Panasonic FV-0511VF1 WhisperFit DC Retrofit Ventilation Fan, 50, 80 or 110 CFM, Quiet Energy Star Certified Energy-Saving Ceiling

I have done seven ventilation fan replacements between my previous house and current house using the Panasonic fans. Builder-grade ventilation fans just did not cut it - they were loud and useless. Of the seven Panasonic fans used five are previous model FV-08-11VF5 (other than using AC motor and having just 80/110 CFM selections, it is identical to the FV-0511VF1 under review). Two are FV-0511VF1. They are all excellent ventilation fans, probably the best retrofit option for the home owners due to their easy and innovative installation method. Especially if the access to the space above ceiling is limited. FV-0511VF1 uses DC motor and it takes about a minute to reach its full speed, unlike the previous AC motor model which reaches full speed in less than 10 seconds. Once reaches the full speed I can feel the air flowing and it is pretty quiet (especially compared to the builder-grade fans I replaced). One thing to keep in mind, even though this fan comes with a 4"-to-3" duct adapter, I recommend using 4" duct whenever possible to get the best performance and the lowest noise level out of the fan. Of the seven replacements I have done, I was able to replace six original 3" ducts with 4" ducts through attic space. I was not able to replace the downstairs bathroom one as its duct goes through floor and ceiling space that I have no access to. And this one definitely has less performance and higher noise level than the other six.

The best made exhaust fan that I have seen. The fan uses a very quiet DC motor housed in a nicely designed injection molded fan housing. The assembly is shock mounted to the frame to decouple vibration from the ceiling. The fan speed is controlled by a built in controller that allows the maximum operating speed to suit the size of the room. It also uses the speed control to increase the speed slowly to the maximum speed. It goes from completely silent to through barely audible to its impressively low noise maximum speed. It is not silent but the term whisper quiet is not too far from fact. It is not inexpensive but given the high quality it does represent good value for money. It should last a long time without any of the vibration and rattling of cheap metal alternatives. Highly recommended.

This Panasonic bath fan has all the great features Panasonic fans are known for: ease of installation, clean look, quiet operation, reliability and effective ventilation. I installed this fan in a bathroom in a sloped ceiling which I had access to via the attic. I do not think it is rated by the manufacturer for an angled installation. I was concerned the bearings might not be happy with this orientation, and might give out early. But I needed a fan and I've had great success with a previous Panasonic bathroom ventilation fan. I made sure the fan's baffle was oriented properly (I had to point the outlet port facing up towards the peak of the ceiling to ensure it would operate properly). I initially set this fan at its highest CFM rating (110 CFM or so, I can't remember exactly). But it started to make a slight squeal after running for several minutes. I backed off the fan to 80 CFM and no more squeal. It has been in place more than 6 months with daily usage and has not squealed again. The ventilation is excellent. There is no moisture on the mirror after a long shower. For the record, this bathroom is about 9' x 10', and the sloped ceiling adds much more volume to the room. The ventilation duct is 4" galvanized steel (smooth) with a short 4" aluminum flex section to help ease the initial connection to the fan. This duct runs about 8 feet in total with two elbows at about 15 degrees, plus another 90 degree elbow, then vents through a Broan 4" vent hood in the roof. The ventilation is excellent even with all those elbows, and length, and the lower 80 CFM speed setting. I skipped the moisture sensing option, preferring the fan to run only when someone turns on the switch. I installed a Leviton DT130 countdown timer switch (5-10-15-30 minute) and its been great. You can have this switch stay on indefinitely if you want. It's a Decora style switch and easy to install.

Panasonic Bath Exhaust Fan – Quiet, Powerful, and Amazingly Easy to Install I've installed over a dozen Panasonic bath exhaust fans, and every single time, the reaction from my customers is the same: pure amazement. These fans are incredibly quiet and impressively effective — a true upgrade from the typical noisy, underperforming units. Panasonic has clearly put a lot of thought into making these ideal for replacement installs. Even for the average DIYer or handyman, the process is straightforward. Yes, you’ll likely need to adjust the electrical setup and cut a slightly larger opening in the drywall, but Panasonic makes it easy. They include a cutting template, all the necessary screws, and clear instructions. Each install has taken me about an hour — and just this month, I’ve done three! Now, let’s talk about the noise — or rather, the lack of it. On the lowest setting, you might not even realize it’s running. Medium speed gives off a soft, pleasant hum. And even on high, it’s just a gentle white noise in the background. No rattling, no whining — just smooth, quiet airflow. These fans clear out moisture and odors in no time. I honestly can’t emphasize enough how effective they are. If you're looking for a reliable, whisper-quiet, and easy-to-install bath fan, Panasonic is the way to go.

Overall, excellent product. Very quiet. With 4” venting, it’s very effective at completely eliminating steam and moisture from our 85 sq’ bathroom (tested in our shower with two shower heads running during an intentionally long, hot water shower). Not a trace of fog on the mirror and not a drop of moisture on the walls - the complete opposite of how our old noisy 50 CFM vent performed. I am a very experienced DIYr and did not consider this an “easy” installation, even with complete attic access. My old vent was installed using a 3” vent pipe. I had to replace the entire length of solid and flex pipe to utilize the 4” exhaust vent on the new unit. To me, it made no sense to buy a high capacity unit with a 4” exhaust and then constrict it to 3” via the included reducer. This replacement alone is not possible without attic access. This unit is considerably larger than the one I was replacing. Due to immovable obstructions in the attic (HVAC) I had to install new unit further from the edge of the wall, leaving an old opening to sheetrock, tape, mud, sand and paint. Installation instructions lack clarity concerning two of the most critical steps in the replacement process: connecting the part housing the motor and the part containing the electrical box and vent adapter. I found this confusing but eventually figured it out. Screws: On a minor point, two of the four screw holes on the flange’s perimeter far exceed the head size of the self-taping screws provided. You’ll need to find just the right size washers to compensate for the screw head being too small for the oversized hole provided to secure the other half of the unit. In summary, excellent product, but instructions could be improved and I can’t imagine installing this unit without attic access.