Cover Story - Quirky stuff

Toronto Star – Saturday March 31, 2007
Shelly Sanders Greer – Special to the Star

Funky flooring, speakers tucked away in the wall and a sensitive toilet fan – meet a few home goodies that are oddly practical.

They may be quirky household items, but they’re also useful.
I didn’t set out to find a toilet fan or invisible speakers at the recent Metro Home Show. And I didn’t go looking for flooring that looks like it should be hanging on the walls of a modern art gallery.
But these products, with their unusual appeal and functions, were hard to miss. And when I looked more closely at them, I found they were actually quite practical.


Toilet Fan
The Panfan is a product that gets right to the heart of what can be a big problem – toilet odours. It attaches to the toilet. With a fan that draws air from the rim holes, odours are removed.
Manfred Dietrich, owner / general manager of Intersteam Technologies, the Hamilton based business that distributes the Panfan, says this product not only gets rid of odours, it also creates a healthier environment with the elimination of airborne spores.
“The hospitality industry as well as residential consumers are interested in this product, especially with the consciousness of public hygiene being much higher today than in the past,” Dietrich says.

Dietrich explains that when the automatic sensor senses an occupant, it sends a signal to engage the Panfan. The fan draws air up through the ports from the bowl and sucks the air out of the bowl. This air moves up into the tank through a charcoal filter. The sensor then recognizes the absence of the occupant and shuts off the fan.
The Panfan also means ceiling fans and deodorizers are not required. This can even help lower your energy bills as Dietrich says “ceiling fans use a lot more power than the Panfan and they remove heated air from homes. The Panfan directly targets odour, is energy-efficient and creates a healthier environment.”

There are two Panfan models available: the Plug-in version which can be wired in for $169; and a battery model, which costs $209 and includes the battery and charger.

For More information call 1-800-281-4413 or visit www.intersteam.com .