Super Powerful Fans, Super Quiet

instantly remove moisture, fumes and odours

Freshfans installs, replaces and upgrades bathroom fans and kitchen range hoods in the Ottawa area.  Most home ventilation systems don't function adequately - despite making a lot of noise - because they were especially chosen by builders based on cost rather than on meeting the efficiency guidelines for proper ventilation established by the certification authority.

The resulting poor air quality from mold, mildew, cooking by-products and chemical pollutants is unhealthy for your family and for your home.

Without adequate ventilation, normal activities such as showers, cooking and laundry can cause excessive moisture and noxious fumes resulting in high humidity, bacterial or fungus growth and lingering odours.  Some of your family members and visitors may have headaches, or irritations of the nose, throat, lungs, eyes or skin.

Your home itself also suffers.  Prolonged build-up of moisture levels in the walls and attic causes both visible and hidden damage to the finish, to the structure and to the efficiency of insulation.

Freshfans solves this problem with Ottawa bathroom and kitchen fan replacement and upgrade solutions that quietly and effectively remove moisture, fumes and odours to bring fresh air into your home and help improve your health and quality of life.

Bathroom Fans

bathroom time is personal time

Ottawa bathroom fan replacement for good health

We spend about two years of our lives in the bathroom - about thirty minutes or as much as an hour each day - to clean, refresh and pamper ourselves so that we look and feel our best.  It makes sense that the bathroom should be a pleasant place to be.

Yet in most Ottawa homes poor design by the builder and inadequate ventilation has left the bathroom dark, musty and airless.  Not even windows seem to help, since they are usually covered and sealed up tight to keep in the heat or air conditioning.

Normal bathroom activities cause excessive moisture and noxious fumes that result in high humidity, bacterial or fungus growth and lingering odours.  Without the ample fresh air provided by an efficiant ventilation system, bathrooms become unpleasant and unhealthy, and the harsh noise of a worn-out old exhaust fan just makes it worse!

Freshfans solves this problem with bathroom fan replacement and upgrade solutions that quietly and effectively expel moisture and odours, and bring in fresh air and light.

Ottawa bathroom exhaust fan repair kits

simple fan repair

freshfans provides improved ventilation at the least possible effort through upgrade kits that we supply and install into your existing bathroom exhaust fan.

Ottawa bathroom fan light
energy efficient Ottawa bathroom exhaust fan replacement

upgraded fan replacement

freshfans maximizes your ventilation system through seamless replacement of your old fan with the most powerful and quietest fan that your system supports.

bathroom vent fan
energy efficient Ottawa bathroom exhaust fan ventilation system installation

full system replacement

freshfans installs the optimal ventilation system, with a super-powerful, super-quiet fan, plus new right-sized insulated ducting and heavy-weather roof or wall vent.

Ottawa bathroom ventilation

Bathroom Fan FAQ

Should I repair my bathroom fan or replace it?

That depends on your objective and budget.

The easiest and lowest cost solution is to replace the fan and motor assembly, and we can do so for most Ottawa bathroom fans less than about 15 years old.

Generally, we bill for about two hours to cover the cost of sourcing and obtaining the correct parts, travel to your location in Ottawa, removal of existing components, cleaning of the fan housing, and installation of new parts.

But it's most probable that even when brand new, your existing fan was inadequate, because home builders generally choose bathroom fans based on cost rather than efficiency.  If your objective is increased ventilation and less noise, then fan replacement is the better choice, and there are several options available.

Since the labour component is usually similar, the difference in cost between repairing an old fan and replacing it with a new, more efficient, powerful and quieter fan may actually be relatively minor.

The real difference of course is that a brand-new fan is sure to satisfy, while the old fan, even when repaired, is unlikely to.

What are my options for replacing it?

If your existing bathroom fan is broken or the performance is noticeably poor since mold and bad odors are ever-present, then you have an important choice to make.

In most cases, the home builder will have installed a low capacity ventilation system with a low performance ceiling.  No matter how powerful the fan, the ducting cannot expel more exhaust than its size allows.  This ducting can handle no more than 70 cubic feet per minute, which is sufficient for a small bathroom of about 50 square feet.

If your bathroom is NO LARGER than about 50 square feet, and is under normal usage (as determined by the absence of mold and mildew), then replacing your old fan with a super efficient, super quiet modern fan sized to your existing ducting is the perfect solution.  In most cases we can do so without even entering the attic, and without the need for drywall and paint repairs.

