Quiet batchroom fans

[atgcpaul]

This is not completely on topic for home improvement. Why is there such a
drive to go towards ultraquiet bathroom fans? It would seem that for a guest
bath or powder room, your guests might appreciate the camouflaging advantage
of a fan that sounds like a jet engine rather than something that will let
everyone else outside the bathroom hear a pin drop.

When I remodel my master bath, it will have a quiet fan. I do my best thinking
in there and I'm not going to fool anyone by masking what's actually going on
in there. For my guests, I'm going to keep it loud--for sake and mine.

Paul

[leehljp]

I agree with what you wrote above. In Japan, it was common for women, in situations as you mentioned to turn the sink faucet on while in the bathroom. That didn't always work as some sinks were built into the back of the commode.

[Bruce Cohen]

Hey Paul.

There's this great invention that will solve your problem, A RADIO!

Seriously, while no one usually insulates interior walls, I did, and that and a solid door works great. Still not as cheap as a radio, but it does keep the bathroom warmer.

Bruce

[Alex Franke]

I like the radio idea -- except wire it up so you can pipe the music in. Maybe start with Spanish Flea (Herb Alpert) and end up with the Jeopardy theme.

(Judging by the muscle memory exhibited in the subject of this thread, is it safe to assume that you frequently deal in collections or quantities of tasks, materials, or products? Maybe even collections of DNA? )

[LCHIEN]

I have the powder room sound problem.
The powder room is almost directly adjacent to the family room where we usually entertain anyone who comes to visit. If its a small gathering, someone will go to the loo and you can hear just about every activity - the raising or lowering of the seat, the actual act, the flush, the fan, the sink running water and then the door opens and the person exits. Usually all conversation comes to a halt during this time and curiously, no one goes to the powder room after that. Me, if i need to go I excuse my self and go to the master suite...

The powder room has tile floor and the floor is tile just outside - a step away the family room carpet starts. The powder room is partially under the stairs. the ceiling over the comode slopes, theres a large mirror over the sink and wallpaper throughout.

I'm sure a doorsweep extending to the floor would help, also a solid core door, and insulation in the facing walls and some more sound absorbing material inside.

What i really need is a sound-absorbing toilet made of foam.

[pelligrini]

A doorsweep & solid door would help, as well as insulation. If the sheetrock comes off for insulation hanging it or a couple layers on resilient channles will add to the STC rating. Another neat product out is some sheetrock type panels from Quietrock http://www.quietrock.com/soundproof-products.html I think they perform better than Homasote.

[charliex]

Why is it called a "powder room" when it clearly has a more obvious purpose? Why is it placed adjacent to the area of the house used for entertaining?
Why is it that when faced with the opportunity of using this space I'm tempted to go behind a tree in the back yard?

[pelligrini]

Why is it called a "powder room" when it clearly has a more obvious purpose?

So the ladies can go 'powder their nose'.

Why is it placed adjacent to the area of the house used for entertaining?

'Cause you don't want guests to have to use an outhouse.

Why is it that when faced with the opportunity of using this space I'm tempted to go behind a tree in the back yard?

Sounds like personal preference to me.

[Thalermade]

Way back in my college days, we quickly realized that the noisy bathroom fans purpose was to mask the voices of the people not in the bathroom, making comments about the person in the bathroom.

Russ