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I’d like to put a vent fan in an old bathroom. Ducting through the attic would be a headache. I don’t have any experience with wall-mounted fans, and the selection seems kinda narrow (or maybe I’m just looking in the wrong places). Any suggestions? Are these things not very effective?
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Old bathrooms need to be done right. Yes, it's all a headache, but don't make it worse by using a wall fan. Noise, appearance and air leakage are all issues. A wall fan is always more 'in your face' and usually with lower CFM unless it has a large outdoor part.
Usually, the most offensive aspects are the grille (cheap plastic piece of *#!+) and the noise. I like to use the NuTone fans (QT series) that you can remotely mount in the attic (lessening noise) and duct them to a nice grille in the ceiling. There is a company called Kees that makes great grilles with stamped patterns that are 'period-friendly.'
Well, you did say an old bathroom ...
*Don't do it, unless you can find one with a good dmaper (I think mine was a Nutone). I put one in a bath where I had no other vent option (finished space above) and it was always cold in there in the winter.