Bathroom Ventilation Light Combination

Bathroom Ventilation Light Combination

Picture this: you walk into the bathroom and flip the switch. The bathroom exhaust fan turns on at the same time as the light.

Well, you can do that when the light is part of the exhaust fan, as one unit. You can also wire the light and bath fan to separate switches if you want.

I invite you to check out my list of the best bathroom exhaust fans with lights (and other cool features).

You will love these bathroom fans!

In this HomeInspectorSecrets.com guide, you will learn:

• My top pick for thebest bathroom exhaust fan with light
• The three main styles of exhaust fans with lights
• Features to look for
• All of the advantages of having a bath fan with a light included

Below is a quick list of all our top products. Keep scrolling to learn more about how to choose and use the best bathroom fans with lights.

Image	Product
Best Overall	Best Overall	Panasonic WhisperFit Choose 80-cfm or 100-cfm (flip switch on housing) Bright CFL lights Detachable damper for easier install	Choose 80-cfm or 100-cfm (flip switch on housing) Bright CFL lights Detachable damper for easier install	View on Amazon
Best LED	Best LED	Delta BreezIntegrity Dimmable 13-watt LED light DC variable speed motor for ultra efficiency 80-cfm rating for medium sized baths	Dimmable 13-watt LED light DC variable speed motor for ultra efficiency 80-cfm rating for medium sized baths	View on Amazon
Best Decorative	Best Decorative	Hunter Decorative Great looking fan with scrollwork Two 60-watt lights Includes night light	Great looking fan with scrollwork Two 60-watt lights Includes night light	View on Amazon
Best For Small Spaces	Best For Small Spaces	Broan 678 Shatter resistant light lens Keyholed installation bracket Great for smaller bathrooms (50-cfm)	Shatter resistant light lens Keyholed installation bracket Great for smaller bathrooms (50-cfm)	View on Amazon
		Air King Decorative Nice nickel finish Uses two 60-watt bulb Glass lens won't yellow	Nice nickel finish Uses two 60-watt bulb Glass lens won't yellow	View on Amazon

Our Overall #1 Rated Pick

Updated On November 17, 2021

My favorite exhaust fan with a light is the Panasonic WhisperFit because it has two 13-watt CFL lights and it is super easy to install.

Since it has a detachable duct adapter, you can connect the duct and wiring first and then install the housing afterward. It also comes with a flexible installation bracket which makes the installation even easier, so you don't need attic access.

You will also be able to choose between 80 or 100 cfm at any time with the flick of a tiny switch on the housing.

What Are Bathroom Fans With Lights?

A bathroom exhaust fan with a light is a combo fan that works to remove moisture from your bathroom, and at the same time, it also acts as a light fixture.

The light can be the only source of illumination in the bathroom, or it can be in addition to an independent light fixture.

If your bathroom has a water closet (enclosed toilet), it is common to have a bathroom fan and light as one unit because the space is small.

Exhaust Fan And Light Combos Saves Space

Installing a bathroom vent fan that already has a light is a excellent choice if you need more light in your bathroom. Since you will be doing electrical wiring and possibly cutting out the ceiling, this is a great time to add more lighting to the bathroom without cutting a second hole in the ceiling.

Most bath vent fans are pretty bland anyway. Installing a light can significantly add to the aesthetics.

Since most of these bathroom fans typically do not include light bulbs, I recommend installing energy efficient LED bulbs which will go into any standard socket and will fit the majority  bathroom exhaust fans. Always check with the manufacturer though to make sure an LED will fit. When you read my guide on thebest bathroom exhaust fans with LED lights ,you will see my top picks that only have energy efficient LEDs.

Most bathroom exhaust fan lights will be between 50 to 100 watts.

Can Bath Fans With Lights Be Installed Above A Shower?

If you want to install your bathroom exhaust fan with a light directly above a shower or tub, it must be rated for that purpose from the manufacturer.

Water and electricity don't mix, so bathroom fans rated for use directly above showers are designed to be safe in these wet areas.

