Acceptable Noise Level Of The Residential Extractor Fan

By Author: Kevin Richard
Total Articles: 242
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If you are in the process of selecting and researching a domestic extractor fan, you will know that there are various technical aspects to consider, such as number of air changes per hour, room size, building regulations, extraction rate, the bathroom zoning system, resultant air pressure, duct length, energy usage, and IP rating. Basically, the list appears to be unlimited.

The decision to retrofit an extractor is generally motivated by the requirement to expel steam from cooking smells from a kitchen or bathroom and is made by the homeowner. While installing a fan in a new property or company, the electrician will install the fans to adhere to the building regulations. In both cases, the single most vital factor is the air extraction rate. How much air is removed over a specific period? This is mentioned in meters cubed per hour or liters per second.

Nonetheless, a vital consideration which is frequently neglected by the property owner and somewhat deliberately neglected by the third party company is the noise generated by the fan while in operation.

Such information is now conveniently found ...
... on the websites of the manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. Those fans which do not clearly show the decibel possibly has something to hide and should be avoided.

So what is an acceptable noise level? To some extent this is subjective, which is fine to some but might be irritating to others. The fan type and installation nonetheless have a big impact on this answer. Most kitchen fans are six inch, which implies they utilize a six inch impeller. Consequently, a big motor is necessary to drive it. There is just no way of avoiding the fact that a bigger motor will cause high decibel level. Obviously, even the most silent six inch fans are louder while working than the noisier four inch ones. Nonetheless, the kitchen is a room which can accommodate higher decibel levels. Why? Okay, think about how the fan is used. Almost definitely, the fan is used to extract the cooking smells. In this scenario, the user and other members of the property will be much less aware of the fan noise, being obscured by the sounds of the food preparation.

Four inch fans nonetheless are utilized at completely different times. Night time visits to the toilet or bathroom, for instance, when the house is completely quiet are much more audible. The shutting and opening of a door, the creak of the floorboard can be heard in various parts of the house. In this situation, fan noise is much more apparent unless you are using an air compressor enclosure. Nonetheless, most of the manufacturers now manufacture quiet fans or a wide range of silent fans. If the fan is installed properly, and is not mounted on a wooden joist, they will be silent, even at the middle of the night.