When designing your new bathroom, don’t forget about ventilation. Bathroom exhaust fans are an integral part of ventilation and are crucial to the longevity of your bathroom.

Ventilation is often forgotten in the excitement of designing a new bathroom. Fan retailer George Kahan says people often leave it up to a builder or an electrician to buy the cheapest bathroom fan available. According to George, rather than being an afterthought, bathroom exhaust fans are actually a critical element in bathroom designs, since they stop the build-up of moisture. This moisture is to blame for the mould that destroys paint finishes on walls and in some cases can lead to wall rot.

The best fan is the one with enough capacity for the size of the room – the larger the bathroom, the greater the capacity should be. Ideally, the fan should provide about 10 air changes per hour for an average-size bathroom, which is 250 cubic metres per hour.

George, who has been supplying fans for five years, says people should take their time when choosing a fan and look at all the options. The best models are those that do not allow warm air to escape, or smells or cold air to return to the bathroom.

In terms of style, the round white plastic grill of yesterday is gone, with a range of modern looks now available. Bathroom exhaust fans come in many shapes and colours – round, square, grill-covered or exposed and in white, chrome or brass finishes.

Some stylish models today are designed to look like light fittings, and can incorporate lights or heaters too. These light/heater/fan combinations can be great for smaller bathrooms that don’t have the space for separate fittings, but as they can’t be installed directly over the shower area, they may not be the most effective choice.

If you’re one of those people who always forget to switch the fan on, never fear – bathroom fans can now do it for you. The Nutone range of exhaust fans for the bathroom features a humidity-sensing fan that detects a rapid rise of moisture levels and automatically switches itself on. A Nutone bathroom fan can be programmed to stay on from five minutes up to an hour, depending on how long it takes the steam to subside.

Taking this automation even further are some of the Panasonic range, which feature motion detectors that activate the fan whenever a person enters the bathroom. Panasonic bathroom fans are also some of the quietest on the market, with several ‘low-profile’ models designed to fit within even the smallest ceiling cavity.

To get some advice on the right fan for your bathroom and the many features and benefits of different models, contact a specialist today: