Why do I need a Bathroom Exhaust Fan?

You walk into your bathroom and there it is looking at you – it is the exhaust fan wall switch. Do you turn it on or not? Then you ask yourself, “Why do I need a Bathroom Exhaust Fan”?

Bathroom exhaust fans provide a vital function to ensure the indoor air quality of your home. Their main functions are to remove moisture and odors from the room. Mold and mildew love moist environments, so by using an exhaust fan you can greatly decrease the conditions that promote their growth.

So if exhaust fans are so good, why doesn’t everyone have and use one? There are two main answers. The first is that not all that long ago, exhaust fans were not required by the building codes. Codes were written that if you had a window anywhere in your bathroom, you were not required to have an exhaust fan. The theory being that you could provide all the ventilation by opening a window. While that might sound good in theory, when it is February in any northern state, I am not sure how much you want to be opening windows? The building codes across the country have come a long way and now require an exhaust fan in all bathrooms, kitchens and anywhere pollutants are entering the living environment.

The second answer is the sound level. Older exhaust fans were loud and not very efficient. Technology has come a long way and now there are energy efficient fans on the market that you can’t even hear running. To learn more about Air King’s bathroom exhaust fans, visit www.airkinglimited.com.

The mystery of the 3-prong cord

What is a 3-prong cord? The simple explanation is that it is a standard cord that includes a grounding wire. The grounding prong is an added safety feature that protects you in the case of a malfunction within the appliance being used. You will see them used on many products but especially on products constructed with metal.

The grounding prong protects you in the case where one of the wires inside the product may come loose and come into contact with any of the metal. This will cause the electric current to flow through that metal. If you then touch any of the metal, you will get an electric shock that could be fatal. The grounding prong prevents this by sending the extra flow of electricity directly to ground. The circuit detects a surge of power and “trips” the circuit, stopping the flow of electricity to the unit. If you have ever had a product that trips the circuit every time you plug it in, it might be because there is a problem with the wiring of the product.

Some people will simply cut off the prong or use a cheater plug. While the unit will continue to work, you have now disabled an important safety feature of the unit. It may be able to operate for years that way, but is it really worth the risk to your home and family? Three prong grounded cords are typically required in all commercial settings such as schools, offices, hospitals and so forth. All of Air King’s commercial and industrial products include three prong grounded cords. To learn more about Air King’s commercial and industrial fans, visit www.airkinglimited.com.

To duct or not to duct – what type of range hood should I purchase?

While there are hundreds of different styles, forms and features to choose from when it comes to a kitchen range hood, there are basically two types – ducted or ductless (recirculating).

A ducted range hood will exhaust the air through a grease filter then to the outside of the home through ductwork attached to the range hood. A ductless range hood will pass the air through a grease and odor filter inside the hood and recirculate the air back into the room. Now, which is better? Without a doubt a ducted range hood is far superior to a ductless one. Ducted range hoods will completely remove the contaminated air from the home and provide much better indoor air quality.

So why would anyone use a ductless range hood. There are two reasons why. The first reason is in certain applications running ductwork to the outside is just not logistically possible. This is especially true in large apartment/condo complexes. In these situations having a ductless range hood is better than not utilizing anything.

The second reason is not as good of one. Installing ductwork in a home is an added cost, so unfortunately if the builder or home owner is trying to cut costs a bit, they will not take the extra step to run the ductwork. The good news is that if this was the case, ductwork can be added fairly simply if you have attic access. Easy ways to tell if you have ducting or not are to first open the cabinets above your hood. If you see ductwork, you have a ducted range hood. The other way to tell is to turn your range hood on and feel if any air is blowing back into the kitchen. If it is, you have a ductless range hood.

If you have a ductless range hood and are able to run ducting to the outside, we would highly recommend doing so. While this might be a project a handy homeowner can accomplish we do caution that you will be cutting a hole to the exterior of your home. If not done and sealed properly, this could lead to water leaking into the home and causing damage. Air King always recommends consulting a professional if you are unsure about any aspects of the installation. To learn more about Air King’s selection of kitchen range hood visit www.airkinglimited.com

You know that the filters in your range hood can be removed and cleaned – right? Tips for keeping your range hood running properly

If you are like a lot of people, when it comes to cleaning the filters of your kitchen range hood it always seems to be on the to-do list and never seems to make it to the done list.

All range hoods that exhaust air are going to have some type of filtration system. If the air is being exhausted outside, they will have a grease filter. These types of filters can be easily cleaned. While it will depend on how often the range hood is used, we suggest they are checked and cleaned at least once a month.

As grease and debris builds up on the filters it can limit the amount of air coming through the range hood and cause the hood to run louder and less efficiently. By maintaining your filters, you can ensure that your hood is running at its peak performance level.You should always refer to your owner’s manual for specific cleaning procedures and always turn the power off to the range hood before starting any maintenance. To clean the filters remove them from the range hood and use a mild detergent with hot water. In years past, grease filters could be washed in a dishwasher. A change in the chemicals used in most dishwasher detergents no longer allows filters to be put into the dishwasher. The reason is that most filters are made of aluminum and the new chemical configuration of the detergents can have a reaction with the aluminum causing spots. While it doesn’t affect the performance of the filters, it does not look the best. If your filters are made from materials such as stainless steel then they can typically go into the dishwasher.If you have a range hood that recirculates the air back into the room, they will typically have a combination odor and grease filter. The odor filter consists of some type of charcoal filtration. Unfortunately, these are not able to be washed and need to be replaced.

Your kitchen range hood is an important component of your home’s indoor air quality. Keeping it running efficiently and effectively is critical. To learn more about other helpful tips visit the FAQ section at www.airkinglimited.com.

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.

What in the world is a Sone – how loud is my exhaust fan?

If you have looked into any type of ventilation products (exhaust fans, range hoods, etc.) then you have probably come across the term Sone(s). The Home  Ventilating  Institute (HVI) defines a sones this way: “In technical terms, a sone is equal in loudness to a pure 1,000 Hertz per second tone at 40 decibels above the listener's threshold of hearing. In layman's terms, one sone is equivalent to the sound of a quiet refrigerator in a quiet kitchen (source HVI).” – www.hvi.org.

The thing to consider with sones is that 2 sones is twice as loud as 1 sone, 4 sones is twice as loud as 2 sones and so forth. In exhaust fans choosing a fan with a sound rating at or below 1 sone will be very quiet. 1 to 2 sones will be heard and anything over 2.5 sones will be noticeable. Generally the sound level of the exhaust fan will be a major contributor of the cost. The quieter the fan the more expensive it will be.

The number one reason people do not use their exhaust fan is because of sound. If it is too loud it will not be turned on. If the exhaust fan isn’t being utilized, it can lead to bigger issues like mold, mildew and decreased indoor air quality. Quiet operating fans are available in all price ranges and spending a little more for a fan that will be properly used will be a wise investment. 

The sound measurement in range hoods is the same as in exhaust fans. The main difference is that range hoods typically have 2 or more speeds. You will see manufacturer’s advertising the “normal operating speed”. This is the speed setting that the hood will generally be used at. For instance, if you are using one pan on a medium setting on your cook top, you probably do not need to have the range hood set to the highest speed setting. The “normal operating speed” will probably be sufficient to properly ventilate the area. With that being said, you should pay close attention to all the sound levels of the range hood. While the high speed might be 5 or 6 sones – which would be considered high, the normal operating speed sound level might be around 1 sone, which would be considered quiet. To learn more about low sone products from Air King visit www.airkinglimited.com.