Bathroom Exhaust Fan Cost

How Much Does a Bathroom Exhaust Fan Cost?

Bathroom Exhaust FanBathroom Exhaust Fan Cost – An exhaust fan is a small, ceiling- or wall-mounted fan that pulls air from a room and deposits it outside through a duct. Exhaust fans have become a necessity for every bathroom. They not only promote ventilation, but they also help to control moisture level and maintain fresh air in any home.

Bathrooms are a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew due to their damp environment. Installing an bathroom vent fan in bathrooms can prevent the damage caused by mold and mildew growth to the tiles and wooden fixtures of your bathroom. With all these advantages to offer, installing bathroom exhaust fan is usually a sound investment for anyone building a new home or renovating their existing home.

Why Install a Bathroom Exhaust Fan?

These fans are one of the most commonly spotted elements on any bathroom renovation checklist. These have become a necessity because of the several different advantages they offer, from promoting a healthy, cool environment to preventing the damage to fixtures and furniture of a bathroom. Let’s have a look at some of the advantages of installing an exhaust fan in the bathroom.

  • Improve bathroom air quality – Bathroom fans exchange humid, smelly bathroom air with fresh air and maintain the indoor air quality.
  • Remove bathroom steam and humidity – Ventilation fans dispel bathroom humidity, odors, steam, and fumes, to create a cool, fresh bathroom environment.
  • Defog the mirror – As already mentioned, exhaust fans prevent the creation of a humid environment and as a result defog bathroom mirrors to offer you a clean, clear view.
  • Halt the growth of mold and mildew – Bathroom exhaust fans maintain fresh air inside the bathroom and prevent the formation of mold and mildew.
  • Improve the curb appeal – Installing an exhaust fan in the bathroom considerably slow down the rusting of fixtures and retards paint blistering, improving the overall look and appeal of your bathroom.

Considerations of Installing a Bathroom Exhaust Fan

Now that we have introduced our readers to the benefits of installing a bathroom exhaust fan, let’s have a look at the factors that should be considered when installing an exhaust fan in the bathroom.

Type of Exhaust Fan

There are two major factors to consider when selecting an exhaust fan for your bathroom – CFM and Sone.

  • CFM or cubic feet per minute – This indicates the power of the fan. Exhaust fans may have a CFM of 50 to 1000. Consider the size and ventilation system of your bathroom and choose an exhaust fan that matches your ventilation requirements. Generally speaking, most bathrooms require exhaust fans with a CFM of less than 200.
  • Sone – It is the measure of loudness or the sound an exhaust fan makes. Exhaust fans may have a sone of 0.5 (almost noiseless) to 4 (sounds like a television). You may require a noisy fan if the bathroom is located near the public areas of your home to provide privacy against toilet sounds.

Size and Specifications of the Bathroom

As already discussed, size of the bathroom dictates your selection of an exhaust fan. A general principle for selecting an exhaust fan for a bathroom is to calculate the square footage of the area and choose a fan with the same number of CFM. For example, if your bathroom is 6’ X 8’, you will need an exhaust fan with 48 or 50 CFM.

However, if your bathroom has an area of 100 square feet or more, you will have to assign CFM capacity to separate fixtures.

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Bathroom Exhaust Fan Cost

The cost of installing a bathroom exhaust fan includes several components, such as:

  • Cost of the exhaust fan
  • Cost to prepare the work site
  • Cost for debris removal on project completion
  • Cost of labor

In addition to this, the project may incur additional Bath Exhaust Fan Cost if the installation of exhaust fan requires modification of the existing HVAC system, electrical system, and/or plumbing system. Also, if you prefer to hire a contractor for this job, add 10 to 20 percent to your total budget for contractor’s fee. If your going to do it yourself, here is a good video from Lowes website.

The following table presents the average cost of exhaust fans of varying specifications.

Fan – CFM and SoneAdd-onsAverage Cost
50 – 70 CFM, 3 – 8 sonesNone$20 – $55
50 – 130 CFM, 1.5 sonesSimple light or infrared heater$30 – $150
100 CFM, 1.2 sones1,500 watt heater, 60 watt bulbs, 7 watt nightlight$150 – $600

This is a general guide about the cost of installing a bathroom fan. The exact cost depends on various factors, which should be carefully considered by a buyer.