A bathroom is a room that is regularly exposed to high humidity, as a result of which mold, unpleasant odors and all kinds of fungi can easily appear there.
This can be prevented quite simply - for this you will need a hood in the bathroom, this device can quickly remove excess water particles from the air of this room.
Features and varieties of devices
At the moment, there are several varieties of hoods for this part of the home. All of them are divided into several types depending on the classification.
For example, depending on the method of air exchange, the hood may be:
- natural type;
- forced.
In the first case, the implementation of air exchange is implied as a result of the fact that there is a temperature difference inside and outside the housing. Air exchange occurs through the ventilation hole in the wall of the room. But this type of ventilation is of low efficiency, the work will be carried out provided that it is cooler inside than outdoors. Also in such a case, there is a risk of catching a cold while taking a bath due to the presence of drafts there. That is why forced ventilation in the bathroom is the preferred option.
To ensure this type of ventilation, it will be necessary to install specifically for this intended device - hoods. The installation of this device is carried out directly in the ventilation system or in the wall of the room. As a result of this, the hood will remove the exhaust air from the bathroom, fresh air will enter there through windows or doors.
From the point of view of the functional characteristics of the device, the bathroom ventilation system can be:
- exhaust type - the main part of the device is the hood, which removes the air mixture from the room;
- the natural type of system is supply;
- combined system - a type of ventilation characterized by maximum efficiency, which combines the two previous systems.
Given the use of channels in the system or their absence, the hood for the bathroom can be:
- channelless when the hood is installed directly into the wall of the housing;
- channel, which is used provided that the system channels are present in the room.
In the case of the latter, the fan is mounted at the starting point of the duct. At the same time, it is worth remembering that the duct hood is equipped with a check valve, which prevents the air mixture from moving in the opposite direction.
Depending on the method of operation of the hood for this room can be:
- simple;
- automatic.
Simple models are a conventional electric fan mounted in a tubular casing. To start it, use a conventional switch. The use of such a device is not always advisable, because the cleaning and removal of air will occur only when a person is in the room.
Automatic models are equipped with special electronics that control the operation of the device. It can be one of two types - an off timer or a special sensor that turns on the fan when humidity increases.
Types of exhaust fans
The main part of any exhaust to the bathroom is the fan, on which the operability of the device depends. Depending on the design features, the following fans can be used in modern range hoods:
- axial;
- radial;
- centrifugal;
- roof.
Axial represent a conventional wheel with blades at the edges. Such a device is installed on the axis of the electric motor, when it rotates, the blades will capture air flows from the room and move inside the ventilation duct. Most often, all elements of this design are placed in a cylindrical body, so that they are installed directly in the ventilation hole. Among the disadvantages of using this type of fan, only one deserves attention - axial type fans are quite noisy.
Radial fan - impeller placed in the radial structure of the casing. During the operation of such a device, air flows along a radial path enter the interscapular holes, where they are compressed and, as a result of the appearance of centrifugal force, enter the exhaust duct.
Simplicity of design and easy installation made centrifugal fans the most popular among consumers. Despite the rather high power output, this type of fan is notable for its low noise level.
Roofs are designed to be installed directly on the roof of the house. These are ready-made functional complexes where an electric motor, fan, regulator and vibration pads are placed in one housing. During the operation of the installation, air moves in both radial and axial directions.
What to consider when choosing
Before buying and installing the hood in the bathroom, you should make the right choice of this device for your bathroom. What features of an air-cleaning device should be considered during its selection? Consider the most important.
The first is the ability of the exhaust fan to drive a certain amount of air through the ducts, that is, the functionality of the device. Without performing complex calculations, we can say that the amount of exhaust air is directly determined by the diameter of the exhaust device.
At the moment, you can find fans of section 150, 120, 100 or 80 mm. If 80 or 100 mm of diameter is enough for Khrushchev, then for dwellings of a more modern layout, models with a diameter of at least 120 mm should be chosen.
The second point is the level of moisture protection that the hood has. Everyone knows that increased humidity in the room where this or that electrical device is working is fraught with significant problems. Therefore, it is worth buying those models that are protected against moisture.
Quite important is also the noise level that the device creates during operation. Modern high-quality models are able to work almost silently - only the movement of air through the pipes is audible.
And the last of the most important parameters is the reliability of the device, which will give it the opportunity to work for several years. This feature of the devices is confirmed by the guarantee of its manufacturer - if its validity period is less than a year, you should not buy such a model.
Installation Recommendations
The performance of the hood, as well as the functionality of the entire exhaust system, significantly depends on the correct choice of mounting location for the hood, as a result of which it is necessary to approach the installation of such a device with maximum responsibility. If you do something wrong, then even the most expensive and powerful device will not be highly efficient.
It is recommended to install the hood directly under the ceiling or at a distance of up to 20 cm from it. In this case, you should try to ensure that the device is located opposite the door or slightly oblique from it - in this case, it will turn out to provide a good flow of air, which will be replaced by the one that will bring the hood out.
If there is a ventilation duct in the room, the bathroom hood must be installed directly in it. If you need to expand the channel, you can use a grinder or a chisel with a hammer.
To securely fix the device in the aperture, it is worth using self-tapping screws, liquid nails or special mountings from the kit to the hood. The choice of devices for this is carried out in accordance with the characteristics of the room.
If the fan is installed correctly in the duct, it will be completely hidden, only the ventilation grill will remain outside. When choosing a model you like, it is important to ensure that its lattice matches the overall style of the bathroom.
To seal the joint between the wall and the grill, and at the same time ensure sound insulation, it is worth using a sealant with silicone as the basis. It must be applied to the back of the grate immediately before its fixation.
Before fixing the ventilation grill, it is recommended to check the correct installation of the hood and its performance.
How to install the hood
After choosing a suitable hood model, all that remains is to reinstall it. How to do it? You just need to adhere to this sequence of work:
- To the place where the fan should be installed, wiring is laid, hidden in the cable duct or pipe;
- The area of the ventilation hole is adjusted to the size of the selected device;
- The hood housing is mounted in the prepared hole, the seams are carefully sealed with sealant;
- After that, all the required work related to electricity is carried out;
- The final stage of the installation of the hood in the bathroom is the installation of a grill.
It is important to remember that there must be at least a small gap between the floor and the door of the room, which will ensure the presence of free air flow. If there is no such gap, then the entire functioning of the fan in the bathroom will be simply meaningless.
To increase the soundproofing parameters, one or another sound absorber should be installed immediately after the fan. If this does not work out, then you need to at least trim the upper part of the channel with soundproofing material.
As is clear from all of the above, a bathroom hood is a necessary component of this room. Everyone can choose and even install such a device on their own, so that in this room the microclimate will become more comfortable.
