Disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links, which means I may make a commission if you decide to make a purchase through one of my links, at no cost to you.
This review & giveaway is sponsored by Homewerks Worldwide. All opinions are, for better or worse, 100% my own.
Putting you guys on notice right away: if you play music often or sing in the shower like I do, you’re going to want this bath fan.
Yeah, I see your raised eyebrow. A bath fan? But hear me out.
When Homewerks first suggested trying out their Bluetooth Bath Fan with LED light and Speakers, I wasn’t quite sure I’d like it. It looked kind of difficult to install (spoiler: it was). It required getting up into my attic in the middle of the summer (spoiler: Georgia heat is hot). I don’t add a lot of smart home products to this house, mostly because I would rarely recoup the cost (this house is in an older neighborhood and just not at a price point where I think upgrades are necessary). But the overall verdict? This one was totally WORTH IT. Despite the frustration of installing it — and there definitely was some — this thing has been used every day since I put it in. I’ve been texting friends about it. I whined and moaned during, but I like it that much. Just like laser hair removal.
I suppose I should preface this whole thing by reminding some of you longtime readers (or admitting to you new readers for the first time) that I’m one of those weirdos who sings a lot. It’s not that I have a great voice (friends insist it’s ok, but I still feel like I need to apologize)… I just like singing. I find it relaxing. It puts me in a good mood. It motivates me when I work out. If the TV isn’t on in the background, one of my many Spotify playlists is. I also sing while I paint or work on projects, and I frequently refer to myself doing “car-aoke” when I go on long drives (Atlanta is a driving city, so being in the car for extended periods of time is common). In other less rambling words, music is just part of my daily routine. I suppose it’s a good thing that Charlie doesn’t seem to mind my warbling along.
Naturally, I also sing in the shower. Loudly. Prior to installing this fan, I have usually just put my phone on its loudest volume setting, placed it in the sink for some added acoustics (see here for why), and hopped right into the shower. While that was a perfectly nice solution, it wasn’t really ideal, and the shower still drowned out most of the sound. So when this fan arrived in my mail a few weeks ago, the plan was to try it out as a new upgrade in my primary bath and see if that helped motivate me to get the rest of the room done. After all, I still have a vanity and toilet taking up room in my newly upgraded garage.
Unfortunately, the placement of my exhaust fan in the primary bathroom wasn’t really working to get this new fan installed. This new fan includes an LED light, which is much larger than the existing vent cover, and much too close to the wall to fit. The solution would have either been to move the entire exhaust fan over toward the middle of the bathroom ceiling (and move the electrical, of course) or try the fan out in the guest bath that had better placement… which has also had a lot of work completed already.
No surprise here: guest bath it is! I started by removing the old fan… which I quickly learned was a huge pain in the butt when it requires crawling through insulation… in my attic… in June… in Georgia. The roof pitch made this whole process a little more uncomfortable since I only had about a foot of workable space above it (and nails coming through the plywood above). But, with a few choice words, the old fan came out and I expanded the hole for the new one.
Unlike the existing fan that sat flush with the ceiling joists, the new fan would hang slightly lower to be flush with the ceiling’s drywall. I wish I had some pics in the attic, but with the heat making me cranky and the power turned off to hook this thing up, photos weren’t really a priority. I do, however, have this photo I took below so you guys can see how to make things a little easier. I used a leftover piece of cedar from the garden bed project to provide a means of temporarily sitting the fan flush with the drywall while I tried to install things above. File this under “things you learn when doing projects solo” (here’s another!).
It was about this point is where I realized that the new fan would require fishing new wiring to handle the light, the fan, and the new data connection of the Bluetooth setup going down to the wall switch. The neutral/hot/ground wires were easy enough thanks to some quick-connect ports that came with the fan (love those things), but the Bluetooth connection would require more work. The install instructions don’t really say much about this beforehand — just a quick blurb about connecting the “data connection” wires together, which don’t actually exist unless you knew to fish them through ahead of time.
Combining that with my increased snottiness of trying to figure this out in a hot attic in the dark, I threw in the towel and called in for some professional help. In truth, if you’ve got experience with electrical, this would be an intermediate (or advanced intermediate) DIY project, but I would highly recommend hiring a pro for the majority of DIYers. In the fall. I don’t like hiring pros for most things when I know I could eventually figure it out (I’m stubborn), but risking heat stroke because I’ve had to find missing pieces of the instructions is not really wise.
