Bathrooms are damp rooms by definition, so providing proper ventilation is imperative, both for the occupant’s health and for the bathroom itself.

Wall fans a popular choice for domestic applications, particularly where ceiling/roof space is limited. The wall fan has the motor directly behind the grill and is either positioned inside the room, or on the outside wall (both are typically ducted), providing both a suitable exhaust capacity with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. They usually are activated by the bathroom light where they can have an adjustable timer but you can also get motion activated, humidity sensor activated and simply pull chord on/off switch models. If inside or close to a showering area you must pick a low voltage model to comply with electrical regulations. Some of these fans can also be mounted on the ceiling at the time of your bathroom design and installation.

Wall fans tend to be noisier than inline fans as the working parts are in the room and are also less powerful as they will be smaller.

An inline fan is a fan that is mounted further away from the grill and is connected to ducting that is used for extraction purposes. An inline fan does not sit directly on the plasterboard or ceiling, instead it is typically located inside the attic or roof space a little bit further away from the bathroom.

As the fan is located further away in the roof space and not directly above you, the noise levels within the room you are extracting from will be less. They are also more powerful than wall or ceiling mounted fans as they are available in larger sizes with very high power motors. Some models come with a low voltage down light which is perfect for above showering areas.