Bathroom fan question

[pvanderlugt]

Hi Folks, have a quick question…. Redoing a bathroom, and want to install 2 bathroom fans, one by the shower area and one on the other side by the toilet ( that is in its own little “closet”).. I would like to turn both fans on with the same switch… so both fans on or off, always at the same time..any issue with that and any problem with wiring them in parallel?
Thanks
Pete

 

[Terry D]

Nope. No different than 2 lights wired off the same switch

 

[ambenz]

Basic fan-only ventilation units can use as little as about 6 watts, for highly efficient models, while many standard units often use around 60 watts or more. An average residential bathroom fan draws 0.3 amps. The amperage is so small that it is not worth considering when calculating circuit loads. I wouldn't be too concerned as the bath usually is on a dedicated 15 amp circuit.

 

[mikedodge]

Not a problem but unless it's a big bathroom it might be simpler to use a better quality higher cfm fan.

 

[pvanderlugt]

Thanks guys, its a long and skinny bathroom, with shower and potty on opposite ends…yes… dedicated 15 amp circuit…..
pete

 

[captaindiode]

One fan in the attic with a duct to each location will be quieter.
Panasonic and Fantech both have options.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Also Leviton sells an automatic fan switch. Best if it's for your house. For a tennant, it's best to hardwire the fans with the light.

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks guys, its a long and skinny bathroom, with shower and potty on opposite ends…yes… dedicated 15 amp circuit…..
pete

Is that a 15 amp circuit dedicated to the fans or is it for the whole bathroom including lights and receptacles?

When I remodeled here, the inspector required a dedicated 20 amp circuit. Ok to share with lights and fan

 

[ddawg16]

I installed a fan/light combination and wired it to the occupancy sensor in the bathroom.

My kids do NOT know how to turn off lights. Nope, no f'ing way. They can turn them on. But off? It just eludes them.

So....installed the occupancy switch....and besides controlling the fan it also feeds the switch for the lights over the sink. so, when it times out, all the lights turn off.

With that said....I'm thinking about making some mods. This bathroom used to have a window (it was at the back of the house). When I did my 2-story addition, the window went away. After a long shower the humidity in the bathroom can be high. I'm thinking of doing a separate ckt for just the fan with a longer timer.

 

[Shiftless]

I installed a fan/light combination and wired it to the occupancy sensor in the bathroom.

My kids do NOT know how to turn off lights. Nope, no f'ing way. They can turn them on. But off? It just eludes them.

So....installed the occupancy switch....and besides controlling the fan it also feeds the switch for the lights over the sink. so, when it times out, all the lights turn off.

With that said....I'm thinking about making some mods. This bathroom used to have a window (it was at the back of the house). When I did my 2-story addition, the window went away. After a long shower the humidity in the bathroom can be high. I'm thinking of doing a separate ckt for just the fan with a longer timer.

A separate circuit for the fan would be a great idea. You can get a humidity sensor switch that will run as long as needed to bring the humidity back down.

 

[Norcal]

A separate circuit for the fan would be a great idea. You can get a humidity sensor switch that will run as long as needed to bring the humidity back down.

You don't need a separate circuit for fart fans, a 20A circuit is required for the receptacle(s), which can serve other bathrooms, or can be used for lighting, fan, in a single bath.

 

[pvanderlugt]

thanks again guys, I like the idea of a occupancy sensor…. This is a whole house full of girls, vanity will have 2 (or maybe even 3) GFCI’s, each on their own 20amp circuit(lots of hair dryers and curling irons) a 15 amp circuit each for the fans and the lights, as well as a 20 amp circuit for the Schluter floor heat….I don’t mind running wires….have lots of room in the panel…..i will check on the attic fan with ducting………
Pete

 

[pvanderlugt]

I kind of like this, with 2 pick up kits might just be the cat meow

FV-20NLF1 - Panasonic FV-20NLF1 - WhisperLine 240 CFM Remote Mount In-Line Ventilation Fan

Panasonic FV-20NLF1 - WhisperLine 240 CFM Remote Mount In-Line Ventilation Fan - <ul><li>UL Listed for Tub/ Shower Enclosure: Yes <li> Washington State VIAQ Code: Yes</ul> <b>Ventilate Multiple Areas with Just One Fan!</b><br> Panasonic WhisperLine fans are designed for multiple-task...

www.supplyhouse.com

 

[Norcal]

When I remodeled one of my bathrooms earlier this year, decided to add a humidistat for the fart fan, the problem is I cool with a evap cooler, & if the door is open the fart fan runs if the cooler is running, still like it though.

 

[sparky 1971]

I would advise against an occ sensor for the fans. go with a humidistat or a timer. The fan needs to keep running for awhile after the shower is done to clear the moisture. I started off with a 30 minute spring wound timer but soon realized that I was the only person in the house that used it. In went the humidistat. I think I am still the only one that turns it on manually, but it will come on automatically when the steam rises. I believe it runs for 30 minutes before it shuts off and if the bathroom is still to humid, it runs again.

 

[TRWham]

A fan/light in the wet area may require a GFCI to meet UL listing of the device. The instructions or packaging will say so if it’s needed. We frequently install recessed fan/lights that do require GFCI if within wet area.

 

[earl84]

Whatever you do, I strongly recommend either an attic fan or a super quiet fan. I’m waiting for one of our noisy ones to die so I have a good reason to replace it.

 

[pvanderlugt]

Captaindiode above recommended an in the attic fan, did not even no such a thing existed!! After a little homework, I am sold…. Supplyhouse has some nice Panasonic units and the diffusers/intakes….. done!! ……..Attic wide open, so that will make an easy install..with make sure to check on GFCI….

thanks again guys..
Pete

 

[Terry D]

Captaindiode above recommended an in the attic fan, did not even no such a thing existed!! After a little homework, I am sold…. Supplyhouse has some nice Panasonic units and the diffusers/intakes….. done!! ……..Attic wide open, so that will make an easy install..with make sure to check on GFCI….

thanks again guys..
Pete

Since the fan is in the attic, it will not need to be gfci protected

 

[yeldogt]

Fantech makes the best IMO ..... They also make the exterior unit that I like and use often if it fits into the project. The small 4" round inlets have various mounts depending on aplication .... I typically place one in the shower and another near the toilet. Control with a leviton timer --- the decora type with 5/10/15/30.

I normally hard pipe ... Fantech has all kinds of parts to do a proper setup ... including the rubber connectors and backflows. all available from Supply house.

 

[nadogail]

In my community Bathrooms are required to have either an exhaust fan or a window. No requirement to use them, but the inspector will fail you for the lack of one of the two.

 

[Jim greengo]

In my community Bathrooms are required to have either an exhaust fan or a window. No requirement to use them, but the inspector will fail you for the lack of one of the two.

Functioning window to be precise.

 

[nadogail]

Because my garage bathroom is just a toilet in a small closet with a pocket door and the wall stops 6” short of the floor joists, I was able to sell the two 6” X 18” open spaces to the Inspector as windows; they just don’t have glass in them.