Another bit about the included instructions: a very crucial page is outdated. Even with the expertise I had helping me, we still had some issues getting the fan installed because the instructions in the box weren’t quite right. See this?
It should actually look like this, which I found on the Homewerks website (H/T also to Sawdust Girl). But the second we saw the new version, we both realized that it should have been a lot simpler to finish (and now you can avoid that same experience and just do it right the first time!).
So, you’d think that with all the drama I had to get it installed, I would have shrugged my shoulders and just said “Whelp, this was a completely failed DIY project.” And I was very close to thinking that. About 99%. Except then, the most beautiful thing happened: the friggin’ thing turned on, and this came out crystal clear:
Guys, you know I love a good aha moment, and prior to this beautiful noise, I thought I’d be emailing the nice folks at Homewerks back and telling them I wouldn’t be able to even look at this product without giving it the ol’ side-eye (because I don’t usually blog about things that make me tap my arsenal of swear words as it goes in… unless it’s really, really funny). But after I started playing around with it, I’m TOTALLY SOLD on this thing. It’s worth the trouble (and expense if you hire a pro) of installing. And I suppose I am just very, very forgiving when the end result is lots and lots of booty shaking.
One neat feature: the fan comes with a remote that lets me change the volume and track from the comfort of my bathtub (I placed this on the opposite wall from my shower nozzle to keep it dry).
I’ve found that the volume sometimes wants to be too helpful and thinks it’s the song forward button, though. Not really much of a problem since my phone is almost permanently attached to my hand, so I can control it that way too, but the sound quality is excellent and fills nearly every inch of this small house with sweet, sweet music.
The fan is much quieter than the old fan that was in here, and the added light is nice too. The wall switch has a dial that takes some getting used to (different positions combine the light, fan, Bluetooth & light, etc.), and there’s also a blue light option that adds a different mood to the room. I haven’t really used this setting yet since you can’t play Bluetooth with it, but I think that would be a good upgrade for future versions of this product (I’m picturing a couple’s bath scenario… or just someone who wants to pretend they’re in Blue Man Group #mybrainisweird).
Now that I’ve been using the “guest” bathroom for as long as I have, I discovered a few other projects I’d like to do to the room, one of which is adding some extra storage above the toilet for towels and baskets (I still love the vanity I put in, but the sink basin takes up a lot of space I would have otherwise used for makeup and cleaning products).
But here’s where we get to the fun part… the part where you guys tell me which song gets your blood pumping and qualifies you for winning this fan. Here are the giveaway rules:
- Prize: One (1) HomeNetWerks Bluetooth Bath Fan with LED light and Speakers & $100 gift card to Home Depot (for supplies)
- Number of winners: One (1)
- Ships: U.S. only
- To enter: Leave a comment with your favorite song that gets you in a booty-shaking kind of mood (or favorite song to sing along to in the shower), and then confirm your entry in the Rafflecopter widget in this post.
- Giveaway ends: July 7, 11:59 PM
As usual, I’ll answer the question first (forgot to add that in yet!): Lately, my friends have been talking about doing a karaoke night, so I’ve been listening to Megan Trainor’s Title album to prepare (my voice is similar enough in range to be able to hit her notes)… “Dear Future Husband” and “Mr. Almost” are at the top of the list!
Good luck!
Sing along: anything by Journey or Queen. Booty shaking: anything 90s/00s pop with a good beat. Yep. Child of the 80s/90s here!
This looks awesome (but I have no idea bout singing in the shower. I like to listen to podcasts? I’m so boring!)
Early 90s dance music
I like to listen to any pump-me-up song in the shower, because I am usually a half-zombie when I am in there.
When shopping for fans, I looked at the speaker ones but was not sure of the sound quality. Thanks for the review!
Uma Thurman by Fall Out Boy (really any of their newer stuff) always makes me sing… and i can’t carry a tune to save my life!
Well now you don’t have to, because you can install this thing! You’re my WINNER! Congrats! Please look in your inbox for details soon & be prepared to send your mailing info to the giveaway organizer.
Yes!!!!!! I have been waiting for this my entire life! I had no idea such a thing existed. Honestly I love listening to podcasts in the shower. I also live in Atlanta and I find showers really boring (bad combination due to the heat of our fair city). BUT my song pick would be Let’s Go by the Cars. And now I’m embarrassed. :(
oooh I love this!
