What does 1.5 sones sound like? (2023)

What does 1.5 sones sound like?

Fans rated at 1.5 sones are very quiet, and low-capacity fans rated as low as 0.5 to 1 sones are nearly inaudible.

The lower the sone rating, the quieter the fan will be. One sone is equivalent to the sound of a quiet refrigerator, so a quiet bathroom exhaust fan will be rated at about 1 1/2 sones or less.

In exhaust fans choosing a fan with a sound rating at or below 1 sone will be very quiet. 1 to 2 sones will be heard and anything over 2.5 sones will be noticeable. Generally the sound level of the exhaust fan will be a major contributor of the cost.

If you're looking for a quiet bathroom fan, choose a model with a sone rating of two and under. Fans rated at three and four sones generate more white noise. Steer clear of fans rated at five or more sones.

For bathrooms under 100 square feet, the basic rule is to exhaust a minimum of one cfm (cubic foot per minute) for every square foot of bathroom area. So an 8' x 10' bathroom, 80 square feet, would have a minimum airflow requirement of 80 cfm.

The fan features 1.4 sones for quiet operation and vents moisture in bathrooms up to 140 sq. ft. Its permanently lubricated, plug-in motor allows continuous operation and its galvanized steel housing offers durability. Hanger bars are included for easy installation.

Over time, you might notice that your fan is steadily getting louder. Or maybe one day seemingly out of the blue, the fan is squeaking. Here are several common causes of a noisy bathroom fan: There is a buildup of dust.

A fan of 1.0 sones will be roughly comparable to the hum of a refrigerator. That's pretty quiet and is usually low enough for most people. However, fans can be as quiet as 0.3 sones, though most commercial fans go up to about 0.5 sones. A fan with a 0.3 sone rating will sound about as loud as the rustling of leaves.

Cheap fans usually have very fast motors with very small turbines. That means they move a lot of air, but they're loud. Fans with a more powerful motor and a larger fan blade are the quietest fans. If you have a cheap fan, you're going to have to live with the noise unless you replace it.

What makes a bathroom fan loud?

Overtime, dirt and grime build up on the fan blades can cause the fan to become noisy. Make sure that the fan blades are clean. If the fan is worn out or damaged, it may begin to make noise as it spins. We recommend you to check for wear and tear of the fan.

To get the right fan for your bathroom, use the guidelines set by the Home Ventilating Institute: Your fan should have 1 cfm for every square foot of floor space in your bathroom. For bathrooms larger than 100 square feet, figure your cfm requirements by adding: 50 cfm for every toilet.

Yes, your bathroom fan can be too big. A bathroom exhaust fan that is much too large for the area will only increase your energy bill, fill your space with cold air in the winters, and ultimately, not perform its job effectively. In this case, bigger is not always better.

We recommend running the fan continuously, 24/7. By running it all the time, the fan can be set at a lower, less noisy speed. Fans typically cost around $7-$15 per year in electricity costs to operate continuously.

Bath fans draw in dust and lint, which can eventually clog the grille and limit airflow. Vacuuming the grille is a good start. But for a really good cleaning, remove the grille, soak it in soapy water and scrub it with a brush.

Choose a range hood with an HVI noise rating of 3 sones or less at 200 cubic feet per minute (cfm) or more. These are fairly quiet and recommended for home applications. The low fan setting should be 100 cfm or lower with a sone level of 2 or lower.

How many sones is a quiet range hood? A quiet range hood is about four to five sones, or about 50 dB at max speed. Lower speeds on quiet hoods can get down to just one sone! Most hoods range between seven and nine sones, depending on the quality of the materials and CFM.

Are fans with more blades quieter?

Fans with more blades are known to be quieter than those with fewer blades. Further, fans with more blades tend to be better balanced and less ambient noise. Consider the size of your space and your needs when you choose your fan.

The rule of thumb is that you need at least 1 CFM per square foot of room area. To determine the square footage of your bathroom, multiply the length times the width. For example, if your bathroom is six feet wide and nine feet long, its square footage is 54. Therefore, it should have a fan rated for at least 54 ​CFM.

The short answer: fans rated at 1.5 or fewer sones are the quieter models, while 4.0 sones is common for loud fans. For the softest bathroom fan noise, focus on models with 0.5 or fewer sones.

From the dB conversion chart above, 65 dB is about 13 sones, while most vent hoods are between 6 to 8 sones.

Typically, bathroom exhaust fans have a lifespan of about 10 years, provided they receive proper care and maintenance. If you think you have a fan that's nearing the end of its functional life, read on to learn about the signs that indicate it's time for a replacement.