Are expensive extractor fans worth the money?

Let’s be honest, the first thing most of us look at when we’re picking up an extractor fan is the price tag.  Particularly if we’re on a price and the client hasn’t specified anything fancy, we just want something that is going to get the job done.  So why is there such a range of different options?

Are expensive extractor fans worth the money? This is a common question when clients are looking at the electrical catalogue! A really cheap, budget extractor like the “Magnuss MAGAF100T” can be had for less than £20. At the other end of the scale are things like the HIB Cyclone, with an RRP of nearly £200! More commonly, things like the Airflow Icon 15 at around £45 are encountered.

But are they worth it? Is it worth the extra cash to get an expensive extractor fan?

Firstly, you have to look at how the fan performs. You can’t tell this from the box. All these fans – from the cheapest to the most expensive – have a claimed airflow rate of around 120 m3 / hour. This is equivalent to 32 l/s, more than enough for a bathroom extractor. However, these fans don’t perform the same in practice. Once they’re installed with ducting, airflow rates often fall dramatically. This can cause the installation to fail Part F testing – the airflow rate measured by a vane anemometer will be too low for Building Regulations approval. This is why it is so important to get the right fan, and to do an airflow test using the proper procedure. Expensive fans do not always outperform cheap fans in real-world tests! Our extractor fan tests help guide you to the best-performing fans.

Secondly, as long as the installed fan has a good enough airflow rate, it’s all about style! Here, the expensive fans do tend to have the edge. The HIB cyclone, with it’s built-in LED bulbs, is perfect for a modern wetroom. The Airflow Icon 30 has a mesmerising auto-irising vent whenever it’s used. The cheaper fans do tend to go for the “plastic brick” look! But at the end of the day, it’s up to you whether the expensive extractor fan is stylish enough to be worth the extra money!