So fun Sarah! Wow, I am impressed with your skilz! :) Song? Easy! Van Halen “Jump”. OH yeah
No question: my go-to shower song is I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston.
Definitely some old school Motown for this Detroit girl!
Pour some sugar on me
Let me preface by saying that somewhere along the line, I became old. Ahem. Now, no matter what mood I’m in, the song “White Lines” always makes me dance. Always. Reminds me of my days as a club girl, I guess. Geez, I got old.
Lately it’s been “Shut Up + Dance” by Walk the Moon…
John Mellencamp: the Authority Song. Because if I am doing something (or planning to do something) I don’t want to do, there is nothing better!
Somehow I was able to enter, but not type in my song. SWEET HOME ALABAMA,
Chumbawumba Tubthumping. Easy.
Right now, I’m singing along to Want To Want Me by Jason Derulo
We are in the process of buying a house right now that we have to renovate with our very tiny budget… and it would be so perfect!! Love to listen to music all the time but when you take a shower you can’t hear much…
We are in the process of buying a house right now that we have to renovate with our very tiny budget… and it would be so perfect!! Love to listen to music all the time but when you take a shower you can’t hear much…
I’m French so I usually listen to French radio, but I love anything you can sing along! lol
It would have to be Kickstart My Heart.
Anything from a musical!
Songs from musicals! Sorry if I posted more than once. I must have hit the button a couple of times. Then my post didn’t show up. So I tried again.
Comments have to be approved (to avoid spammers) but you’re all set! I like songs from musicals too!
Oh my goodness! That fan is amazing!! So.. for music.. it’s so hard to choose just one because it totally depends on my mood. I love me some 80s music! Whitesnake “Here I Go Again” is one of my all time favorites (even though it was released before I was born. ha!). But turn on some Journey, Britney Spears, NSYNC, The Eagles, Backstreet Boys, The Ataris, Relient K, or The All-American Rejects and I’m dancing and singing along to those! So much good music!
Ozzy Crazy Train
Pump up the jam
sing to lots of different music, dancing thats another story
Anything Taylor Swift… I’m a teenybopper
Any bruno mars song
I’m usually too tired in the morning to sing in the shower, but my 4 yr old LOVES singing and dancing to Shut Up and Dance in the bath!
Hands down, has to be The Beatles “Got to Get You Into My Life.”
What I Like About You.
Wow! Nice fan. Nice bathroom too.
Anything Eagles or The song Pretty Woman.
Anything! So long as it comes on my Pandora Sam Hunt radio I’m good!!
Green Day Time of your life always gets me singing
Born To Be Wild … quite and oldie, but gets me moving every time!
I love, love, love having music in the bathroom while I am getting ready! Anything upbeat that’ll get me going in the morning — right now I’m really loving Jason Derulo “Want To Want Me”.
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor!
The Rolling Stones – Start Me Up, 19th Nervous Breakdown, Paint It Black
It’s gotta be anything by Queen. That installation did look unnecessarily difficult – good for you for sticking with it.
I’m thrilled that I’m not the first to say Tubthumping. Chumbawamba FTW!
I love a good Disney song in the shower, too.
Definitely early Madonna
I loved reading this post – laughed at your expense through most of it. Thanks for the chuckles. Most of Neil Diamond’s songs are shower – singing worthy!
This obviously changes frequently, but lately I’ve been rocking out to Purple Yellow Red and Blue by Portugal. The Man.
Anything country! I love to sing along as well.
ANYTHING BEYONCE!!!!
That’s hard! I am gonna go with Release Me by Agnes. Now I gotta go listen to it! :D
Anything by the Beastie Boys! Lately it’s been Sure Shot & Shake Your Rump, but… anything by the Beastie Boys. :)
Not sure if I’ll have the patience to install that thing if I win, but… challenge accepted!
Oh any 80’s hair band…
I listen to country, so I sing whatever new Luke Bryan song happens to be playing!
Sweet fan, I’d love to win it (and have it professionally installed to save myself your trouble!)
Oooh, cool! I have very diverse musical tastes, so it’s hard to choose. Next up on my playlist is the Fatboy Slim remix of Beastie Boys’ “Body Movin'”.
