Help with bathroom fan

sunnyj58 · 14 Jan 2020

I live in an old block of flats that were built at the end of the 60s. In my bathroom I have a Silavent fan that has seen better days, truth is it barely works and is very loud.

I took it off the wall to look at the fixings and have found that it connects to 2.5" ducting that then goes off the fan into a hole in the ceiling behind the bathroom (sort of roof of a kitchen cupboard).
The holes it screws into too are 10x10 inches.

I've looked online everywhere for a replacement fan but they all seem to need atleast 4" ducting. Any ideas on what I can do?

ericmark · 14 Jan 2020

I think it comes under Part F building regulations, I think it states 4" minimum, so this is why finding small models is so hard.

chivers67 · 14 Jan 2020

Can't imagine it worked well at anytime if it's on 2.5 inch ducting!

sunnyj58 · 14 Jan 2020

ericmark said:
I think it comes under Part F building regulations, I think it states 4" minimum, so this is why finding small models is so hard.

Should I contact the council regarding this? I bought the flat through Right to Buy last year but where the fan ducting goes is out of my control so I am not sure what I can really do.

I did talk to someone about the fan being useless a few years back and they seemed very funny about it and fobbed me off.

EFLImpudence · 14 Jan 2020

I doubt the council will be interested now you have bought the property.

Have you any problems in the bathroom while using a 'useless' fan?

Is there a window in the bathroom?

sunnyj58 · 14 Jan 2020

EFLImpudence said:
I doubt the council will be interested now you have bought the property.

Have you any problems in the bathroom while using a 'useless' fan?

Is there a window in the bathroom?

There is no window. I will soon be renting the flat out, and have been told I need to have an isolator/timer switch on the fan

EFLImpudence · 14 Jan 2020

sunnyj58 said:
There is no window.

Ok.

I will soon be renting the flat out, and have been told I need to have an isolator/timer switch on the fan

Well, you don't have to have anything, even a fan, but it would be most advisable and a good idea.

sunnyj58 · 14 Jan 2020

EFLImpudence said:
Ok.

Well, you don't have to have anything, even a fan, but it would be most advisable and a good idea.

I thought a fan is required in a bathroom with no windows, but I really don't know about this stuff. Even if I kept the old fan would it be possible to get an electrician to add a timer to it?

EFLImpudence · 14 Jan 2020

sunnyj58 said:
I thought a fan is required in a bathroom with no windows,

There must be adequate ventilation in the building.

Anyway, that aside, you definitely want a fan with tenants. Most of them are useless with condensation and will blame you for the laws of physics and call on you to dry the room and clean any mould - I have lots of experience of this.

Even if I kept the old fan would it be possible to get an electrician to add a timer to it?

You can get separate timers.

Incidentally, do you have any mould or excessive condensation?

chivers67 · 14 Jan 2020

Do you know where it actually vents to the Outside?

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Ventilation_Index/BG_CF_Fans/index.html

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Ventilation_Index/4_Inch_Fans_Duct/index.html#Power_Duct_Fan

Found this online -
https://www.yandles.co.uk/4-25-inch-reducer-for-ducting-accessories/p23779

Though i have no idea how effective a fan designed for 4 inch output would be.

EFLImpudence · 14 Jan 2020

Yes, I meant to say make sure the pipe doesn't just end above the cupboard.

sunnyj58 · 14 Jan 2020

EFLImpudence said:
Incidentally, do you have any mould or excessive condensation?

The bathroom does get mould that needs cleaning every few months but I wouldn't say it is anything drastic luckily

sunnyj58 · 14 Jan 2020

chivers67 said:
Do you know where it actually vents to the Outside?

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Ventilation_Index/BG_CF_Fans/index.html

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Ventilation_Index/4_Inch_Fans_Duct/index.html#Power_Duct_Fan

Found this online -
https://www.yandles.co.uk/4-25-inch-reducer-for-ducting-accessories/p23779

Though i have no idea how effective a fan designed for 4 inch output would be.

I have no idea how. The ducting that I see comes off my fan, then upwards into the concrete ceiling. I'm guessing there must be some kind of system there for other flats to connect to because I have some living above me too. When I took the fan apart to look inside I could actually smell smoke from other flats and hear the wind really clearly through the ducting too.

I have looked at a reducer but was told the problem is I will be trying to force too much air through such a small hose that it would cause problems

sunnyj58 · 14 Jan 2020

EFLImpudence said:
Yes, I meant to say make sure the pipe doesn't just end above the cupboard.

What do you mean?

EFLImpudence · 15 Jan 2020

As Chivers said:

chivers67 said:
Do you know where it actually vents to the Outside?

and not just end somewhere above the ceiling.

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Help with bathroom fan

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