to standard
Cons
- Low extraction rate
Things to consider before buying a bathroom extractor fan
Having looked at some of the top fans in the market, you could be wondering what criteria we’ve used to settle on these. Well, in this section we’re going to have a look at how you can distinguish a good extractor fan from poorly made one.
Here are the important factors for consideration:
Size of the bathroom
Small bathrooms usually have lesser air to extract compared to large bathrooms. It therefore means that for a small bathroom, you’ll have to go for a fan whose extraction rate is average. Usually, these are small-sized fans that are quieter as well.
For large bathrooms, it is recommended that you settle for a slightly larger fan that has a high extraction rate to help cope up with the high volumes of air. If you happen to go for a small fan in a large bathroom environment, there are high chances that the motor will get overwhelmed and it won’t last for long for that matter.
The only bad thing with the slightly bigger fans is that they are a little noisy due to the bigger fans they are built with.
Ease of Installation
While most of these fans are easy to install, there are other models that can eat into your time till you regret buying them. Unless you are going for a like-for-like product, you need to pay close attention to how it is set up.
Luckily, there are extraction fans that can be fitted together with lights to eliminate the need to do a new electrical installation. Also check if it comes with installation accessories and as well as a user guide.
Price
The price is usually one of the things we consider in products before we decide to make a purchase. We all want to save but it’s not recommended to go for a very cheap fan as most of them don’t last.
Either way, the too expensive ones should be avoided as they are likely to cause a lot of budget inconveniences. Again, take note not to compromise on quality just to save some money. Try to settle for reasonably priced fans with top quality features as such will give you value for money.
Design and warranty
From what material is the fan made? Does it look like something that will last? Well, this is another important factor to consider. The material from which an extractor fan is made says a lot about its durability.
And to be sure of the fan’s durability, always check the warranty period it comes with. In case warranty is long enough then be sure that the product probably has a long lifetime.
Conclusion
We are all in agreement that the bathrooms should have fresh air flowing in them at any given time. It is, therefore, an important thing to buy the best bathroom extractor fan for your bathroom. We’ve simplified this process by reviewing some of the most popular fans in the market and some of the factors to consider while doing a selection.
So what is the best bathroom extractor fan? Well, Xpelair 93225AW Extractor Fan seems to beat them all. It is well-priced, easy to install, quiet, powerful and compactly designed among others. We would like to recommend it to you. However, you are free to choose from any of these products in this guide as they are top-quality as well.