With so many variations of fan on the market, what features should electricians look for and what is likely to appeal to end-users? Steve Totman, Product Marketing Manager at Vent-Axia shares his advice.
With consumers increasingly interested in products that help improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), there’s a real opportunity today for electricians to upsell and offer premium fans that provide the latest in intelligent control.
Such has been the level of technical advancement in recent years, there’s now even a fan on the market that features Odour Sense Technology – Vent-Axia’s PureAir Sense offering – which can ‘smell’ air pollution.
Whilst this new technology is sure to be an attractive choice for households, there are a host of other features that end-users will be keen to benefit from.
Quiet please
Households want to use their bathrooms in peace and quiet, and this just isn’t possible with some noisy unitary fans. Some households are so irritated by the noise that they’ll turn off their fan altogether, potentially leading to mould growth and poor IAQ, which can lead to ill health. Quiet operation really is a ‘must’.
Timer is of the essence
The latest smart fans now include clever controls such as adjustable timers that are triggered via a light sensor. The latest intuitive light sensors can recognise room occupancy through light movement and shadows, but can distinguish between car headlight flashes and people moving about to avoid nuisance running. The sensor means these timer fans can be wired in with just two wires; a massive benefit when fitting in older properties. It’s also useful to select a fan that includes a ‘delay-on’ feature which avoids the fan being triggered in the night during quick bathroom visits.
Moisture monitoring
An intelligent humidistat for moisture control is also another great feature for electricians to offer households. This means the fan learns to run only when it can make a difference to IAQ. For example, Vent-Axia’s PureAir Sense continually monitors/records the moisture content and maps the humidity profile throughout the year. This process enables the fan to run only when it can lower the moisture content in the air, reducing nuisance running and helping ensure a healthy environment.
Air apparent
Meanwhile, an airing function is another feature which consumers will love. Fans with this option automatically run long enough to rid a room of stale air if the fan has been inactive for over a day. For households, this means no more stuffy, musty odours in the bathroom when they return from holiday or in an occasional use room.
Installer benefits
Reliability, no call-backs, and ease of installation – all things that make an electrician’s life easier as well as ensuring a happy end user customer. Fans such as the PureAir Sense offer these benefits, as the product is delivered with factory settings that will be perfect for the majority of projects. This means the install only involves fitting and there’s no need for set-up, saving time on-site.
If a customer does require customisation, the fan’s features can easily be altered via a touch panel or a smartphone App. And, as it comes with a seven-year guarantee, electricians really can ‘fit and forget’ the product.
With IAQ now a high priority for both the Government and consumers, fans which include additional, useful features will help offer peace of mind to households that they’re making their air healthier to breathe.
To download a technical data sheet, offering more specs on the PureAir Sense range of fans from Vent-Axia, go to: www.rdr.link/