If your bathroom IS LARGER than about 50 square feet, or the mold and mildew is noticeable, then the best course of action to ensure good air quality and the rapid removal of moisture is to replace the existing failed ventilation system with one better suited to your needs.  A new end-to-end system includes a right-sized exhaust fan and switch or timer, connected to right-sized insulated ducting through the attic, and then connected to a storm-proofed vent cap through the roof or wall to keep out the weather.

The only thing left to be decided is the quality of your new fan and vent cap, and we always recommend that you choose higher quality rather than least expensive, because the price difference is relatively minor, and the performance is considerably better and more reliable.

The real difference of course is that high quality, more efficient components are sure to satisfy, while lower quality ones are less efficient, less reliable, and have a shorter life.

What are my options if I have no bathroom fan?

If you currently have NO bathroom fan and ventilation system, it's probably because a building inspector has not been in the premises since 1993, when the Ontario Building Code was updated to make mechanical ventilation manadatory for all residential bathrooms, whether or not they have an openable window.

If this is the case, then your course of action is mostly pre-determined.  You need an end-to-end system that includes the exhaust fan and switch or timer, connected to insulated ducting through the attic or exterior wall, and then connected to a storm-proofed vent cap through the roof or wall to keep out the weather.

The only thing left to be decided is the quality of your new fan and vent cap, and we always recommend that you choose higher quality rather than least expensive, because the price difference is relatively minor, but the performance is considerably better and more reliable.

What is the right size of fan for my bathroom?

The unit of measurement for sizing bathroom fans is CFM - how many cubic feet per minute they are able to move.  The Ontario Building Code (section 6.2.3.8.14) requires 50cfm per "toilet, urinal or shower".

But what size fan is needed to be truly effective?  The bathroom fan certification authority - the Home Ventilation Institute (HVI) - provides a guideline of a minimum 1 cfm per square foot of floor space for a conventional bathroom.

Subject to the Ontario Building Code requirement, we recommend one and one-half cfm per square foot to create a prudent margin, because published fan specifications usually overstate the actual efficiency of a completed ventilation system.

If your bathroom or powder room is around 50 square feet or less, then a 70 to 100cfm fan will work well.  If your bathroom is larger, up to 100 square feet, then a 130 to 150cfm fan will work well.

If your bathroom is larger, or if you have multiple shower heads or a hot tub, then you will need a more powerful fan than standard.

What about bathroom fan sound ratings?

There is now recognition that the noise of machinery can have an adverse affect on quality of life.  Particularly in the home, people want the sound of machinery such as ventilation fans to have as low an impact as possible, and new home ventilation technologies have now been developed to meet that need.  Modern bathroom fans are able to be three times as powerful as older varieties, while being three times quieter!

The other practical issue is that a loud, jarring fan tends to discourage use, which serves to worsen the larger problem of excessive moisture, fumes and odours.

The unit of measurement for bathroom fan sound output is sones, which translate laboratory decibel readings into numbers that correspond to the way people sense loudness.  Sones is a linear measurement - 2 sones is experienced as twice as loud as 1 sone.  The typical description of the baseline is that one sone is equivalent to the sound of a quiet refrigerator in a quiet kitchen.

The Ontario Building Code (Table 9.32.3.9) defines a maximum rating of 3.5 sones, but we generally recommend bathroom fans rated between 1 and 2 sones.

What about combination fan and ceiling lights?

Bathrooms in general, and certainly bath and shower enclosures are usually poorly lit.  If having a new bathroom fan installed, it's a great opportunity to get additional lighting installed at the same time.

Recognizing this, bathroom fan manufacturers have provided combination fan-and-light units, but with generally poor results.  This is because combining the two separate elements into the same-sized bathroom fan housing results in reduced efficiency for both - a lower output fan, and a dimmer light.

To counter this, we typically install adjacent to each other completely separate high-powered fans and high-output lighting fixtures.  The cost is comparable to the combination unit, but the performance is much better.

Recently however, with the advent of LED lighting, manufactures appear to have almost solved the problem.  LED lights take up much less space than previous types of light bulb, which leaves more room in the housing for a larger fan.

While not as effective as two separate fixtures, combination units with LED lights may be a good solution for a very small bathroom or powder room because in a small space they present a less cluttered appearance.

