Bathroom Ventilation Fans

Bathroom Extractor Fans, Exhaust Fans and 3-in-1 Heater Units NZ

Bathroom extractor fans remove moisture, humidity, and odours to keep your space fresh and protect surfaces from mould. Midea Homes offers a full range of exhaust fans and ventilation solutions for NZ bathrooms, from compact 100mm, 125mm and 150mm wall or ceiling fans to 3-in-1 ceiling units suited to larger spaces. Whether you need a simple extraction fan or a complete ventilation upgrade, every unit is engineered for quiet operation, energy efficiency, and long service life in New Zealand's humid conditions.

3-in-1 Bathroom Heater, Exhaust Fan and Light

A 3-in-1 bathroom heater combines a ceiling heater, exhaust fan, and light into a single unit, removing the need for three separate fixtures. This is a practical solution for NZ bathrooms where ceiling space is limited and where heating, ventilation, and lighting are all needed year round. The 3-in-1 bathroom heater units at Midea Homes are designed for ceiling installation and available in models with Bluetooth switch control and adjustable colour LED lighting. When choosing a 3-in-1 unit, consider the room size, ceiling height, and whether the exhaust fan capacity is rated for the bathroom's square metreage.

Core Benefits

• Moisture and humidity removal: quickly clear steam and damp air after showers, reducing condensation on walls and mirrors.
• Mould, mildew and odour prevention: venting humid air outside prevents fungal growth, bad smells and damp-related damage.
• Improved indoor air quality: removes stale air, chemical fumes and airborne pollutants common in bathrooms, supporting a healthy breathing environment.
• Protects bathroom fixtures and surfaces: reduces moisture-related deterioration (peeling paint, warped wood, rust) and prolongs lifespan of fittings and finishes.
• Comfortable environment year round: keeps bathroom air fresher and less humid regardless of rainy or humid weather, especially important for NZ climate.
• Heating and lighting in one unit: 3-in-1 models add warmth and LED lighting to your bathroom from a single ceiling cut-out.

An extractor fan deals with steam at the source, but bathroom moisture often drifts into bedrooms and living areas where it lingers as condensation. For whole-home moisture control through the NZ winter, pair your bathroom fan with a dehumidifier sized for the rooms that stay damp.

How to Choose a Bathroom Extractor Fan in NZ

A bathroom extractor fan, also called an exhaust fan or ventilation fan, draws steam and damp air out of the room before it settles as condensation and mould. Four decisions narrow the choice: a fan only or a 3-in-1 heat fan light, how much airflow the room needs, where the unit fits, and how it will be switched.

1. A 3-in-1 heat fan light or a fan only

• A standard exhaust fan suits a toilet, laundry or bathroom that already has a heater and a light, or where an old fan simply needs replacing. The iLUX standard exhaust fans come in 100mm, 125mm and 150mm sizes and mount on the wall or the ceiling.
• A 3-in-1 bathroom heater exhaust fan puts a heater, an exhaust fan and an LED light in one ceiling unit. It suits a bathroom that is cold as well as damp, or a renovation where one fitting is tidier than three. Every 3-in-1 unit in this collection is ceiling mounted, with a 1000W or 1200W heater.

A heater warms the room, but only the fan takes the moisture out, so keep the fan running through the shower and for a while afterwards.

2. Airflow and bathroom size

Airflow is listed in cubic metres per hour (m³/h) or litres per second (l/s); 1 l/s equals 3.6 m³/h. To compare a fan with the room, work out the room volume: length times width times ceiling height. A 2.5m by 2.0m bathroom with a 2.4m ceiling holds 12 cubic metres of air, so a fan listed at 130 m³/h moves that volume about ten times an hour on paper, and a 360 m³/h unit about thirty times.

• Toilets, laundries and small bathrooms: a standard exhaust fan, such as the iLUX 100mm fan at 130 m³/h (about 36 l/s).
• Standard bathrooms that also need heat and light: 220 to 265 m³/h, such as the KARTNERS 350x350mm 3-in-1 at 220 m³/h and the 3 in 1 LED Heat Fan HLFLED3-S at 265 m³/h.
• Larger bathrooms and enclosed showers: 360 m³/h (100 l/s), such as the KARTNERS 610x310mm 3-in-1, the KARTNERS 3-in-1 with Bluetooth Switch and the 3 in 1 LED Heat Fan Light HLFLED3 White.

