Electricians are being increasingly asked by customers for quiet fans so they can enjoy a peaceful home environment. However, with many low noise fans on the market, how can wholesalers advise installers on how to select the right fan for the job and pick a fan that really is low noise? Mick Daniels, Sales Director – Vent-Axia Distribution, explains more.
Silence is golden… Eliminating the damaging and unhealthy effects of condensation and mould is an essential role of bathroom ventilation, but this alone is no longer. Households want to take a relaxing bath or shower without the constant drone of a noisy fan. Quiet fans are therefore becoming an increasingly popular fan to stock for wholesalers. However, with a wide range of low noise fans on the market what features should wholesalers look out for when deciding which silent fans to stock?
Decibels
First things first… A good place to start when selecting a quiet fan is to check its sound level in decibels [dB(A)]. An average extract fan operates at 35dB(A). This is loud in a confined space. Fortunately, there are now fans on the market that are only slightly louder than the sound of a pin dropping. For example, Vent-Axia’s Silent Fan operates at just 12dB(A).
Quiet Mark
Another way to help advise on the selection of a quiet fan is to look to third-party accreditation. This is a useful selling tool for wholesalers since consumers are impressed by third-party accreditation of products. Wholesalers can use accreditation to promote key products and by educating their customers about the benefits for households, can generate increased sales. The seal of approval for quiet products is the Quiet Mark. This was launched by the Noise Abatement Society and is given World-Wide to the quietest products on the market. To check whether a quiet fan has a Quiet Mark award wholesales visit the online Quiet Mark Directory at www.quietmark.com to easily select a silent fan.
Added Value
However, when choosing which quiet fans to stock wholesalers should not just look at sound levels. Although silence is a really big driver, it may not be the only box to tick on a homeowner’s wish list. Meanwhile, electricians may be impressed by a low db(A) but also require other features to meet a project’s requirements. Manufacturers have therefore been adding to their quiet fan ranges to offer increased flexibility and choice for households. For example, with Vent-Axia’s Silent Fan range there are now eight models to choose from so more households can benefit from the sound of silence. This means the range now offers an IP45-rating and includes variable speed models, humidistat options and both intermittent and continuous ventilation models.
By stocking a quiet fan boasting additional features wholesalers will ensure they have the right solution for their customers. For instance, by stocking a fan with an IP45 (for
Zone 1) rating wholesalers will make install easy and safer for electricians since the fan can be installed in the splash zone. It also allows a wider range of households to opt for a silent fan since this makes the fan ideal for bathrooms and shower rooms of all sizes.
Electricians will also be pleased with the addition of variable speed models as a feature, such as in the Silent Fan range. Variable speed models make installation easier since electricians can simply adjust the speed depending on the individual needs of the project, ensuring the right fan every time. This is especially helpful with long duct runs. Plus, variable speed models will make households happy too since the fan can be altered to achieve the required airflow at a sound level that is acceptable to an individual household.
With silent fans now on the market that include a host of additional features offering great selling points, wholesalers can now offer exactly the right silent fan that ticks all the right boxes. And as our lives become ever busier the growth of quiet ventilation looks set to continue. So, with the latest silent fans also offering a range of additional beneficial features, they’re set to be an attractive option for wholesalers to offer electricians that will keep end-users happy too.