Kitchen Fans

kitchen time is social time

Ottawa kitchen exhaust fan installation for good health

The kitchen is probably the most important room in your home because it's the place where you gather most often with friends or family to spend time together.  Whether touching base before or after work or school, or preparing a meal and eating together at the end of a busy day, or just hanging out, kitchen time is social time.

The last thing you want is greasy smoke and noxious fumes from cooking to drive people away, or the harsh noise of a worn-out old exhaust fan to prevent conversation.

Freshfans solves this problem with attractive and ergonomic Ottawa range hood installation solutions that quietly and effectively banish cooking fumes and bring fresh air into your kitchen to help improve your health and quality of life.

under cabinet Ottawa range hood installation in black, stainless steel and white

under-cabinet range hoods

freshfans installs super powerful, super-quiet, easy-clean range hoods in black, stainless or white finish, to maintain the best possible indoor air quality.

under cabinet Ottawa range hood installation in white finish under cabinet Ottawa range hood installation stainless steel finish
modern chimney style range hood

modern chimney range hoods

freshfans installs quiet, high capacity stainless steel wall-mount range hoods to match your modern kitchen decor and maintain indoor air quality.

modern chimney wall mount Ottawa range hood installation modern chimney wall mount kitchen hood installation
traditional chimney style range hood

traditional chimney range hoods

freshfans installs quiet, high capacity stainless steel wall-mount range hoods to match your traditional kitchen decor and maintain indoor air quality.

traditional chimney wall mount Ottawa range hood installation traditional chimney wall mount kitchen hood installation

Kitchen Fan FAQ

Should I repair my kitchen fan or replace it?

If your kitchen range hood fan has stopped functioning or performs inadequately, unless it's still under warranty, the most prudent course of action is to replace it.  If it's the original one installed by the home builder then it was probably inadequate even when brand new, since builders generally choose kitchen fans based on cost rather than efficiency.

If your objective is increased ventilation and less noise, then you should replace the old range hood with a new model carefully chosen to fit your performance needs.

Since the labour component is usually similar, the difference in cost between repairing an old kitchen fan and replacing it with a more efficient, powerful, quieter and easier to clean range hood may actually be relatively minor.

The real difference of course is that a brand-new range hood is sure to satisfy, while the old kitchen fan, even when repaired, is unlikely to.

What are my options for replacing it?

If you currently have a kitchen range hood, then your course of action is mostly pre-determined.  In most cases, you will need to replace your existing unit with one of the same style - whether under-cabinet or wall-mount - so that it aligns with the positioning of existing exhaust ducting and kitchen cabinetry.

Ideally, the performance characteristics of the replacement unit should be better-matched to your needs, as determined by the size and sound specifications descibed in the FAQ below.

The only thing left to be decided is the quality of your new range hood, and we always recommend that you choose higher quality rather than least expensive, because the price difference is relatively minor, but the performance is considerably better and more reliable.  For example, better quality range hoods are designed to be quieter and more efficiant, to require less effort to clean, to have more speed and light settings and better controls, and to have automated safety features.

What are my options if I have no kitchen fan?

If you currently have NO kitchen fan and ventilation system, it's probably because a building inspector has not been in the premises since 1993, when the Ontario Building Code was changed to make mechanical ventilation manadatory for all residential kitchens, whether or not they have an openable window.

If this is the case, then your course of action is mostly pre-determined.  You need an end-to-end system that includes the exhaust fan - typically a range hood/exhaust fan combination unit - connected to insulated ducting through the attic or exterior wall, and then connected to a storm-proofed vent cap through the roof or wall to keep out the weather.

The only thing left to be decided is the quality of your new range hood and vent cap, and we always recommend that you choose higher quality rather than least expensive, because the price difference is relatively minor, but the performance is considerably better and more reliable.

What is the right size of fan for my kitchen?

The unit of measurement for sizing kitchen fans is CFM - how many cubic feet per minute they are able to move.  While the Ontario Building Code does require that there be mechanical ventilation in the kitchen, it does not specify the minimum rating.  However, in section 6.2.2.1.2 it defers to another, internationally recognized regulation - ANSI/ASHRAE 62.1 - Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality - which is to be used in all cases to define the minimum air flow required.  Accordingly, the required minimum kitchen fan size is 100cfm.