The listed airflow is the figure for the unit. Long duct runs, bends and outside grilles reduce the airflow once it is installed, so keep the duct short and vent it outside rather than into the ceiling space. For rental homes, the Healthy Homes Standards set a minimum for bathroom fans installed after 1 July 2019: a diameter of at least 120mm including ducting, or an exhaust capacity of at least 25 litres per second.

3. Installation position and ceiling space

Check the ceiling before choosing a 3-in-1 unit. Each one needs a ceiling cut-out and enough depth in the space above it.

• Square units need the smallest opening: 300x300mm for the KARTNERS 350x350mm and 275x275mm for the HLFLED3-S.
• Rectangular units need a longer opening: 605x305mm for the KARTNERS 610x310mm and the KARTNERS Bluetooth model, and 575x275mm for the HLFLED3 White.
• Installation depth runs from 120mm on the KARTNERS 610x310mm and the HLFLED3 White to 180mm on the HLFLED3-S. The KARTNERS 610x310mm listing recommends 180mm or more of clearance above the ceiling.

Place the unit where it can draw steam from the shower or bath. The KARTNERS 610x310mm listing asks for at least 2.3 metres above the floor and at least 250mm from adjacent walls; other models set their clearances in the manual, and an electrician will confirm bathroom zone clearances. Where there is little ceiling space, the iLUX standard fans can go on the wall instead.

4. Switches and wiring

A 3-in-1 unit runs three functions, so the heater, fan and light each need their own control.

• Wired wall switch. The KARTNERS 610x310mm comes with a multi-gang wall control switch. The KARTNERS 350x350mm uses a standard wired control and suits new builds or renovations with existing switch wiring.
• Bluetooth switch. The KARTNERS 3-in-1 with Bluetooth Switch works without a dedicated 3-in-1 wall switch, so no additional wall switch wiring is needed. It suits homes upgrading from a standard bathroom light or fan. The unit itself is still wired in.

3-in-1 units are wired into the home’s electrical circuit, so installation is work for a licensed electrician, in line with the AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules.

5. Compare the bathroom extractor fans in this collection

Each listing shows the full specifications, certification and installation notes for that model.

Bathroom Extractor Fan FAQ

What size extractor fan do I need for a bathroom?

Work out the room volume (length times width times ceiling height) and compare it with the listed airflow. A standard fan at 130 m³/h suits a toilet, laundry or small bathroom; a larger bathroom or an enclosed shower is better served by a 360 m³/h unit. In a rental home, a new bathroom fan needs a diameter of at least 120mm including ducting, or at least 25 litres per second.

Is a 3-in-1 bathroom heater exhaust fan better than a separate fan?

It depends on what the bathroom already has. If there is a working heater and light, a standard exhaust fan is the simpler replacement. If the room is cold as well as damp, a 3-in-1 unit gives heat, extraction and light from one ceiling cut-out.

What is the difference between a heat fan light and a 3-in-1 bathroom heater?

They describe the same kind of unit: a ceiling fitting with a heater, an exhaust fan and an LED light. Product names vary by brand, so compare the airflow, heater wattage and cut-out size rather than the name.

Do I need a special switch for a 3-in-1 unit?

The heater, fan and light each need their own control. The KARTNERS 610x310mm includes a multi-gang wall switch, while the KARTNERS 3-in-1 with Bluetooth Switch works without dedicated 3-in-1 switch wiring, which suits a bathroom upgrade.

Where should a bathroom extractor fan go?

Close to the source of steam, above or near the shower or bath, and within the clearances in the manual. The KARTNERS 610x310mm listing sets at least 2.3 metres above the floor and 250mm from adjacent walls. Vent the duct outside rather than into the ceiling space.

Can I install a bathroom exhaust fan myself?

Bathroom fans and 3-in-1 units are wired into the electrical circuit, so installation should be done by a licensed electrician. The KARTNERS 610x310mm listing requires proof of installation by a licensed electrician to AS/NZS 3000 for the warranty.

Who can help me choose?

Call 09 600 2827 or email sales@mideahomes.co.nz with the size of the bathroom and what is in the ceiling now. Our showroom is at 1/18 Link Drive, Wairau Valley, Auckland, open Monday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm and from 10am to 3pm on public holidays.