Booty shaking? Anything by Ricky Martin, Fergie or LMFAO!
I’m in love w/ Jason Derulo’s Talk Dirty. Or anything Taylor Swift (even though I can’t get it on Spotify anymore!)
This might be weird…but I love singing the folk song “Oh Death” from the movie ‘Songcatcher’ in the shower. It’s not the happiest song, but there’s something about bathroom acoustics that really work with it!
Neon Tree’s Everybody Talks :) Always makes me jam out.
JAY AND THE AMERICANS- ” COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER ” is a song that always makes me dance! Such a good song, but not the best message :)
I always find myself singing Fifth Harmony’s Worth It since my niece always asks me to play it every time she sees me. She’s only 1 and she knows all the words to the song. I wish she could get her ABC’S down pack.
Shake it off By Taylor Swift … I actually hate the song EXCEPT when Im in the shower! (At that point everyone in my house hates it! Haha!)
Living on a prayer. At the top of my lungs .lol
I have to have this in my life! Right now, I’m pretty obsessed with T-Swift’s “Shake It Off”…but, I ALWAYS end up having hymns stuck in my head after church and belting those out. Not a bad thing to have stuck in your head!
Mr Jung Stuffed by Man Man! :-)
I can sing to just about anything in the shower. I really like oldies though!!!
I’ve been slipping n sliding too to “Don’t Drop That Hammer” by Chubby Feat
Most certainly it is “Gettin’ Jiggy With It” by Will Smith.
I have been lusting after one of these forever!!! My fave song to sing in the shower would definitely have to be Reba’s Fancy!
The utility of an exhaust fan with all the fun of a karaoke machine. How do you beat that? I like singing show tunes best, but I’m versatile!
Mercy by Duffy. Girl power!
I think my favorite song to singalong to in the shower is probably Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid. Doesn’t get much better than the (Disney) classics.
One of my favorites to dance to in the shower is “Who Do You Think You Are” by the Spice Girls. That’s definitely a booty shaking song!
I love avoid shower jam to “happy” ;)
Right now I can’t stop singing “Cheerleader” by OMI! It’s just so catchy!
Hey ya by outkast.
Can’t Hold Us by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis–gets me every time!
Yesterday by Guns ‘N’ Roses
“Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift or near anything else. ;)
I’m not much of a shower singer (I’m just happy to actually find the time to take a shower!), but I have 16-year-old who loves music and always has her iPhone playing while she’s taking a shower. She would love this in her bathroom. Thanks for the giveaway!
Don’t Stop Believing!
Anything by Luke Bryan!
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
anything by taylor swift
Happy by Pharrell Williams
I like to sing wherever I may Roam.
What ever country song is playing on the radio in the morning when I’m in the shower.
Because there are so many great booty shakin’ songs out there, I just referred back to my Shazam list to see which was the last song I recorded (I use it as a reference for songs I want to download next time I open my iTunes) and the song at the top is “My Type” by Saint Motel. Now, if THAT doesn’t get your booty shakin’, I don’t know what will!
My jam would be I’ll Never Let You Down by Rita Ora.
My 2 favorite songs to wake up to in the morning are either “It’s Going” by John Gold or “When We Get There” by Shwayze.
i may or may not sing/dance to baby got back BAHAHA
I’m with ya. Currently, anything by Megan Trainor gets me belting and dancing in my seat while i drive
Splish Splash. ;)
A little Bruno Mars in the morning is the best way to sing my way through my shower!
And, as a side note, I hope you tap into your inner Blue Man and try out the Smurf feature in your shower and report back ;)
I’ll Instagram it if I do ;)
I don’t sing OR dance in the shower!
i like fast happy dance music! any song!
I love turning on “Bang Bang” when I’m in the shower and belting that one out!
Hey Ya! by Outkast always gets me moving :)
So many to choose from….but one that is sure to make me stop what I am doing and start shaking it like a crazy person is “It’s time” by Imagine Dragons.
I like big butts…and I do
Leave the night on!
favorite song chance the rapper
I am having a MAJOR obsession with “fight song” on the radio right now. That is my JAM.
How does the remote work? I have this thing installed and I cannot figure the remote out!
I haven’t had a great deal of success with the remote. Sometimes it gets the volume up / skip this song commands confused even though I’m pushing the right button! I still like the Bluetooth function but control the song choice and volume with my phone like normal.