Choosing an Exhaust Fan With or Without a Light

When choosing an exhaust fan for your home, there are many features you need to consider – what sound level, do I want an item like a humidity sensor, how much airflow do I need and so on. One of the first decisions is typically if you need a light or not. Sometimes it is an easy one such as if the fan will be used in a location where a light is not needed. This is typically the case when it is used as a continuous running fan to comply with building codes outline by ASHRAE 62.2. Other times however it is not as simple.

In rooms that either need a light or would benefit from additional lighting you basically have two options. Utilize a combination exhaust fan with light or install a secondary light source. While this might seem like a simple decision, and for certain installations it is, there are a few considerations to take into account.

Light Location

In many installations the exhaust fan is located to maximize the ventilation of the room. That can mean installing it in the shower enclosure or maybe directly over a toilet. In some cases, the best location for the lighting and the ventilation might be the same but in other installations it might not be. For instance, if the room needs more ventilation over a toilet but the lighting is needed more over the sink, then it might be better to utilize a fan without a light and install a separate light over the sink.

Cost Consideration

When choosing an exhaust fan, cost is probably a top factor. A fan light combination is going to cost more than an equivalent model that does not have a light. There are also some other costs associated with a fan light combination. If the fan and light will be wired together (meaning anytime the fan is on the light is also on), the wiring will be the same as a fan without a light. However, if you are going to install the unit so the light and exhaust fan operate separately, there are additional costs for the extra wiring and you will typically need an upgraded switch (at least a two function from a one function switch). Before anyone starts to yell – yes there are additional costs to installing a separate light in the room as well including the fixture as well as the wiring. What you need to take into consideration is how much more does the fan with light cost in relationship to how much more a light fixture will cost. In cases where there are already a bunch of other lights being installed, adding one more might not be that much. In cases (such as a powder room) that might only need the light from the exhaust fan, it might not be cost effective to have a separate light installed.

The Aesthetics

How a fan looks can play a big factor in the decision-making process. In general, a fan with a light will need to be a bit larger and have more of a presence in the room where a fan without a light will have a lower profile. In some cases, such as a decorative fan light combination, it is a design feature of the room. In other cases, it might not fit in with the aesthetics of the room.

The Lighting

Almost all exhaust fans with light are going to have some type of lens cover on them. This is to protect the lights from having water spray up onto them – especially if they are used in a shower stall. With the lighting needing to be protected it can diminish how much light the fixture is actually giving off and how the light is dispersed throughout the room. Recessed lighting is going to be more focused and “bright” in one area. Lighting with a lens cover is going to be more spread out but might not be as bright. Which one to choose is dependent on how you are looking to light the space.

Hopefully this article will help you when choosing an exhaust fan and if you want to utilize one with or without a light feature. For more information about Air King exhaust fans – with and without lighting, visit airkinglimiited.com.

Lets Celebrate ENERGY STAR® Day

Each October manufactures and consumers across the county join together to celebrate ENERGY STAR® day. While not a national holiday – yet, it provides a vehicle for the exchange of energy and money saving tips as well as promotion of activities that can help us work toward a greener world. The first ENERGY STAR day was celebrated in 2012 and has continued to grow in both size and involvement. ENERGY STAR uses the day to promote energy savings as well as recognizing organizations that have partnered with them to reduce energy usage using the tagline “Save Today, Save Tomorrow, Save for Good”. Activities for the day include increase interactions on many of the current Social Media outlets with both ENERGY STAR as well as manufacturers leveraging large followings. In addition many manufacturing partners also coordinate celebrations within their own organizations.

Did you know there are energy rebates available for purchasing certified products? Rebates are available on a federal level as well as a local level, through your utility provider. Products eligible for rebates include select appliances, windows/doors, insulation, Televisions, HVAC products, lighting, water heaters, ventilation fans and much more. To learn more about rebates that you might qualify for visit the ENERGY STAR rebate finder page by clicking here.

Air King has enjoyed a long partnership with ENERGY STAR and was excited to once again celebrate the day with team members at the main manufacturing facility in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Celebrations include training sessions on how to be more energy efficient at work as well as at home, the annual handing out of high efficiency LED light bulbs and of course cake.

To learn more about Air King and energy savings, visit the ENERGY STAR section under the learning menu on the Air King website at airkinglimited.com. Also be sure to follow Air King on social media – X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Do I need a Continuously Operating Exhaust Fan?

You might be getting ready to buy your first home, your dream home or even renovating your current home and the builder starts talking about a continuously operating exhaust fan. Your first reaction might be – what’s that? You’re not alone. For many homeowners exhaust fans are something that just comes with the house and not much thought is given to them. As home building has advanced, so has the need for ventilation within the home. Lets take a look at a few reasons you do need a continuously operating exhaust fan, starting with what is it.

