For damp rooms and outdoor areas 

Seeing a ceiling an in somebody's living rooms might still be rare nowadays, however it tends to be not too surprising when it happens. In bathrooms, however, their use is uncommon, even though they have clear advantages as they distribute fresh air faster and create a pleasant climate in the room. 

Danger of mould growth

Bathrooms often suffer from humidity. On one hand the rooms are relatively small, on the other hand a lot of humidity is released. Almost every time the bathroom is used, water is involved somehow. Whether it is when washing the hands, using the toilet, showering or taking a bath; in smaller flats a clothes horse is often erected inside the bathtub in order to dry wet clothes. When there is no corresponding sufficient airing, mould is quick to grow.

In bathrooms without windows, there is usually a duct for exhaust air installed that transports humid and warm air to the outside. However, when it takes quite a long time until the conditions in the bathroom are back to normal, the use of an additional ceiling fan is recommended that is suitable for use in damp rooms or outdoor areas, as a high concentration of humidity can lead to damages on electronics in the long run.

Supporting the ventilation

Even though a window is already present, a ceiling fan can come in handy. In order to transport the humid air to the outside, there needs to be draught. Without a fan this can be achieved by opening the door to the room as well as in other rooms where windows are also open. After a few minutes the humidity of the air in the bathroom has been reduced so that there is no severe danger of mould growth anymore. However, from time to time there is a situation where it is not possible to open all doors and windows: visitors have come by or the residents of the house need to leave urgently for other business. In this case it comes in handy to switch on a ceiling fan that swirls up the air and transports it to the outside quicker.

Choosing the right power class

Especially when it is important that the fan does not only have a decorative use, but also have a certain function, the right power class needs to be chosen. When the device is too small, it cannot provide the air exchange needed for reducing air humidity. In order to find the right performance, the room height has to be multiplied by the square metre calculation of room. This results in the room volume stated in cubic metres (m³). An air exchange rate of five to eight per hour is recommended for a bathroom. It is best to multiply the room volume with a high air exchange rate; the result is stated in m³/h.

Example:

When a bathroom has a size of ten square metres and a room height of 2.50 metres, a room volume of 25 m³ is calculated. Once this value is multiplied with the air exchange rate (7), it will give a result of 175. When a ceiling fan is purchased with intention of use in damp rooms, the prospects should consider that the air flow rate for this room size will be at least 175 m³/h.

Criteria when purchasing

The choice of ceiling fans for bathrooms is so big nowadays, that everyone can find a model to suit their own taste. When making a choice, the following things should be considered: 

• How much comfort is required? Is a simple on / off switch enough, or should it be controlled with a remote control?

• Furthermore, it is very practical if, for example, a motion sensor is integrated: In households with children this can prove to be very advantageous, because they might not always remember to turn off the fan each time. That could lead to increased costs on your utility bill.

• Is the ceiling fan rated with an IP code? This is crucial so that the model is protected from water and humidity in bathrooms.