These wet rated exhaust fans need to be on dedicated electrical circuits that are GFCI protected (at the panel box or dedicated wall reset). GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interruptor which basically means there is a switch that will cut off power if it detects a problem. You don't want to get shocked when taking a shower if you know what I mean.

Many bathroom fans are already rated for use over wet areas (always confirm from manufacturer), so don't forget to make sure that your electrical circuit is GFCI.

The breaker at the panel box that goes to the bathroom fan will have a button on it and say "GFCI".

Can I Use Vent Fan & Light Combos Elsewhere?

These bathroom exhaust fans can be used in rooms other than bathrooms where more ventilation and lighting is wanted. There are bathroom exhaust fans that look like regular lights such as the Hunter 83002 bath fan which can be installed in any room.

These bath exhaust fans don't look like the normal "bathroom fan".  Installation in these alternative areas may include…

• Garages (smelly chemical fumes)
• Mud room (allergens, dander)
• Exercise room (smelly odors)
• Kitchen area (food smells, but do not install directly over cooktop)

How Does An Exhaust Fan With A Light Work?

Bathroom fans with lights work just like regular bathroom fans except that there is an integrated light.

The bathroom fan and light can be wired on the same switch, or they can be wired separately on their own switch. And as with all bathroom fans, the exhaust needs to go to the outside through a flexible or rigid duct (a vent hose).

Must Vent To Exterior

It is important to make sure that it is actually being vented to the outside, as stated by University of Southern California. If the bathroom vent goes into a wall cavity or into the attic, the excess moisture can lead to mold growth or wood decay — a potentially costly problem.

During my home inspections, I frequently come across bathroom vents to go directly into the attic. It is okay for a bathroom vent to go through an attic if it goes all the way to the roof. On the roof, there needs to be a special roof cover that has a flap.

How To Pick The Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan With a Light?

Homeowners have a few options to choose from when picking a bath fan with an integrated light such as:

1. Decorative Light.These lights look like a normal bedroom light fixture, and people won't even notice that it is a fan (at least until it's turned on). These custom bathroom vent fans are also usually round like a normal light fixture. If you are only interested in these round decorative bath fans, you will love my guide on the best round bathroom exhaust fans.
2. Recessed Light. These bathroom fans look like a normal recessed ceiling light. There is a small, barely noticeable gap above the light bulb that pulls in air. These exhaust fans are great if you want the exhaust fan to match existing recessed lights, or for installation in a closet.
3. Normal Light. These are the units that look like your average bathroom exhaust fan. If your install is in the bathroom, and you don't need anything fancy, this is the most affordable choice. You may also be interested in seeing my top picks for the best bathroom fans with lights AND heaters.

Choosing Exhaust Fan Strength in "CFM"

The most important rating for bathroom vent fans is calledCFM or Cubic Feet Per Minute. This metric simply means how much air the fan takes out, let's say 50 cubic feet in one minute. Then the fan is rated at 50-cfm.

Most fans will be anywhere from 50-cfm and up to 200-cfm. The general rule for CFM is that you want 1-cfm per square foot of bath area.

Let's say your bathroom floor is 8′ x 8′ or 64-sf. In this case, you would want a bathroom fan that is at least 64 CFM or higher.

Regardless of size, a bathroom will always need a CFM rating of at least 50-cfm as stated by the Berkeley Lab.

Our Reviews Of The Best Exhaust Fans With Lights

Pick #1: Panasonic WhisperFit (Best Overall)

The Panasonic WhisperFit is a great bathroom exhaust fan that comes with two 13-watt CFL lights. The lights are some of the brightest out there and rated at 75-lumens per watt.

This fan includes a speed selector switch so you can control the fan speed from 80-fm to 100-cfm just by flipping a small switch on the housing.

It is also easy to install with a flexible bracket included called the Flex-Z Fast. The installation is also made super easy because the damper is detachable which allows you to install the vent and wiring first before the housing.

The WhisperFit is perfect if you are replacing an existing bathroom vent fan. Since it has such a thin housing (5"-5/8"), it should fit any type of construction like 2x6 joists, and it shouldn't be an issue installing without going into the attic.

