Alternate to ceiling fan in master bathroom

5 years ago

Hi there! I wanted to know if anyone knew of a ceiling fan (not exhaust fan) that can be used in a bathroom that is flush mount to the ceiling. Ideally, I'm looking for a fan where the actual fan is within the ceiling so all you see on the outside is a vent cover. We want to have a light fixture and don't want the fan getting in the way.
My husband and I both run hot after a shower, me especially when doing my hair, and like our ceiling fan to cool us down. We are renovating the bathroom and don't want an actual ceiling fan so looking for alternate solutions.
Any help is appreciated! Thank you in advance!

Featured Answer

3onthetree

5 years ago

Understanding you want to feel air movement on your skin from a bladed ceiling mount fan so it seems cooler. Realize that a fan of that type will just recirculate the same humid (after shower) air within the room and the blades will get caked with dust because of the moist air.

But I actually read the OP so I know you want the same "feeling" results but recessed into a housing in the ceiling. However, if you go this route, realize the air will not recirculate in the same manner as does a bladed ceiling mount fan, unless you are standing directly below this grille.

So going this route you have 2 choices: pull air into the housing or push it down. You will not "feel" pulling (exhausting) air unless it is around >1000cfm and the window is open (basically the size of a whole house fan). Pushing air is felt at lower cfm, but there has to be air above this fan in the housing to push down, so where does that come from? Ducted from outside, so possibly hot, humid, or too cold?

So pushing air it is. But then realize code requires bathrooms to have a switched exhaust rate of 50cfm, and the air pressure has to be negative (meaning toilet air isn't pushed out into the bedroom/closet/whereever). Code does allow you to recirculate air within the bathroom, so if you are bringing in new air to a fan within a housing pushing this into the bathroom, it cannot be more than the exhaust rate.

So what options does that leave you for hiding the fan? Maybe an expensive HRV, but you will not get the same "feel" of air on your skin. Maybe jerry-rigging a fan pushing air ducted from the same bathroom, but still probably won't get the same "feel." Maybe accept an oscillating fan sitting on the counter?

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Comments (9)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
So a fan will move the humid air around and an exhaust fan will remove the humid air to the exterior. There is a big difference.

You can have a fan that can be mounted on the ceiling or the wall.

https://www.amazon.com/Fanimation-FP7964BBN-Beckwith-Fan-Light-Brushed/dp/B07PHVW6SC
Olychick
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
look at fantech, if you have room to mount the motor in your attic. they also have a model that can have the motor mounted outside on the wall and the vent run through the ceiling. Mine has a light (like a can light) with the fan encircling it. Very powerful and extremely quiet. You can also get it without the integrated light, just the fan.

eta: as far as cooling you down, these fans are so powerful that in the summertime when the bedroom next to the bath is too warm, I open the windows and turn on the fan to run for an hour. It sucks the now cooler outside air in and the warm air, even from the adjacent bedroom out. Very powerful.
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arcy_gw
5 years ago
Yep, tons of them. Try any big box store. We have one in every bathroom.
vinmarks
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I don’t think the op is looking for a bath exhaust fan. I think the op wants a fan that blows air on them like bladed ceiling fan.

I haven’t seen recssed fans but I have seen semi flush fans like the ones here at amazon. You just have to make sure whatever you get is damp rated.

https://www.amazon.com/BAYCHEER-Lighting-Changeable-Enclosed-Fandelier/dp/B088WCG313?th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Sunifier-Bladeless-Ceiling-Control-Profile/dp/B08K2BBQ65
Kate
5 years ago
Install the exhaust fan near the shower and just use a wet rated ceiling fan for the bathroom. The have lights with integrated fans, but those always look a bit weird.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
IMO every bathroom needs an exhaust fan for sure and as for the other type of fan I have never noticed my bathroom being too hot after a shower so maybe my exhaust fan is doing a great job We also open the bathroom window on occassion to vent a really steamy shower a bit quicker.
chispa
5 years ago
Run your air conditioning a few degrees cooler while you shower and get ready.
Olychick
5 years ago
oh, I misread the OP thinking she wanted a fan to exhaust the damp, hot air. If the fan is rated high enough cfm it will provide some good air movement, but not as much as a bladed fan.