Top-Performing Bathroom Exhaust Fans Assessed by Better Homes and Gardens
In the humid confines of your bathroom, moisture can wreak havoc, fostering mold and mildew growth. To combat this issue, a bathroom exhaust fan is an essential investment. This appliance not only ventilates away damp air, but it also eliminates odors and improves indoor air quality.
"Exhaust fans play a crucial role in keeping bathroom air fresh and mitigating humidity," says Chris Lozano, master electrician and electrical expert at Frontdoor. "For optimal performance, switch on the exhaust fan before using the restroom or starting a shower, and then turn it off once you're done."
When searching for the perfect bathroom exhaust fan, select the appropriate size based on square footage. A general rule of thumb is providing at least 1 cfm for each square foot in the bathroom. Many manufacturers label the size of the unit that matches specific bathroom sizes.
Here's our lineup of the top bathroom exhaust fans, catering to various budgets and featuring extra features like lighting and adjustable airflow:
- Akicon 2-Sones Bathroom Exhaust Fan: $118, available at Wayfair. This fan boasts a sleek design resembling a regular light fixture, seamlessly blending in with your ceiling. It comes with adjustable lighting and a night-light, offering three color temperature options and a dimmable light. With an airflow capacity of 110 cfm, this fan is ideal for bathrooms up to 100 square feet and offers effective ventilation and odor removal. Although audible, it ranks as relatively quiet. Installation instructions are clear and easy to understand, although we recommend professional installation due to its three-way switch for the fan, light, and night-light.
- Broan-NuTone Fan and Light Combo: $52, available at Amazon. This budget-friendly option from Broan-NuTone is ideal for small or midsize bathrooms with a recommended space up to 45 square feet. It excelled at clearing steam and odors during testing in a 45-square-foot bathroom, boasting rapid humidity elimination. Installation was a breeze using the provided guide complete with easy-to-understand diagrams and pictures. While it lacks the higher cfm speed for larger bathrooms, it's available with an 80 cfm speed for more powerful ventilation.
- Panasonic Whisper Choice DC Pick-A-Flow Bathroom Fan: $134, available at Home Depot. This quiet (0.3 sones at 80 cfm) and effective model offers adjustable airflow settings, making it suitable for both small and large bathrooms. Its energy efficiency also scores it an Energy Star certification. Although it doesn't come with built-in lighting, it still proves to be a fantastic option for those favoring a simple and effective fan.
- AeroPure Sones Fan with LED Light: $160, available at Wayfair. This energy-efficient fan features three speed settings, making it adaptable to various bathroom sizes. It includes an integrated LED light and night-light, providing ample lighting for your bathroom. During testing, it delivered impressive ventilation and odor removal capabilities. Keep in mind that it may take approximately 20 seconds to ramp up after turning it on.
- Broan-NuTone Single-Speed Ventilation Fan: $101, available at Amazon. This simple yet effective fan is suitable for large bathrooms up to 100 square feet. Its installation process is easy and doesn't require attic access, making it perfect for DIY enthusiasts. Although it's slightly louder than our other picks, its powerful ventilation capabilities outweigh this drawback.
Key terms to remember include:
- Cfm: Stands for cubic feet per minute, measuring the fan's airflow capacity.
- Sones: Measurements of sound level, with anything under two sones considered quiet.
- Mounting Type: Indicates whether the bathroom exhaust fan mounts onto the ceiling or vertically onto the wall.
During our testing process, we installed and tested 10 bathroom exhaust fans, considering various factors like ease of installation, noise level, and effectiveness in ventilating and removing odors. This comprehensive testing helped us determine the best bathroom exhaust fans for your home.
Best Overall
- Akicon 2-Sones Bathroom Exhaust Fan: $118 at Wayfair. This fan boasts a modern design that seamlessly blends in with your ceiling, and it comes with adjustable lighting and a night-light, providing customizable lighting options. With an airflow capacity of 110 cfm, it effectively ventilates air and removes odors in bathrooms up to 100 square feet. During testing, it cleared steam from our bathroom mirror in less than a minute and prevented any moisture buildup on the mirror while we took a shower. Although it's somewhat audible, its quiet operation ranks among the quieter options. We installed the fan ourselves, and the instructions were clear and easy to understand, although we recommend professional installation due to the three-way switch for the fan, light, and night-light.
We hope this guide equips you with the knowledge and recommendations to choose the perfect bathroom exhaust fan for your needs. By following our tips and selecting the right bathroom exhaust fan, you can effectively prevent mold and mildew growth and enjoy improved indoor air quality in your humid bathroom.
[1] Dwyer, J. (2021, January 18). How to Electrical DIY Projects Safely. Retrieved from https://www.familyhandyman.com/electrical/how-to-electrical-diy-projects-safely
[2] Frontdoor. (2022, August 31). How to Install a Bathroom Exhaust Fan: A DIY Guide. Retrieved from https://www.frontdoor.com/home-improvement/how-to-install-a-bathroom-exhaust-fan-a-diy-guide/
- Remodeling your home might include considering a bathroom renovation, and a key aspect of such a project is the planning of the bathroom.
- When planning your bathroom, do not forget the importance of a good bath shower system and exhaust fan.
- For reviews on bath showers and their fixtures, consult popular home-and-garden magazines like Better Homes and Gardens (BHG).
- BHG recommends checking out the GreenBuilder magazine for eco-friendly bathroom fixture reviews.
- If you are in the market for a new bathroom exhaust fan, pay attention to the reviews and recommendations available online.
- Before you start shopping for a bathroom exhaust fan, understand the term 'Cfm' - it stands for Cubic Feet per Minute and measures the fan's airflow capacity.
- You will also encounter the term 'Sones' during your search, which is a measurement of the fan's sound level, with anything under two sones considered quiet.
- Keep in mind the mounting type for the bathroom exhaust fan, as most mount onto the ceiling, but some might be designed to mount vertically onto the wall.
- After careful research and consideration, make your selection and ensure to mitigate potential issues during installation by following the instructions or consulting affiliate websites like Frontdoor or Home Improvement Guide (HIG) for DIY tips, such as those provided by Chris Lozano in his article on Electrical DIY Projects Safely on the Family Handyman website.
