Energy Consumption Comparison – An average small bathroom fan, when running continuously for 24 hours, typically consumes around 5 to 10 watts of electricity. – To put this in perspective, a standard incandescent light bulb (60 watts) consumes roughly 5 times more energy per hour than a small bathroom fan.
To put this into perspective, a 20-watt fan running for an hour uses 0.02 kWh of electricity. With the average cost of electricity in the UK around 34p per kWh (as of 2024), running a 20-watt fan for an hour costs less than a penny: approximately 0.68p. If you use your fan for an hour each day: Daily cost: 0.68p.
The good news is that bathroom extractor fans are relatively inexpensive to run. The average cost of running a bathroom extractor fan in the UK is around £3 per year. This is based on the assumption that the fan is used for 30 minutes each day.
Although exhaust fan wattage differs from brand to brand, but on an average, it consumes around 30-40 Watt of power. It is recommended to switch 'ON' your exhaust fan for 20 min after bath. So, overall if you switch it 'ON' for 6 hours it will cost you around RS. 35-65 per month.
Knowing which fan works best for your bathroom is key. Remember, the varying power consumption capacities of fans can range from 10W – 100W. The higher the wattage the more power, the more electricity will cost and be used. All-in-all, the fans cost is around $42 per year or $2.87 cents per hour.
– An average small bathroom fan, when running continuously for 24 hours, typically consumes around 5 to 10 watts of electricity. – To put this in perspective, a standard incandescent light bulb (60 watts) consumes roughly 5 times more energy per hour than a small bathroom fan.
Excessive Usage Can lead to fire hazards and other problems
The fumes from the combustion process can be explosive, so proper ventilation is necessary. Bathroom exhaust fans should be used only when needed. If you have a high-capacity bathroom fan, you may use it multiple times each day.
So, by definition, it's not designed to run continuously. Instead, they're meant to operate when needed, such as during and after showers or baths, to remove excess moisture and odours from the air. However, for bathrooms without opening windows, the installed extractor fan should include a run-on timer.
If you have electric heat, heating your home uses the most energy. This can account for more than 30% of your electricity consumption. And if you have air conditioning, this number rises even higher. All told, your efforts to stay comfortable can use between 40% and 50% of the electricity in your home.
By their nature, bathrooms create much steam and water vapour. Without proper ventilation, this can turn to condensation and damp, not just in the bathroom, but also in nearby rooms. There are several ventilation solutions that can help, but one of the simplest and most effective is to fit an extractor fan.
Extractor fans come in a variety of sizes and models, but on average, they use around 12 watts of electricity per hour. This may not seem like much, but over time, the energy usage can add up.
Try to install the bathroom air vent between the shower area and the entrance door for best air movement. Take these things into account and when the time comes to install or replace a vent fan in one of your bathrooms, you will be well-prepared to make all the right choices.
If you don't want an exhaust fan put into your bathroom, installing a fresh air intake vent can be an excellent alternative - and they often give better results. A new air intake will improve air circulation and control humidity, and channel fresh, natural ventilation from the outside air.
An extractor fan can remove the moisture in the room to the outside of the house thus maintaining an ideal environment within in the house that is free from condensation and mould.
Due to the complexity of the work, only a suitably qualified and experienced electrician should install your bathroom extractor fan.
What costs the most on your electric bill? Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves. Electronic devices like laptops and TVs are usually pretty cheap to run, but of course, it can all add up.
Fans are commonly used in bathrooms and kitchens, where they help to prevent mould, dampness, and unpleasant smells. Although, extractor fans are safe, they can cause fires if not looked after or become faulty. There is a risk of fire if they become blocked and overheat or develop a fault.
Bathroom Extractor fans use very little power to operate, generally consuming between 5 - 36 watts depending on the make and model. This in comparison to a single 100w lightbulb is clearly far more conservative.
The main job of an extractor fan is to whisk away unwanted smells and moisture, keeping your bathroom fresh and mould-free. Sure, it handles bad odours like a pro, but its real power lies in controlling humidity.
This fan will remove any moisture that's in the air by sucking it into a duct that will redirect it to a vent leading outside. It's important to have this fan on during showers, otherwise, moisture will settle onto the walls and fixtures.
To fulfill the local exhaust airflow requirements of ASHRAE 62.2 (2010) and the International Residential Code (IRC 2021, Section M1507), bathroom fans should have a mechanical exhaust capacity of ≥ 50 cfm for intermittent operation or ≥ 20 cfm of ventilation when operated continuously.
Reasons Why People Run The Bathroom Fan
Exhaust fans remove the moisture from your bathroom each time you shower. This means that the water will not condense on your walls and mirror while you shower. Similarly, most people also switch on their bathroom fan to throw the odor out.