Fan Controls in Bathrooms
The placement of a fan switch in the bathroom is a tricky question.

Photo by Russell Abraham.
We are in the process of building a house. My husband and I are arguing as to where the switch for the fan should be located in our bathrooms.
I say it should be located by the door and he wants it by the toilet.
How do I answer this question tastefully? Oh, the heck with it; let’s take a cue from the popular book “Everybody Poops 410 Pounds a Year.” Usually, when you’re going into the bathroom to make a “number two,” you’re not really considering in that moment the amount of gases you will be emitting … or the length of your stay. People do not automatically think about flipping on the fan switch as they come into a bathroom. They are much more focused on the immediate task at hand. It is usually about halfway through the process that you think, “OMG this is gonna be smelly.” You can’t exactly get up with your pants around your ankles and shuffle over to the switch, so you have to wait until you are leaving the bathroom. If somebody else is there waiting to use the facilities, there hasn’t been enough time for the smells to be extracted from the space. Talk about room with a “whew!” But if the switch is located near your sitting position, you can flick it on the moment you realize that this could be an embarrassing situation. If you are still arguing, consider putting the fan on a three-way switch. Then everybody wins — by a nose.

Randall Whitehead, IALD
Leave A Comment
Lastest from ask randall
This is more of a declaration than it is a question. I’m still trying to process the lighting installed in your living room. I had to lie on the... read full story
Because your sinks are so far apart, what I recommend is that you hang two pairs of pendants. Take a center line measurement off each sink and space... read full story
Oh, I have suggestions alright. You can’t really rely on two recessed fixtures to provide all the light you need for a kitchen. It’s like trying to... read full story
You know how I feel about trying to make one type of light fixture do all of the work. This is the master bath, your very special and personal domain... read full story
Webinars
Sponsored by Access Lighting, Kichler Lighting, Kimberly LED Lighting, Auroralight and Antares Lighting.
The lighting marketplace is changing more rapidly today than at any... read full story
A question that many designers and consumers are asking is whether LED lighting is ready for general home use. In this seminar, we will discuss answers to that question by... read full story
In this seminar, we will discuss the rapid changes and innovations that are occurring in LED lighting, and the dramatic impact that LEDs are having in the retail and... read full story