Be it the vapour haze in the bathroom or the flavourful smoke of tikkas in the kitchen, a poorly installed exhaust fan can leave you gasping or coughing.
Though their role is simple: push out the fumes from the place, believe it or not, a good chunk of Indian homes have installed them wrong. And these mistakes can cost a lot in grease, repairs, and whatnot.
This is why in this article, we’re going to dive deep into the common mistakes people make when installing exhaust fans.
Mistake 1: Incorrect Sizing
Imagine following a recipe where you mistake a teaspoon for a tablespoon. What do you think is gonna happen? It’s simple, the dish is turning out bad. The same applies to an exhaust fan as well. They come in different sizes, and you need to pick the right size. If you pick a smaller one, you might not be able to clear the fumes, and the result will be lots and lots of coughing.
Mistake 2: Poor Placement
You need to place your exhaust fan the right way. Wrong placement means it won’t be able to generate enough suction, actually, to push the fumes outside. The ideal location depends on where you cook. Always make sure to place the exhaust fan exactly above the stove. In the case of the bathroom, the golden spot is always going to be the opposite side of the door.
Mistake 3: Improper Ducting
The ducting is where a lot of setups go wrong. You’d be surprised how often fans are vented into attics, crawl spaces, or even wall cavities. It could look like a shortcut on paper. In truth, it lets moisture build up where it shouldn’t. That hidden moisture can turn into mould, eat away at wooden beams, or make insulation soggy and useless over time. People don’t always notice this kind of problem immediately, but when they do, it’s a big mess and costs a lot of money. Just duct it outside and use the best quality materials.
Mistake 4: Loose or Unsealed Connections
If the connections aren’t tight, even a good fan won’t work. Air can get through cracks in the duct, ceiling, or fan housing, and before you know it, cooking aromas or steam are back in the room. It’s easy to miss, but those little leaks slowly lower efficiency, making your fan work more than it needs to. The solution is not hard. Use mastic or UL-approved tape to seal every joint, caulk around the edges, and make sure everything is tight. It can seem like too much, but a few thoughtful adjustments here make the fan work well and silently.
Mistake 5: Unsafe Electrical Connections
Wiring is something that most people don’t pay much attention to, yet mistakes can be dangerous. Short circuits or unanticipated problems can happen if you forget to turn off the power, skip stages, or read diagrams wrong. Unsafe connections might cause difficulties that don’t show up until later, even if the fan starts spinning right away. Following the wiring diagram carefully, making sure the ground is correct, and never being afraid to ask a certified electrician for help are all good ways to do things. You shouldn’t improvise when it comes to electricity, and being careful can help a lot.
Mistake 6: Ignoring Codes and Guidelines
There is a reason for building codes; they aren’t just a pile of electrical tape. You could fail an inspection, have poor ventilation, or even have to deal with legal issues if you don’t do them. You might not think that things like minimum airflow requirements, damper limits, or venting distances are extremely significant. Before you start working, take a few minutes to learn about the rules in your area. A little planning goes a long way toward ensuring the fan works as it should and keeping things from going wrong.
Mistake 7: Not Considering Noise
Noise is one of those things that creeps up on you. If a fan rattles, hums, or buzzes, it will be turned off more often than it will be left on. This is a contradiction to the whole point. Airflow is important, but so is comfort. To keep things nice, try to get a score of 1.0 or lower. In places like bedrooms and bathrooms, quieter fans or fans that are mounted remotely make a big difference. Before you buy a fan, check its noise ratings to be sure it’s not just practical but also something people want to use every day.
Conclusion
As important as it is to choose the right fan, it is equally important to install it properly. Now you have a list of 7 mistakes to avoid, so you can sigh a breath of relief. All in all, think before you drill. Right placement, right size, and easy maintenance = happier lungs and fresher rooms.
