The majority of home owners do not really appreciate the number of extractors available in today's market.
This is not a criticism, but merely an observation.
As most buyers would admit, looks and design are one of the first things to consider, and more often than not, the only thing to consider.
This may be fine if your budget is small, but it pays to think about what the product actually does.
You could opt for just a standard model that operates on a switch basis - one switch for on and for off.
This is useful for small rooms that do not get used very often or for long periods of time.
For slightly bigger bathrooms where the shower or bath is in use for certain amounts of time during the day, condensation can build up rapidly, and you may wish for the extractor fan to go on running once you leave the room.
In this instance a timer fan is probably the option that best fits.
Again, operated by a switch the fan can be switched on or off, but the timer allows for continued use for the set amount of time after turning the switch off.
For instance, switch the fan on, then switch off.
The fan runs on for 1 - 10 minutes (longer with some fans), depending on how long the fan timer has been set for.
For those wanting a bit more control over the humidity in their rooms, there is the option of a humidistat model.
These fans are able to switch on or off depending on the level of humidity sensed.
The sensor can be adjusted to suit, and you need not worry about switching the fan on or off, but you could switch the fan on manually if you wanted to.
To make life a little easier, or for those public places where fans cannot be switched on or off manually, a PIR fan may be your best option.
These fans are fitted with a motion sensor, and activate once somebody enters the room, then deactivate once no more movement is sensed.
Typically the prices increase with each option you choose, and for fans with all of the above, this can be a little expensive, but at least you know your bathroom will be kept condensation free.
It is common for most people to need a four inch fan for their bathrooms, or small rooms.
These are genuinely adequate for the job at hand.
But for large room or kitchens it is necessary to have something with a little more power.
This is when a six inch fan is better suited.
With a larger fan you can eliminate condensation from a larger room.
With all this in mind you may be wondering what you actually need, but it is worth mentioning one more thing; whether an in-line fan is more suitable than a wall fan.
A wall fan is sited on the wall and the extraction is performed at this point.
An in-line fan is mounted inside a length of ducting, and pulls the air from the room up through the ducting and out the other side.
These are more useful where there is a greater distance from the room to the outside wall.
Be aware though that excessive lengths of ducting, as well as kinks and bends in the ducting actually reduce the effectiveness of the fan, and could cause problems.
There is also the issue of whether you wanted the fan near a water source, such as a shower or bath.
If this is the case, you will need a low voltage fan.
A mains voltage fan must never be placed where it can get wet.
With a low voltage fan, the fan operation is controlled by a transformer that is placed somewhere away from any contact with water.
Hopefully this information will aid you in deciding which fan is right for your set-up, but it may have made things more complicated.
Generally, a four inch fan with a timer is what most people opt for, and this is fine for most bathrooms.
A larger fan is usually necessary for larger rooms such as a kitchen.
Humidistat, sensors and pull chords are more for preference than anything.
You only really need to decide on whether it's low voltage or mains voltage you require, the rest is easy.
So don't worry too much about all the options, but at the same time it is worth remembering that there are many variations to consider in making your bathroom or kitchen that little bit better.