What is a continuously operating exhaust fan?

The name is fairly descriptive. It is an exhaust fan that is continuously operating to remove moisture and contaminates from the home and providing multiple air exchanges per day (about one air exchange every 3 hours). To maximize their effectiveness they are typically installed in a central location of the home such as a family or living room. Because they are located in a main living space, they are required to have a very low sound level – less than the sound of your refrigerator.

Why do I need one?

The importance of a continuously operating exhaust fan will depend on the age and construction type of your home. In the paragraph above we talked about air exchanges. This is actually part of the national building code known as ASHRAE 62.2. The purpose of the code is to make sure the air inside the home does not become “stale” and in some cases dangerous. Newer homes are now being built to higher insulation standards, which make the home less susceptible to drafts. This is a good thing. What happens however is that because the house is so tight, it doesn’t allow for fresh air to come in or stale air to get out. This is where the exhaust fans come into play and in some cases a fresh air intake fan. In older homes, they generally have more air leaks and a continuously operating exhaust fan might not be as crucial. A benefit of using an exhaust fan is it puts the control in your hand instead of depending on drafts or other factors to determine the quality of your indoor air.

What should I look for?

As we mentioned, for these fans to be most effective they need to be installed in a centralized room such as a living room or family room. Choosing a fan with a low sound level is important. Exhaust fan sound levels are measured in sones with one sone being about the sound your refrigerator makes. The building code calls for a fan with a sound rating of one sone or below. The lower the sones, the quieter the fan is. A second consideration that is just as important is to make sure the fan has enough airflow. Airflow is measure in CFM or cubic feet per minute. Air King provides an easy calculator along with ASHRAE 62.2 information here. It is important that you have enough ventilation without over powering it and causing a negative pressure in the home (exhausting more air than is coming into the home). A final consideration is that you want an energy efficient fan. Since it will be running continuously, you don’t want it to be a burden on your electric bill. Air King offers a wide range of ENERGY STAR® certified models to fit almost any residential home need.

For more information about Air King exhaust fan solutions as well as continuously operating exhaust fans and ASHRAE 62.2 building codes, visit airkinglimited.com.

Building Energy Efficient Homes

In the home building industry there are constantly changing trends. Items like the hottest new paint color, flooring material, open concept building and so on. We use the classification of trends because they seem to have a limited lifespan until the next hot thing comes in style. What we are more focused on is the direction of the home building industry, which is going to have more staying power. This is where things like building energy efficient homes come into play. Homes continue to be built to higher and higher efficiency levels. Some of this is directed by local and national codes but it is also driven by consumer demand as buyers become more educated on the efficiency of their homes.

More and more of the nation’s leading builders are now making a commitment to building energy efficient homes through the ENERGY STAR® home program. In order to certify a home as ENERGY STAR® there is a stringent list of requirements the builder must meet. This includes almost every aspect of the building process including things that probably won’t surprise you such as windows, doors, insulation, appliances and the HVAC system. What you might not know is that it also includes items such as the ducting, air filtration and ventilation fans of the home. All of these requirements must be confirmed through an independent rater/inspector for the home to receive the final sign off. This is comforting to the homebuyer, as they will have peace of mind that the home is going to perform as advertised.

So why is this a direction and not just a trend. We will get right to it – money. While there are a lot of extra benefits to using less energy (reducing our carbon footprint, using less resources…), the big one from a homeowner’s standpoint is a reduced utility bill. An energy efficient home can reduce the monthly utility bills considerably. According to ENERGY STAR®, a certified home will use up to 30% more energy than a traditionally built home. To put that in perspective, if your utility bills are $300 a month, a certified home would reduce that to $210. That is a saving of $1,080 per year. According to the Redfin the typical US homeowner stays in their home for about 12 years, meaning a savings of about $13,000. Additionally, the home will have better resale value.

Another aspect of building energy efficient homes is there is a movement that is gaining support that in order to qualify for a FHA mortgage, the home must be ENERGY STAR® certified. ENERGY STAR® already has a program called Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) that helps homebuyers qualify for purchasing a home as it considers that the monthly cost to maintain the home will be less, allowing more to be used to pay off the loan. While these programs are not yet mandatory, the direction they are going looks as if they will be in the near future. The good news is the major builders are already identifying this and are getting ahead of the game, committing to building certified homes.

