I actually want a noisy bathroom fan

dms1973

10 years ago

I am adding bathroom fans to the house I recently moved into. I've used the Panasonic whisperline before and liked them, but I actually would like to have a fan with a little noise so as to be able to create some privacy for the person using the bathroom. I don't want a fan that sounds noisy, clunky and not well made, but I'm thinking something that puts off a good bit of "white noise". Does anyone have any suggestions for a fan that is a little noisy? Thanks!

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gabbythecat

10 years ago

Perhaps I'm very self conscious about bathroom noises, but one of the first things I look for when I enter a bathroom in someone else's home is how to turn on the fan. I know we all "go", but I don't want anyone else to hear me doing it!

At any rate, you should be able to ask your electrician to wire your light and fan so that they operate from the same switch - when one switch is turned on, both light and fan turn on. Also, ask your HVAC company to install baffles, so that the sounds from the bathroom don't get microphoned into other parts of the house. Our HVAC guy told us that if we didn't get the baffles, every tinkle would be heard throughout the house! I don't think it was an expensive upgrade, either (new construction, though).

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Comments (12)

raehelen
10 years ago
I've heard people say this before, but as a guest, it would never occur to me to turn on the fan BEFORE I'm finished! So, you may go to all this trouble, and have it be a feature that is not really utilized! LOL

Could you address this issue with a radio? If you really want a noisy fan, I guess you could just look for one with a higher Sones rating.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sones- sound level of fans
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Hi Carol, I just got mine installed. They are not hooked up yet. My electrician, who is a wonderful guy, has been MIA for a month. I guess the schools electric upgrades come before my modest remodel :) Anyway, now school is about to start and they will be more available so that "Nate" can get over here and wire my stuff. The fan is a 170cfm unit if I recall. The fan is actually made in Germany. The grills are about 8" diameter or so and have a halogen light. I don't think it's too weird that the neighboring bathroom will be vented when the one in use is vented, really. It is a new concept but I think it is ok. I was able to keep the roof vent and hook everything together just fine. I had my brother do the work and he did all ridged ducting because it is more efficient. The vents are about 5' apart. I will probably have 2 switches to the unit because I have 2 doors to enter the room. Fantech is a unit that I have seen referenced many times on GW, with great reviews. When I talked to the tech guy he was very helpful.
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LePetomane
10 years ago
The major hardware places like Lowes all have display fans that you can turn on to check out all the features, including the fan. My mother-in-law uses the radio trick- when the light comes on, so does the radio. It is annoying if you want to turn the bathroom light on in the middle of the night, though.
User
10 years ago
While not environmentally friendly, you can always run water to hide bathroom noises.

I also like a noisy fan, it helps remind me to shut it off; the next one will be on a timer.
debrak2008
10 years ago
Our bathroom fans operate on a motion sensor. They turn on when someone walks in the room. No suggestions on which fan other than perhaps a lower end of a good brand may be more noisy than the top end.
A A
3 years ago
I also had this problem, and surprisingly found a solution which saved me some money!

I looked for a stronger fan (e.g., 90 CFM or higher instead of 50 or 70 CFM) which are usually more noisy because of higher air transmission.

More importantly, I checked the sound level in the specifications. I looked for higher ranges (i.e., 2, 3 or even higher "sones"), which are also cheaper.

I hope that helps.
louis925
3 years ago
Those vibration and low frequency noise from bathroom fans really drive me crazy. How can Americans live with these kinds of noise...?
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GN Builders L.L.C
3 years ago
Be sure to wear a seat belt when using the toilet.
Helen
3 years ago
What about just getting a better door? When I remodeled I got rid of the cheap hollow core original doors and got solid doors - much quieter.

My bathrooms have the Panasonic Whisper fans on motion detectors.

I have never thought of this as being a problem in any bathroom I have visited. What do people do when they have to urinate in a public bathroom if they have such delicate sensibilities? I assume at this point everyone has a smart phone and they could use it to turn on music or a podcast if they truly need to feel a aural disguise of some kind is necessary.
Mark Mascillino
2 years ago
OMG finally someone that thinks along the same lines as me. The noisy exaust fan is a must for my house, especially for my guests. What guest wants to use the bathroom and have people listen while you go number 2 how totally embarrassing.
kudzu9
2 years ago
Technology has moved on:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hoomhx55cQ
Jj J
2 years ago
Though not quite as funny as the thread about that expanding foam insulation stuff getting stuck on peoples’ hands, this post provided a few chuckles. I know someone for whom the music from Close Encounters fits the bill. And he could even play first chair (throne?) in the tuba section.

I actually want a noisy bathroom fan

gabbythecat

Comments (12)

raehelen

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