But what size fan is needed to be truly effective?  The kitchen fan certification authority - the Home Ventilation Institute (HVI) - provides guidelines that factor in four elements through a complicated formula to arrive at a minimum CFM rating - 1) area of cooking surface, 2) amount of heat generated by the stove, 3) volume of the room, and 4) air-flow resistance in the ducting.

If we were to follow their guidelines to the letter - and home builders generally do not - then everyone would have an extremely powerful unit in the $500 to $1500-plus range.

Most Ottawa homeowners want a much simpler range hood solution, so we have developed a more straightforward formula that combines the two most critical HVI elements - room size and heat source - to select units that both meet the Ontario Building Code and the actual requirements for normal, every day usage.

A Level-1 range hood is rated at 200 to 250cfm.  A Level-2 unit is rated at 250 to 350cfm.  A Level-3 unit is rated at 350 to 450cfm.  A Level-4 unit is rated above 450cfm.

If your kitchen is small and is a closed room rather than open-concept, and your stove is electric, then a properly installed Level-1 range hood connected to the appropriately-sized exhaust ducting will meet your normal needs.  If your stove uses gas, then a Level-2 range hood is more appropriate because gas generates more heat.

If your kitchen is mid-sized or small but open to the rest of the house, and your stove is electric, then a properly installed Level-2 range hood will meet your normal needs.  If your stove uses gas, then a Level-3 range hood is needed.

If your kitchen is large or mid-sized but open to the rest of the house, and your stove is electric, then a properly installed Level-3 range hood will be adequate.  If your stove uses gas, then a Level-4 range hood is prudent.

A still larger kichen should have as a minimum a Level-4 range hood.

What about kitchen fan sound ratings?

There is now recognition that the noise of machinery can have an adverse affect on quality of life.  Particularly in the home, people want the sound of machinery such as ventilation fans to have as low an impact as possible, and new home ventilation technologies have now been developed to meet that need.  Modern kitchen fans are able to be three times as powerful as older varieties, while being three times quieter!

Another practical issue is that a loud, jarring fan tends to discourage use, which serves to worsen the larger problem of smoke, cooking fumes and odours in the house.  At least as important is the fact that the kitchen fan is located as little as 18 inches away from the cook's head, so they will be extremelly sensitive to its noise level.  And of course, if the noise level is such that it prevents conversation, then the problem has become critical.

The unit of measurement for kitchen fan sound output is sones, which translate laboratory decibel readings into numbers that correspond to the way people sense loudness.  Sones are a linear measurement - 2 sones is experienced as twice as loud as 1 sone.  The typical description of the baseline is that one sone is equivalent to the sound of a quiet refrigerator in a quiet kitchen.

The Ontario Building Code (Table 9.32.3.9) explicitly states that there is NO required rating, but we generally recommend kitchen fans rated ideally no more than 5 sones at high speed for Level-3 and lower, and one and one-half sones at low speed.

  •  

    Kyle.H - ventilation system, basement reno

    it works great!

  •  

    Jill.D - ventilation system, bathroom retrofit

    it already feels great to have the fans in - thanks for your time, expertise and hard work!

  •  

    Bill.N - wall-mount range hood replacement

    it works very well and helps to modernize the kitchen... we are very happy with it. A job well done!

  •  

    Bonnie.R - upgraded bath fan replacement

    Thanks for the great work!

  •  

    Ken.H - upgraded fan replacement, condo

    our tenant is very happy and so are we!

  •  

    Isabelle.D - custom wall-mount range hood

    timely, quick, professional... I recommend freshfans to anyone needing creative ventilation solutions!

  •  

    Caitlin.M - bathroom ventilation system

    the fan is running well... very impressed with your clean-up job... will recommend to family & friends!

  •  

    Marcia.J - bathroom and laundry ventilation

    greatly appreciate the work you did... would not hesitate to recommend you to others. Many thanks!

  •  

    Janus.Y - customized wall-mount range hood

    your professional work and patience have been really appreciated!

  •  

    Mary Ann.D - upgraded bath fan replacement

    I am very pleased with the workmanship and service provided...and satisfied with the end result!

  •  

    Jean-Francois.D - new bathroom system

    Thank you very much for the installation. You did a great job!

  •  

    John.I - wall-mount range hood upgrade

    thanks for doing such a stellar job. If you ever need a reference, I'm happy to provide one!

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