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 |  | Low: $15-$50 |  | Medium: $30-$150 |  | High: $150-$600+ |
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An exhaust fan removes moisture and airborne pollutants like grease or soot where they originate -- in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry area, workshop or recreation room. Exhaust fans are typically rated by cubic feet per minute (cfm, most commonly calculated by multiplying the length of the room by its width and by its height, then dividing by 7.5) and by sones, which measure sound levels. The higher the sones, the louder the noise. The sound produced by an average television is 4.0 sones and rustling leaves are 0.5 sone; a fan that only makes a gentle whooshing sound is 1.0 sone or less, according to GreatPossibilities.com[1] , a construction industry website.
Typical costs: | - A bathroom fan typically costs $15-$50 for a basic 50-70 cfm model with no extra features and a high noise level (3.0 to 8.0 sones). For example, the Broan Model 671 Ceiling and Wall Mount Bathroom Fan[2] with 70 cfm and 6.0 sones costs $25-$53.
- Expect to pay $30-$150 for a bathroom fan with 50-130 cfm plus a simple light fixture or an infrared heater (generally not both), and a few models in this range may qualify for the Energy Star[3] efficiency rating. For example, the Air King AK80[4] with 80 cfm and 1.5 sones is Energy Star-rated and costs $88-$121.
- It can cost $150-$600 or more for a powerful but quiet fan with most or all of the options -- decorative light fixture, heater, nightlight, timer, humidity sensor (turning the fan on whenever needed) and Energy Star rating. For example, the Broan QTX100HL Ultra Silent Series Bathroom Fan with Light is 100 cfm, 1.2 sones and has a 1,500-watt heater, two 60-watt bulbs and a 7-watt nightlight.
- A ceiling mount or through-the-wall utility fan for a kitchen, laundry room, workshop or recreation room typically costs $30-$300 or more for a residential model, depending on airflow (cfms), noise levels and options For example, VentingDirect.com[5] has utility fans ranging from the $32 Broan 673 Vertical Discharge Utility Ventilator (60 cfm, 4.5 sones) to the $255 Broan 12C Through-The-Wall Utility Ventilator (360 cfm, 8.0 sones).
- Many kitchen exhaust fans are part of a range hood, which can cost $30-$4,500, depending on size, type and cfm; installation adds another $250-$1,500, depending on whether the project is simply connecting and hanging the range hood, or if new metal ductwork must be installed to exhaust the air outdoors.
- Installation adds to the total cost. Do-it-yourself installation is possible: ThisOldHouse.com provides instructions for installing a bathroom fan[6] , estimating that it takes 6-8 hours and $120-$175 (for the fan and any ductwork). Professional installation can add $150-$700 or more to the total cost, depending on whether it's a simple replacement of an existing fan or if an electrician installs new wiring and a switch, and/or if a contractor has to crawl the attic to install new ductwork.
Related articles: Range Hood, Bathroom Remodeling, Kitchen Remodeling, Attic or Whole House Fan, Handyman
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What should be included: | - The manufacturer's installation instructions need to be followed carefully, according to AskTheBuilder.com[7] , because improper installation can make an exhaust fan less powerful or nosier than it should be.
- The difficulty of installing an exhaust fan depends on whether new wiring and ductwork need to be installed; the distance from the fan to the electrical panel and from the fan to where it can be vented outdoors; and the type of roofing or other exterior materials (venting through a brick wall is more difficult than stucco). Lowe's[8] describes installing a bath fan as a beginner-level project without estimating how long it takes, while Home Depot[9] estimates it takes an experienced do-it-yourselfer eight hours to install a bath fan.
- Always check with the local planning or building department; some areas have strict venting requirements.
Shopping for an exhaust fan: | - A standard 5'x8' bathroom typically needs a minimum of 50 cfm, and a larger bathroom with additional fixtures like a whirlpool tub may need two small fans rather than one large one. Consumer Reports explains how to choose a bathroom exhaust fan, and an HGTVPro.com video[10] explains the best choice from a contractor's perspective.
- Exhaust fans are available at building supply stores; at home improvement centers like Home Depot[11] or Lowe's[12] ; or online retailers like Amazon[13] or The Great Hardware Store[14] .
- If hiring an installer, check that the company is properly insured, bonded and licensed[15] ; ask for and contact references; and search for any complaints with the Better Business Bureau[16] .
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: fixed bathroom in Los Gatos, CA. | Posted: January 24th, 2018 10:01AM |
| Type of Fan: Bathroom | Brand: NuTone |
| CFM: 80 | Features: |
| Store: Home Depot |
We never had a fan in our bahtroom, and it kept getting foggy/moldy.
With some advice from professionals, the last time we put a new roof on our home, we asked the roofer to add a duct above the bathroom, with flextube ready to connect.
2 years later, we finally got around to calling the electrician. The electrician asked to make sure we get a "no ceiling access" fan because most are intended for new home construction. I asked the guy at Home Depot and he recommended NuTone because they've been around a while.
The electrician said if we supply the fan, his rate was $550 to install it. He put the fan in the ceiling, connected the tubing, then ran electrical wiring to power the fan, plus ran the wiring to the light switches so we could turn the fans on and off (separate from the ligts), so $80 fan + $550 installation.
One remaining cost -- the electrician had to put some small holes in the walls to run all the wiring, so we have some cosmetic touch-up to do. |
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| Posted by: EmptyPockets in Tacoma, WA. | Posted: September 13th, 2015 08:09PM |
| Type of Fan: Ceiling Mount Exhaust with Light | Brand: Broan |
| Store: Lowe's |
The fan itself was only $30 but the installation was another $350 by a professional electrician. I couldn't believe it cost that much but I shopped around and this was the best price I could find by a licensed professional. It was a replacement fan so there was no additional wiring or ductwork required. |
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External Resources: | - www.greatpossibilities.com/articles/publish/bathroom_exhaust_fan.shtml
- www.broan.com/products/product/aa297387-6e69-4aff-825f-ca61e5b67684
- www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=VF
- www.airkinglimited.com/pages/exhaust/ak110ls.html
- www.ventingdirect.com/index.cfm?utility-ventilation-exhaust-fans=c11870&page=search:bro...
- www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,689843,00.htm
- www.askthebuilder.com/exhaust-fans---installation-tips-kitchen-and-bath/
- www.lowes.com/cd_Install+a+Bathroom+Exhaust+Fan_312723623_
- www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/Ntk-All/Ntt-exhaust%2Bfan/h_d2/ContentView?pn=KH_PG_BA_B...
- www.hgtvremodels.com/home-systems/installing-a-bathroom-exhaust-fan/index.html
- www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?keyword=exhaust+fan&selectedCatgry=S...
- www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogDisplay?Ntt=exhaust+fan&langId=-1&storeId=10151&catalogId=10...
- www.amazon.com/s/nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=exhaust+fan&x=0&y=0
- www.thegreathardwarestore.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=exhaust+fan
- www.contractors-license.org/
- www.bbb.org/en/us/search
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