Types of Bathroom Vent Fans

Ceiling-Mount Fans

• Ceiling-mount fans are the most common and include a metal box, or housing, recessed into the ceiling. The motor resides inside the housing. A vent duct runs from the housing to the exit point outdoors.

In-Line Fans

• An in-line fan has its motor mounted along its duct run, typically in an attic or crawlspace. Two advantages of in-line fans are reduced fan noise in the bathroom and the ability to connect multiple vent lines to a single motor--and only one exit point for the final duct run.

Wall-Mount Fans

• Wall-mount fans offer a solution for tricky installations, such as where a bathroom ceiling is also a floor for living space above. These fans have a motor unit that mounts on the outside of an exterior wall, at the vent's exit point.

Venting Options

• There are a few different ways to run the ductwork for a bathroom fan. Venting through the roof typically offers the best performance and fewest problems. However, some situations and fan designs call for venting through an exterior wall or down and out through a soffit under the roof eave.

Vent Switches

• In addition to the various fan options, manufacturers offer specialty switches and controls for convenience, better performance and greater energy efficiency. These include humidity sensors that turn on the fan automatically when the air becomes moist and timer switches that will turn the fan off after a set amount of time.