You know you can clean your exhaust fan from time to time – right? Tips for keeping your exhaust fan running properly

Your bathroom exhaust fan serves a very important function in your home. Without it you risk a potential for mold and mildew to build up. Keeping your fan running efficiently and effectively is very important. The good news is that they do not require very much maintenance, but there are a couple things that you should do.


Almost all exhaust fans are what is referred to as permanently lubricated. This means that there is never a need for you to oil the fan motor. What does need to be done is regular cleaning of the exhaust fan. You should always refer to your owner’s manual for specific cleaning procedures and always turn the power off to the exhaust fan before starting any maintenance. With that being said, there are basically two items of the fan that should be regularly cleaned.

The first is the grill. Almost all grills can be removed from the exhaust fan. If it is a standard plastic or metal grill, they can be washed using a mild detergent like dishwashing soap. Never use any abrasives to clean the grill as it may damage them. If the grill has a light function or any other electronics in it, use a slightly damp cloth, being careful not to get any of the electronics or lamp socket wet. Always make sure the grill is completely dry before re-installing.

The second item that should be cleaned is inside the fan housing. Over time dirt and debris will build up on the inside of the housing and especially on the fan blade. This can cause the fan to operate louder than normal, put more stress on the motor, and in some extreme cases clog the ducting. To clean the interior of the fan, use a dry cloth to wipe down all the interior parts and especially the fan blade. You can also gently use a vacuum to clean the inside of the fan. Again, take care that you do not damage any of the internal parts.

By maintaining your fan you are helping to ensure many years of worry-free operation. To learn more about other helpful tips visit the FAQ section at www.airkinglimited.com    

The exhaust fan choice dilemma

So you need an exhaust fan. How hard can it be to choose an exhaust fan? You go online and type in “exhaust fan”. 14 million results come back. You click on one random site and there are 300 results with all of them looking almost the same. Maybe this isn’t going to be as easy as you originally thought? Hopefully we can help navigate the confusing world of choosing a bathroom exhaust fan.

There are two basic functions to start with: air movement measured in Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) and sound measured in Sones. There are many considerations for CFM, but we are going to stay with the basics for a typical homeowner. The general rule is 1 CFM per square foot of space with standard 8 foot ceilings. So if you have an 8 foot x 10 foot bathroom you would need at least an 80 CFM fan. This would be the minimum ventilation. Depending on your usage, you might consider a slightly larger fan to make sure you have enough power to clear the room.

The second consideration is sound – sones. A rating at or below 1 sone will be very quiet. 1 to 2 sones will still be quiet but anything over 4 sones starts to get loud. The sound rating of a fan will typically influence the cost with quieter fans costing more.

The next consideration is if you have an existing fan or this is a brand new installation. Items such as what type of ducting could play into your decision. Many older fans used 3” ducting. Newer fans are typically going to have either 4” or 6” ducting. This is important to know because if your fan is set up for 4” ductwork and you try and use the existing 3” duct work, the sound level will increase and the performance level will decrease.

After those considerations it comes down to style and functions. Do you want a light? Do you want a fan that automatically turns on when you enter the room or when the humidity level rises in the room? There are units with a decorative grill. These are all personal choices to fit your lifestyle and décor. Air King has a large selection of energy efficient, quiet exhaust fans to meet the needs of almost any home. To learn more about Air King’s bathroom exhaust fans, visit www.airkinglimited.com.