In order to have a pleasant stay at home, it is important to have fresh air. While it is mostly possible to achieve this by opening windows, there are rooms where a fan is necessary. How do they differ and what should be considered before purchasing a fan? Read on to find out!
What are the main differences between types of fans?
As you can see from our selection, there are many different types of fans, so it is important to know which one is most suitable for your home and situation. To understand this, let's briefly explain how fans differ from each other:
Household fans - as the name suggests, these fans are suitable for various household situations, from ventilating office spaces to removing moist air from bathrooms. This type of fan is installed on a ventilation duct;
Duct fans - unlike household fans, these fans are not installed on walls or ceilings, but inside the ventilation duct. They are usually used for ventilation of small spaces or for more efficient heat exchange between adjacent rooms;
Air fans - air fans are mainly associated with cooling function on hot summer days, but with a high-quality air fan, it can also be used for air ventilation, drying painted objects, cooling compressors, transformers, and engines, drying humid rooms, and other tasks. And unlike other types of fans, they do not require installation - just connect the air fan to the power grid (unless the air fan is intended to be mounted on the ceiling, if allowed by the device model);
Ceiling fans- as the name suggests, these fans are mounted on the ceiling. In summer, this type of fan conditions the air and helps to reduce the temperature in the room. Ceiling fans with destratification mode, on the other hand, help to make the room warmer in winter, as the hot air that rises is redirected back to the lower part of the room;
Roof fans - used to ensure optimal air circulation in the attic, especially helping to get rid of hot air in the summer months. Particularly useful in cases where the roof is poorly insulated or the attic floor is very well insulated, making the attic very hot;
Fireplace fans - designed for even distribution of warm air created by the fireplace throughout the rooms of the house. When purchasing such a fan, special attention should be paid to how many rooms the specific model is suitable for and what kind of air movement the fan is suitable for (some fireplace fans should not circulate air containing ash);
Wall fans - mounted on the wall to remove air from the room. Depending on the model of the wall fan, it can also be mounted on a panel or window. In terms of operation principle, these fans are very similar to household fans, but they stand out with significantly higher power and productivity (which, of course, also depends on the specific model).
Before purchasing a fan, it is worth considering its operating principle. If more efficient ventilation is needed in the room, it is better to choose a wall fan with centrifugal operation principle. Axial fans are usually weaker and their use is not effective if the air needs to be expelled further than three meters or if there are one or more bends in the ventilation duct. Proper installation of the fan is also important - otherwise, you may encounter unpleasant noises caused by vibration.
Parameters to pay attention to before choosing a fan
Once you have understood what kind of fan you need for your home, it's time for the next step - familiarize yourself with the specifications of each specific model to find the most suitable one. Read on to find out which parameters in the fan specifications need special attention!
Size
The size of the fan determines whether you can install it in the intended place. Consider not only the size of the fan itself, but also the size of the ventilation duct or shaft to which it can be attached. When purchasing an air or ceiling fan, it is important that there is enough space in the designated area or near the ceiling.
Power and productivity
The power of the fan is indicated in watts (W), while the productivity indicator helps to understand how many cubic meters of air the fan can "transport" in an hour (m3/h). Special attention should be paid to the second parameter - it determines whether the fan will be able to perform its intended function properly. The required productivity depends on the specific situation; for example, in places where natural air exchange practically does not occur, the fan's productivity should be higher, but for example, in a relatively humid bathroom, the minimum required power of the fan is its volume multiplied by 15 (for a toilet, it is enough to multiply its volume by 6, for a bedroom - by 5). For example, if the area or size of the bathroom is 6 square meters, and the ceiling height is 2.5 meters, the volume of the bathroom is 15 cubic meters. Therefore, such a bathroom would require a fan with a power of at least 225 m3/h (it is recommended to buy a fan with at least 10% reserve productivity). Also, consider that we have indicated the minimum multiplication coefficients - if the room is, for example, particularly humid, it is recommended to choose an even higher productivity fan. For some models, their specifications already indicate in which size rooms they are intended to be used.
Noise level
It is indicated in decibels (dB), and the higher it is, the louder the fan will operate. Needless to say, the noise level of the fan is closely related to its type and productivity - the more powerful the fans, the more noise they tend to create. To minimize the noise generated by the fan, proper installation is important, otherwise, various vibrations can also add to the noise. Modern fans are also designed in a way to minimize the noise they produce. This is achieved by using specially quiet bearings and materials that absorb the sound.
Fan position
Simple household fans are designed for vertical use, while more advanced models are also suitable for horizontal installation, allowing them to be placed, for example, on the ceiling of an office space or bathroom. Air fans, on the other hand, are often suitable for attachment to the ceiling, which is especially useful if the fan is intended for room ventilation.
Closing valve or shutter
If the fan will have a direct outlet to the outside or if it is planned to be connected to the common ventilation shaft, there is a high probability that cold air or unpleasant odors will enter the room. In such situations, a closing valve or shutter is useful, which will prevent air from entering the room. This solution can be either mechanical or electronic.
Finger-proof guard
A guard will ensure that it is not possible to injure fingers in the fan. This parameter is especially important if children will be near the fan.
Protection against external conditions
In order for the fan to operate as intended, it is important that it is not affected by excessively high/low temperature or humidity. Therefore, when purchasing a fan, for example, for a bathroom, make sure that it is protected from the effects of moisture. This is indicated by the IP protection class. The first digit after the letters IP indicates protection against solid objects and substances, while the second digit indicates protection against liquids, including water. For example, fans in the IP44 class are protected against solid objects larger than 1 millimeter and water splashes, while a fan in the IP45 class is also protected against water jets (from a 6.3 mm nozzle from any direction). The higher the number, the higher the degree of protection.
What additional options do modern fans offer?
The main function of a fan is to circulate air to remove odors or excessively hot or cold air from the room, but various modern functions significantly facilitate this process. Here are some of them:
Timer - with the help of a timer, you can set the fan to operate for a certain period of time even after the switch is turned off. The timer can be either fixed (providing, for example, 20 minutes of operation after turning off) or adjustable (the ability to set how long the fan will continue to operate after it is turned off);
Motion detector - this function automatically starts the fan when movement is detected in the room and stops ventilation after a certain time interval (or when there is no movement in the room anymore);
Light signal - when purchasing a very quiet fan, it is sometimes difficult to tell whether it is operating or turned off. A light signal (usually an LED light) allows you to remotely check this;
Humidity sensor - a very useful function in rooms where fans are used to reduce air humidity, for example, in bathrooms. The humidity sensor turns on the fan when a certain humidity level is reached (for example, 80%) and turns it off when the humidity level drops below a certain threshold, for example, 50%;
Multiple operating modes - ceiling and air fans usually stand out with multiple operating modes. The more modes, the easier it is to adjust the fan's operation to the room and desired result.
These are the main additional functions that fans can have, but keep in mind that each model is different, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the device's specifications before purchasing it!
Do you need a fan for your home, garage, or any other room? We can help you because PROF.LV, the largest building materials e-shop/warehouse in Latvia, offers a wide range of household, duct, ceiling, roof, fireplace, wall, and air fans. Use the convenient filter and find what you need now!
