Panasonic FV-0511VF1 WhisperFit Retrofit Bath Fan, 50-80-110 CFM

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.

I bought two of these for my bathrooms and couldn't be happier. As the name suggests, they are whisper-quiet but move plenty of air—no more steamed mirrors after showers. Easy to install, and I highly recommend them.

Hi: I am a PROFESSIONAL INSTALLER, and I want HOME DIY individuals to know that this unit is by far the BEST ON THE MARKET. This is the PROFESSIONAL MODEL (not the one you see in your local big name Big Box hardware store). The difference is that the ones in the store only have one fan speed, this model has THREE SPEEDS so it can find in different size bathrooms. ALSO.... this unit is SUPER QUIET, is is literally "whisper quiet". The first time I installed and then turned one on, the home owner and I did not think it was working. We took the covers and found it was working PERFECTLY and was really moving air set on the high speed. Another HUGE ADVANTAGE, it what in comes with an adjustable mounting bracket that you mount between the rafters in you bathroom ceiling. The two advantages to this (that puts in way a head of others on the market, is that when you install and attach the fan you are actually attaching it to the very secure brackets rather then relying souly on it hanging by the screws going into you drywall..... I have seen fans fall out because of weak drywall. SO..... this is my top pick as a professional installer and my top recommendation to any self reliant DIY's. I have attached a few pictures. One of how it looks IN THE ATTIC once installed, and another after you have sealed it in expanding foam (which I highly recommend). Keep in mind that these pictures were shot in a very low roof attic and you can not see a full 360 degree view. Hope this helps - Matt.

Great fan! Very quiet. Not nearly as loud as our previous fan. Installation went well. Due to the situation above the bathroom, I had to turn the unit 90 degrees, which meant putting in some 2x4's 90 degrees to the attic trusses. The included template and instructions were sufficient to make Installation pretty straightforward. I paired this fan with the larger ductwork (insulated) and ran it out the roof. (Insulation to prevent condensation and water collection during the cold winter months.) I paired it with a push button timer switch to encourage my family to use it and let it run for a few minutes after they finished in the shower. It keeps the mirror from fogging so badly in our 6' x 9' bathroom.

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.

A huge improvement over the 1990's loud 50cfm bathroom fan it replaced. Install was easy with a second set of hands, and attic access was never needed. That said, when turning on the fan takes 10-12 seconds to actually start moving and for a solid half hour we thought it was broken or had been wired incorrectly. Turns out it just needs time to build torque before it starts humming and was working from the start so just give it a sec! It's incredibly quiet, and the bathroom that used to fog up within a minute of the shower turning on hasn't had a single spec of condensation on the mirror let alone the walls. Can't speak to whether this one will last 30 years like the old one, but very, very happy with the performance so far!

I have installed several Panasonic fans and they are always high quality and quiet. This fan has an adjustable CFM so it can be sized to the room. Unlike older models, this one is made for retrofit so the electrical junction box and duct attach to a frame that in turn attaches to the fan body once it slides into the ceiling hole. It makes it much easier to get the duct attached and run wire from switch without having to suspend weight of entire fan. Note that the fan itself is 260mm even though the install instructions say it needs a 275mm x 275mm opening. In my case the joists were on a 270mm spacing so the fan just fit and was able to secure the fan to the joist instead of the Z-frame.

It's so effective and quiet that I don't know what else to say. It just work and super quiet. Pay for it once and enjoy it.

I am replacing my 15-year old Broan bathroom fan with this Panasonic WhisperFit Retrofit FV-0511VFC1 as this seems to be the right size, the Panasonic brand name and, of course, good reviews. Needless to say that electrical breaker off to start with. While the old fan was installed from the attic, this new Panasonic is installed from below the bathroom ceiling. This is already a big plus for me, as this was my first time installing a fan, and me being nowhere close to being a handyman. The fan came with everything I needed, except tools and the only things I needed were, a screwdriver, ladder, lamp, safety goggles, duct tape and polyfiller . I rate the instructions as 2 out of 5, as they are written for electricians, not for a newbie. I supplemented with YouTube videos on installation of similar items. Not step by step, but nevertheless useful. The single most important first step, after removing the old fan is the installation of the metal extendable Flex-Fast bracket. If you have it correctly installed, the rest follows easily. Instruction on this part is lacking and, if present, then not clearly explained. I actually had to remove and reinstall the extendable metal bracket twice. It needs to be positioned both flush with the top surface of the ceiling drywall and flush against the side of the drywall near the duct opening. As long as the bracket looks to be in the centre of the opening, it is fine as gaps can be filled in by polyfiller and hidden by the cover. Electrical was simple, as there are 3 wires from the source to the fan. All connections made inside the electrical box in the metal side panel. I used marettes (not provided) to connect black to black, white to white and bare earth to bare earth. The next step is to slide the side metal panel (containing the electrical box) through the already attached extendable bracket. When the fan goes in, it clips to the top of that metal side panel From the attic, I used duct tape to make the connection for the air outflow. The speed setting on the fan is easy to access. At the lowest setting 50 CFM, it is indeed whisper quiet but I find at the highest setting 110 CFM, it is as noisy as my old 15-year old Broan fan, if not a tad more, which I find somewhat annoying. I set it at 80 CFM which is not whisper quiet, but a nice compromise. I am deducting a star for the lack of clearer instructions and would recommend as a new or retrofit bathroom fan.