Ceiling Exhaust Fans

Ceiling exhaust fans vent moisture, smoke and steam out of your house through an air duct, expelling it into the air outside or sometimes your roof cavity. They’re most beneficial in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry, where moisture is most common. Ceiling exhaust fans prevent any mould or mildew build up. In the case of kitchen exhaust fans, they also remove any unwanted cooking odours.

Bathroom exhaust fans can be installed as heat lamp options also, while skylight exhaust fans, wall-mounted exhaust fans and rangehoods all fall under the exhaust fan banner.

It’s important to choose something which best suits the room size and airflow required, so if you are unsure of what you need, contact Metropolitan Electrical Contractors.

Ceiling Exhaust Fan Installation

Getting skilled and professional tradespeople to carry out your ceiling exhaust fan installation is essential for the safety and longevity of your work. With more than 25 years of local experience, look no further than Metropolitan Electrical Contractors.

While at your home, our technicians will:

Ensure the capacity of airflow and room size is enough for your fan
Install and mount your fan into the ceiling, ensuring that air is being expelled
Duct your fan outside or exhausted into the roof cavity, as you choose

metropolitan electrical contractors Service Reviews

Repairs to your Ceiling Exhaust Fans

The best way to avoid big repair jobs to your ceiling exhaust fans is preventative maintenance. This not only extends the life of your fan but ensures it is operating safely. If you do have a fault that needs repairing, Metropolitan Electrical Contractors can offer same day service.

We can even get to your door within the hour*. Before starting work we ensure that you understand what each job entails, as well as the price.

We Offer Interest Free** Payment Plans

At Metropolitan Electrical Contractors, we are proud to offer service you can trust. We always work to put the customer first and offer a range of benefits such as our interest free** payment plans.

Just choose a payment plan with one of our providers – Zip or Humm. You have the flexibility of weekly, fortnightly or monthly instalments. Some plans even accept a $0 deposit, so you pay nothing upfront. Your electrician can take you through the easy application process on site and approval usually takes only a few minutes.

We also accept payment by cash, cheque and credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express).

There is no need to delay your electrical work any longer, contact a professional at Metropolitan Electrical Contractors.

FAQs – All you Need to Know About Ceiling Exhaust Fans

Metropolitan Electrical Contractors has the answers to all of your questions about ceiling exhaust fans.

How does a ceiling exhaust fan work?

For rooms where hot and humid air is common exhaust fans are used to remove it. Removing this air allows fresh new air to enter the room instead. The warm moist air that is removed is sucked through a ducting system and sent outside where it can dissipate.

Exhaust fans work best in small rooms such as the bathroom and kitchen where steam is common. Generally a fan that can move 2 cubic metres of air per second is sufficient for ventilation purposes. The amount of air your exhaust fan can move depends on both its size and speed.

Depending on how the fan is constructed, if it moves more quickly it may also be noisier. Using a ceiling exhaust fan is important to ensure excess moisture doesn’t build up in your home and damage it. Moist environments are also the perfect place for mould and bacteria to grow!

How is a ceiling exhaust fan installed?

Before installing a ceiling exhaust fan, you’ll need to consider the airflow capacity required to adequately ventilate your room. You’ll also need to consider the hole size you’ll need to be cut into your ceiling, and whether it needs to connect to existing duct work.

Once you’ve sorted these out, it’s time to install:

Mark the ceiling position – ensure the fan will fit in the roof cavity of your selected position.
Cut out the ceiling – drill a 10mm hole in the marked area and cut around the outline with a hacksaw blade.
Install a powerpoint – you’ll need a qualified electrician to install a powerpoint in your ceiling cavity near the fan’s position.
Fit the fan into the ceiling cavity – plug the fan in first, then slowly push the fan into place so the spring clips on the side lock it into place.

Your fan will need to comply with Australian Standards and have a sufficient flow rate for your room. If this seems like more work than you’re cut out for, Metropolitan Electrical Contractors can do the entire installation process for you.

Can a ceiling exhaust fan be mounted on a wall?

Generally speaking, installing a ceiling fan on a wall is not recommended. The bearings are not designed for vertical alignment and will likely wear out faster than if it was mounted horizontally on the ceiling.

Wearing out the bearings means your exhaust fan will become noisier, much faster. Some ceiling fans might even rub against the plastic body if gravity is not holding the fan in the correct position. These fans will be noisy right from the get go.

That said, there are many dual exhaust fans on the market now that are designed to be mounted on both the ceiling and the wall.

How do you clean a ceiling exhaust fan?

Your exhaust fan should be cleaned at least once every 6 months. Regular cleaning ensures your exhaust fan is in good working order and effectively removes moisture from the air. When it isn’t working properly, moisture can build up and your bathroom becomes susceptible to mould!

Before you attempt cleaning your fan, you’ll want to turn it off at the circuit breaker. Firstly, you’ll want to remove the vent cover and clean this with soapy water and leave it to air dry.

Next get rid of the dust on the exhaust fan with a vacuum – keep a light touch so you don’t break any fan components!

Your fan will likely still be dirty after you’ve vacuumed it. Go in with a damp cloth to remove the remaining grime. You could even disassemble the fan to get into all the components. With everything clean, all that’s left is to reassemble the fan and turn it back on!

Do exhaust fans need to be ducted?

Not necessarily. Most ceiling exhaust fans are ducted to the outside, but if your roof space is well ventilated you can just have the air directed there. Some states in Australia require your exhaust fans to be ducted to the external environment as well.

If you are unsure about whether your exhaust fan needs to be ducted, contact Metropolitan Electrical Contractors and we can discuss the best options for your home.