Bathroom Vent Fan - NuTone vs. Panasonic

[SeattleSoxFan]

This looks like an old thread resurrected and the conversation is mostly moot, but as a general rule of thumb you don't want to oversize the fan any more than you need to. It's like a furnace or anything. Properly sized is more efficient and more isn't always better.

The "standard" formula I've seen is to replace the air 8 times/hour. You have 60sf * 8'? That's 480cf to change 8 times / 60 minutes = 64 cfm fan. I would have suggested the 80 unless you have a heat exchanger or enjoy high utility bills

You also might need to enlarge the gap at the bottom of the bathroom door or you'll just be taxing the fan and making it die (and warble miserably) sooner trying to pull 80cfm through the usual 1" gap (< 0.25sf) under the door!

Size it right and use a timer switch on the fan... My 0.02.

Or, let it die sooner and buy another American made fan probably filled with Chinese parts.

[eolafan]

This looks like an old thread resurrected and the conversation is mostly moot, but as a general rule of thumb you don't want to oversize the fan any more than you need to. It's like a furnace or anything. Properly sized is more efficient and more isn't always better.

The "standard" formula I've seen is to replace the air 8 times/hour. You have 60sf * 8'? That's 480cf to change 8 times / 60 minutes = 64 cfm fan. I would have suggested the 80 unless you have a heat exchanger or enjoy high utility bills

You also might need to enlarge the gap at the bottom of the bathroom door or you'll just be taxing the fan and making it die (and warble miserably) sooner trying to pull 80cfm through the usual 1" gap (< 0.25sf) under the door!

Size it right and use a timer switch on the fan... My 0.02.

Or, let it die sooner and buy another American made fan probably filled with Chinese parts.

Wrong again...the NuTone fans are made of AMERICAN made parts and completely assembled in Hartford, WISCONSIN...which is about as American as you can get. Pansonic is made in China by a Japanese company, which is about as UNAMERICAN as you can get.

[jackiec123]

Have been looking @ bathroom fans and Panasonic gets very favorable reviews. However, the Nutone humidity feature can't be overlooked. To me, having the fan come on and off automatically, is more important than a very quiet fan. Can someone who has one of these comment on how well it works? Thanks

[jadnashua]

If max quiet is your goal, then I think the Panasonic line will win out. They're not the most expensive, but they're not inexpensive, either. There are wall switches that have built-in timers or a humidistat.

[jackiec123]

Yes, but I'm trying to stick to 1 switch, leaving the second for plug in devices.

[jimbo]

I appreciate the comments by Soxfan, but I stand by my personal choice to go with minimum 10 changes per hour. Yes, overdoing it has an energy impact, removing heated or cooled air. But in my temperate climate, where neither heating or air conditioning run most of the day, I will sacrifice the energy for the sake of much improvement in the mold/mildew/odor situation. And I do opt for as low sones as budget will reasonably accomodate. Never more than 1 sone. Higher noise, and folks, take my wife.....please!........tend to not run the fan at all.

[jackiec123]

Jimbo, a 65sf bathroom: 80 or 100 cfm fan?

[meylink66]

Basement location looking at Broan and Nutone fan only models (from Wisconsin and favor of course WI business when I can) Was looking at QTRE110 and QTREN110 (N in the second is the Nutone model). The Nutone model shows .4 amps and the Broan shows .3 amps for these energy star units. Wondering if the Broan has a different motor or if the info is in process up being updated on the Nutone. Anyone install have or install one and can comment on the unit?

[eolafan]

Basement location looking at Broan and Nutone fan only models (from Wisconsin and favor of course WI business when I can) Was looking at QTRE110 and QTREN110 (N in the second is the Nutone model). The Nutone model shows .4 amps and the Broan shows .3 amps for these energy star units. Wondering if the Broan has a different motor or if the info is in process up being updated on the Nutone. Anyone install have or install one and can comment on the unit?

The Broan and NuTone models shown above use exactly the same motor...the only difference is the style of the grill...nothing else...difference in energy consumption must have been a misprint in what you were reading.

[glnow]

Had you given thought to a remote motor and two inlets, one in each bathroom? Fantec and others make these.

What are the pro/cons of this configuration? I have to add fans to two bathrooms in a single story home that are reasonably close together. The bathrooms are separated by one room, and are both about the same size. At first I was planning on adding a Panasonic fan to each bathroom, each having their own separate roof vent. But this idea of the remote fan with two inlets (& only having to add one roof vent) is intriguing.

[jadnashua]

The Panasonic fans are quality units, nice and quiet and reliable. Fantec makes some quality remote fan systems that can ventilate multiple rooms. The biggest advantage, as I see it, is one fan motor that is remote, so even quieter than the Panasonic units. You'd want to use a switch that had either a timer, humidistat, or a lamp to remind you that it was on, otherwise, you probably couldn't tell. Then, as you noted, there's only one outlet required through the roof or end wall. The disadvantage is when on, it will be exhausting conditioned air from both bathrooms, when you may only need one. They may have a motorized damper system that would separate the two rooms, but I haven't looked into the specific details. Wiring is a little more difficult since you are essentially doing a 3-way (as far as I know), so it can be turned on or off from either room. Might be a pain if someone turned it off in the other room when you wanted it on! Don't quote me on the control...it might be more sophisticated than that and be something like a wired OR circuit, and not a typical 3-way.

[johnfrwhipple]

I was at a trade show in Vancouver this week (Presenting for the NKBA on Steam Showers) and took in the show after my session. I found out that my favourite fan has a new twist available. The Panasonic Whisper Quiet is coming out with a sleek LED light option.

Not a cheese ball looking grill but nice style with a square light. The glass is diffused and the light gives off a great glow. Perfect for day by day use or a nightlight.

I'm looking into converting this into a RGB colour changing option but have to wait till the fan lands in my hands.

Here is a peak at the new Panasonic LED Fan.