To learn more about building trends/directions or other industry news, makes sure to read Air King’s other blog posts. To learn more about Air King’s ENERGY STAR® certified ventilation and fresh air intake solutions and how they can be implemented into building energy efficient homes visit airkinglimited.com

What Fan Do I Need To Cool My Commercial or Industrial Space

A popular question we are asked is how to help cool a commercial or industrial space during the hotter months. To answer that question we need to look at a multiple factors including the size of the space, if the space has any type of air conditioning, what the function of the space is and so more. When choosing a fan for a commercial or industrial space it is important to look for a few simple safety features such as if the fan has a grounded cord (three-prong) and if the grill complies with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards and if the fan has a certification like ETL or UL. Lets look at a few scenarios starting with small commercial spaces and working up to larger industrial spaces.

Cubicles, workstations and other personal locations

We refer to these locations as personal spaces where you are only looking to provide air movement for one or maybe two people. In general this would be at a desk or workstation that is probably located inside an already air-conditioned space. The fan will provide a little extra relief. For this location a fan with a 6” to 9” blade will be beneficial. These types of fans provide the balance of enough airflow to help cool you off but not so much that your papers and everything else is blowing away. Many are going to operate in the 100 CFM to 400 CFM range and are going to have plastic blades.

Small retail spaces, open studios and similar spaces

In these spaces you are generally looking for more generalized cooling rather than cooling individual people. These spaces typically have air conditioning but might need a little extra boost or provide a way to reduce the usage of the air conditioning. Moving up to a 12” to 16” fan will provide the extra airflow you require. These fans are going to operate in the 500 to 1,700 CFM range and are going to have plastic blades. Another consideration is to utilize a fan that has an oscillation feature (fan head moves side to side) for more widespread coverage.

Larger retail spaces, offices, music studios, restaurants and similar spaces

These spaces are generally a little larger and require more airflow. Many will be air-conditioned but still need additional air movement to make them comfortable. This is a category where you might consider transitioning from a commercial grade – plastic blade fan to a metal bladed light industrial fan. A fan with an 18” to 20” blade will provide the needed airflow. For plastic bladed fans, that will be in the range of 2,000 to 2,500 CFM. For metal bladed fans, that bumps up to between 2,500 to 3,700 CFM.

Industrial spaces such as warehouses, shipping docks, gymnasiums and similar

Due to the size of these spaces, they require the largest amount of airflow. Unlike the previous categories, many of these spaces will not have air-conditioning so fans will be the only way to cool them. These spaces are going to require metal bladed fans with higher CFM in the range of 3,500 to 8,500 CFM. An oscillating fan is also a consideration depending on how much area each fan needs to cover.

Additional Considerations

Now that we have gone through some general guidelines for the airflow needed in different scenarios we need to move on to a couple other considerations. The first consideration is space and portability. Fans come in a wide range of mounting options – floor fans, table fans, wall mount fans, ceiling mount fans and so on. Do you have space on the floor or would a fan that is mounted to a wall be helpful? Does the fan need to be moved from room to room so should you look for one with a handle or that is lighter weight? A second consideration is sound. Generally a metal bladed fan is going to have a higher sound level. Sometimes you just need the extra CFM of a metal bladed fan but if you are between a metal bladed fan and a larger plastic bladed fan and you need it to be quieter, the plastic bladed fan might be a better option. While there are more consideration with features and functions, these are generally the two that get the most attention.

To learn more about the Air King line of Industrial and Commercial Air Circulators and how they can help cool your commercial or industrial space, visit airkinglimited.com.

Do I Need a Humidity Sensor For My Bathroom Fan

A popular addition to a bathroom exhaust fan is a humidity sensor but what is it, what is its function and do I really need one? These are all great questions to ask. Lets take them one by one.

What is a Humidity Sensor?

A humidity sensor is a device that detects the humidity level of the room or surrounding area. You might hear them called humidistats or even dehumidistats. When is comes specifically to bathroom exhaust fans they are either located inside the actual fan or mounted on the wall. A wall mounted device will give a better indication of the overall room humidity where a sensor integrated into the fan will have a quicker response to a rise in humidity – especially when the shower is in use. When the sensor detects a rise in humidity it will turn the exhaust fan on until the humidity decreases. There are many factors that can contribute to how long that might take including items such as size of the room, how long the shower was on, how hot the water was, ambient temperature and so on.

What is the Function of a Humidity Sensor?

Removing the humid air is a key factor in increasing your home’s indoor air quality. If you allow the humidity level to stay very high (above 50%) items like mold and mildew will start to grow and if not mitigated can cause issues with rot as well as health concerns. If you notice a lot of mildew in your bathroom, paint that is peeling, or a musty smell, you probably have a humidity issue. A sensor is a built in way to monitor the humidity level of your bathroom and adjust accordingly without you needing to constantly be monitoring it. Sensors are able to be set for a wide range of humidity level usually from about 5% to 80% relative humidity. The lower the humidity level is set for, the longer the fan will run. The ability to set the humidity level allows you to adjust to your specific needs and geographic location. More humid climates will need to set the humidity level higher than less humid areas. A quick note. If the fan is continuously running, it might be because the normal humidity level is too high and air conditioning or some type of dehumidifier needs to be added.