The fan is designed for a duct size of 4-inches, but it comes with a 3-inch adapter for smaller ducts.

Pros

• Choose fan speed (80-cfm or 100-cfm) by flipping a switch on the housing
• Bright CFL lights at 75-lumens per watt
• Detachable damper for easy install

Cons

• Designed for 4-inch ducting (if you use 3-inch duct it won't get the stated performance) but it comes with an adapter

Pick #2: Delta BreezIntegrity (Best LED)

The BreezIntegrity is our best pick that comes with a 13-watt LED light.

The LED light is equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb and it is rated to last an amazing 30,000 hours.

It is also dimmable but it doesn't come with the dimmer switch which you will have to buy separately.

This Delta model is rated at 80-cfm so it is great for small and regular sized bathrooms.

It is also pretty quiet and the sone rating is 1.3.

One nice feature of the BreezIntegrity is the quality of the motor. It is a DC brushless motor and it is variable speed. This means that the motor will speed up to reach the desired CFM even if there are things in the duct that slows down air flow.

Pros

• A quiet bathroom exhaust fan at 1.3 sone
• Comes with a dimmable 13-watt LED light
• Rated at 80-cfm
• DC brushless and variable speed motor (it speeds up to reach the desired CFM)

Cons

• It is a plain looking bath fan, nothing decorative about it
• Doesn't come with dimmer switch

Pick #3: Hunter 83002 (Best Decorative)

My top pick for best decorative bath fan with an incandescent light goes to the Hunter 83002.

This decorative bathroom fan looks amazing with artistic scrollwork and a bronze finish. It also has a really nice frosted glass lens.

This exhaust fan is rated at 110 CFM, so it is suitable for medium to large bathrooms.

The fan uses two incandescent light bulbs at 60-watts each.

You also have the option of installing a 7-watt bulb as a night light.

Pros

• Nice decorative design (looks like a normal light fixture)
• Two 60-watt incandescent lights
• Includes a 7-watt night light

Cons

• Light bulbs not included
• At 3 sones, it is louder than your average bathroom fan

Pick #4: Broan 678 (Best For Small Spaces)

My top pick for the best bathroom exhuast fan with light for small spaces goes to the Broan 678.

This 50-cfm rated bath fan with light is great for small bathrooms or half baths. Also, if you have a large bathroom with an enclosed toilet area, this fan is perfect since it has a light.

The bathroom vent fan can use up to a 100-watt incandescent light bulb. We recommend installing an LED bulb however if possible.

The noise isn't as quiet as my other picks, and it is rated at 2.5-sones which isn't exactly whisper quiet. If you don't care about the noise or if you like knowing that the fan is on, then this fan is for you.

Pros

• Has keyholed mounting brackets for an easier installation
• The light lens is shatter resistant for safety
• 50-cfm rating for smaller bathrooms or water closets

Cons

• At 2.5, this fan may be a little loud

Pick #5: Air King Decorative

The Air King DRLC702 is another great decorative bathroom fan with a light for small to medium sized bathrooms (65 to 85 square feet) with a 70-cfm rating.

This beautiful exhaust fan looks like a normal ceiling light fixture, the vent grill is the circular outer frame of the unit.

The frosted glass lens and nickel finish adds a nice sophistication to your bathroom fan that is pretty rare.

The vent fan comes with a useful adjustable hanging bracket for an easier installation.

You can install two 15-watt LED lights or up to two 60-watt incandescent bulbs with this exhaust fan.

Unfortunately it is somewhat loud at 4-sones so we don't consider it a quiet bathroom fan.

Pros

• Looks good with a nickel finish, a hidden vent fan in plain site
• Uses two 60 watt bulbs (or two 15-watt LEDs)
• Adjustable hanging brackets will help make it an easy install
• Glass lens won't yellow like with a plastic lens

Cons

• At 4 sones, it will be somewhat noisy, unless you like white noise
• Some users have complained about it rusting

Bathroom Ventilation Light Combination

Source: https://homeinspectorsecrets.com/bathroom-exhaust-fans/best-bathroom-exhaust-fan-with-light/