Do I Need a Humidity Sensor?

As we stated above, humidity sensors provide an automated way to ensure the humidity level of your bathroom is where it should be. Sadly, the exhaust fans in many homes are not used properly or even turned on at all. It is recommended that the exhaust fan run for at least 20 minutes after the shower is turned off and that is in the best-case scenario. In more humid situations that time might go up to an hour or more. Having a sensor in place takes the guesswork out of determining if the humidity level of the room is where it needs to be. Considering if you need a sensor can be determined by answering the following questions:

Is my exhaust fan being used properly by everyone utilizing the bathroom? Is it being turned on and allowed to run for the set time needed to fully exhaust the humid air out?

Do I notice signs of mildew, mold, peeling paint that tells me I need more ventilation?

Are there any building codes in my area that require it? California CALGreen requires any exhaust fan in a full bathroom must have a humidity sensor.

Do I have a rental property? Having all the bathroom exhaust fans on a humidity sensor in rentals is a great way to ensure the fans are being utilized properly.

What to Do Next

If you are in the middle of a bathroom remodel or are looking to replace an old exhaust fan, this is a great opportunity to upgrade to one that has an integrated humidity sensor. If you already have an exhaust fan installed, adding a wall mounted sensor switch is a fairly easy way to ensure the humidity level of the room. We do caution that while this is a project most do-it-yourselfers can handle, if you have any questions or concerns to consult a license electrician. We also caution to make sure your exhaust fans can be used with a humidity sensor. All Air King exhaust fans are able to be used with a humidity sensor and in general most exhaust fan can be used with one, but there may be other brands that can not. One other item to consider when choosing an exhaust fan that will be used with a sensor is the sound level. Fans with sensors are most likely going to run for longer periods of time. If you have a really loud fan, this could cause a less than ideal situation. One of the main reasons people do not turn on the exhaust fan is due to the sound level. Look for a fan around 1 sone or less. These are very quiet fans and will probably provide a much better experience. 

For more information regarding bathroom exhaust fans as well as fans with integrated humidity sensors such as the BFC90H, visit airkinglimited.com. To learn more about a humidistat view our video on YouTube.

Asking a question like if you need fresh air can sound a bit foolish as life would be a little hard to live without it. It is also an open-ended question. When we ask if you need fresh air, we are referring to your home. Does your home feel “stuffy”, have odors, mildew or other things growing other than the house plants? If so, it might be because you don’t have a good influx of fresh air.

Fresh air is a vital part of the indoor air quality of homes and can have a direct impact on the heath of the inhabitants. Let’s start by looking at what fresh air is and why you need it. When it comes to indoor air quality of a home, we are going to define fresh air as outside air (filtered or not) that is brought into the home to dilute and replace the stagnant and contaminated air inside. The home is full of contaminates that are produced from daily living. Just breathing inside of a home is going to produce contaminates. Add to that cooking, laundry, cleaning and we can see how the need grows quickly and we haven’t even mentioned if there is someone who is sick inside the home.

Most people would agree that the list of contaminates above are not good to have lingering in the air inside the home for everyone to be breathing in. The next question is what do we do about it? How fresh air is brought into the home will be dependent on many factors. Here are a few:

The age of the home.

Newer homes are being built to more stringent codes that make them more energy efficient. This is a good thing but is also diminishes the amount of natural air coming into the home. That means that you will probably need to have some type of mechanical solution like a fan that brings air in that also works with exhaust fans to take the stale air out. Older homes will have more natural fresh air coming into the home (that is a fancy way of saying drafts).

The climate.

Living in a mild climate means you can have window and doors open more often, allowing air to come in. For homes located in more extreme climates, either cold or hot, natural fresh air might not be as much of an option. Think Arizona in the summer or Minnesota in the winter. In these locations a mechanical solution is almost a must.

Location of the home.

If the home is located where the outdoor air quality is high, then bringing air into the home can be done without any filtration. If the home is located in areas such as cities, high car traffic areas or areas prone to wildfires producing smoke and so forth, having a fresh air solution that also includes some type of air filtration is going to provide the best option. It is possible that in extreme conditions you could actually be bringing in worst air than what is already inside the home. Statistic show that the air inside many homes can be up to 5 times more polluted than outside air, so even in more urban setting and with all the outside contaminates, it will still be beneficial to bring fresh air in.

Air King offers multiple fresh air intake fans that can be sized for most residential applications with models that include the ability to add air filtration, settings for humidity as well as temperature and more. To learn more about these visit the Fresh Air section on the Air King website at airkinglimited.com. To learn more about indoor air quality, make sure to read through our resource of blogs on the topic.