Panasonic WhisperFit Ceiling Mount Bathroom Exhaust Fan with Dimmable LED Light, 50-80-110 CFM, FV-0511VFL1

Easily installed as part of a bathroom remodel. Placed in a location that made sense for exhausting moisture and as a light source. Previous fan was placed over the toilet. For those that are unaware, a bathroom fan is there to remove moist air when you shower. It is not there to remove stinky fumes when you use the toilet. By running another set of wires and adding a switch, it was easy to switch the fan separately. Super quiet!

Panasonic did a phenomenal job designing this fan, I looked at the fan and bracket before reading the installation instructions and though that I must be looking at this wrong, because they literally thought of everything that would cause difficulties during the installation and had a resolution for it. Very easy installation and quiet yet effective operation.I’ll be buying a few more for the other bathrooms.

Really great product…. I used to have foggy bathroom when I take shower and I thought it is normal thing to happen but the truth has to be said, this vent fan is very silent yet I have my bathroom cleared from any fog and condensation on the mirror anymore … I really like it.

Works well taking the moisture out of the bathroom. Light not real bright, but sufficient.

Great overall product

Overall, I'm happy with the fan. It does exactly what I wanted. That said, it is not a slam dunk installation. Let's go through the good the bad and the ugly.GOOD:It is as quiet as they say it is. I have a small bathroom with a shower in it. 85 ft². The old New Tone fan was driving me crazy with the noise. In theory, I should set the new Panasonic fan to 85 CFM, the middle setting, but I decided to go for broke and set it for 110 CFM. I am able to hear it when it's on, but it is very quiet and not intrusive. It's comforting to know that if I get cranky I can slow it down and it should do a good job.It does come with instructions which will get you through the project. I would give them a "C" .It came with a 4-in to 3 in adapter which was nice since my rain hood that goes through the wall of the house is a 3-in. I ran 4-in aluminum flexible ducting and it is very quiet.The Fex-Z-Fast mounting bracket is a good addition. I initially thought I wouldn't bother with it, but it makes things much easier.They have a template for marking where to saw the drywall to make the mounting hole. That also is simple but very effective.THE BADNot much in this category. It's a pricey bathroom ventilation fan. Amortized over 20 years, who cares?THE UGLYThe instructions were written by somebody in a hurry. I was spoiled recently by buying a wheelbarrow online. It came with A+ instructions: the parts came on a blister card; each blister numbered with a step from the diagram. Each step in the diagram contained only one step. It was well illustrated. Expect the opposite here.There are screws in little packs or taped in various places with only minimal explanation about what they're for. I'm either very smart or very lucky, but it all went together eventually with nothing left over. It was a challenge!The first problem with the instructions is you are apparently supposed to mount the control unit and the main fan body by using self-drilling screws that go through the sliding rails of the bracket. I've never seen anything like this before. I finally gave up looking for mounting holes or attached nuts and decided to just go through the drywall and the rails of the mounting bracket. That seemed to be what you're supposed to do. It would help if they told you that.There are two sets of instructions. One is an overall set of instructions; the other is primarily for the Flex-Z-Fast mounting bracket, but it also includes abbreviated instructions for mounting the fan. It took me a while to figure out that these were more or less parallel instructions. They are not labeled as such, so you have to read through each several times in order to figure out what domain they cover. Of course, they could have written one set of instructions that included everything. Maybe the instructions were written by a committee?OVERALLThe fan is great once installed. It is quiet, really! The kit is complete. All you need is tools, tape, and ducting to an outside wall.It is possible to install from below, but you would still have to deal with what you do with the other end of the duct! Still, it's nice to be able to work in a warm well-lit environment at the top of a step ladder, rather than balancing on rafters in the attic.The instructions are somewhat disorganized and slap dash. If you have experience with DIY projects, you'll probably get through it. I wish they would ask me to rewrite their directions. The writing skill required is to look at the project from the point of view of the consumer, preferably a medium-skill consumer. There's a whole field of engineering that studies how to make machines and projects easy to use. It's called Human Engineering. In essence, it involves giving a project to a newbie and watching where they stumble. Then revise, repeat, revise.When it's finished, it is quiet and effective, and a big improvement over economy fans.4/4/24: revised review: the speed setting makes no difference. You would think that between 55 CFM and 110 CFM there would be a detectable difference in sound level. I realize it takes a minute, literally, to spin up to speed. Nonetheless, a meter shows no difference in dB. I don't have an air flow meter, but placing a damp hand near the intake doesn't suggest any difference in air flow.Panasonic customer support is zero, nada, indifferent, eliminated to generate more profits? I have tried four different phone numbers. They all either go to voicemail or are disconnected. I got a return text from one, which sent me to a different department, which didn't respond. Emails, four of them so far, have gone unanswered. Evidently, my question about malfunctioning of the speed switch is not important enough to bother with, or they have cannibalized the customer service department in order to keep stockholders happier. Capitalism at its finest!

The media could not be loaded. The Panasonic FV-0511VFL1 WhisperFit DC Retrofit Ventilation Fan with Light stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of home ventilation solutions. Our extensive experience with installing these units—too numerous to count—solidifies our opinion that this product is unparalleled in its class. Panasonic's WhisperFit series has become the gold standard for us, offering superior performance that eclipses other well-established brands in the market.Labeling a product as a "game changer" is often done lightly, but in the case of the WhisperFit, it's a title richly deserved. The fan's operation is exceptionally quiet, a feature that is as impressive as it is appreciated. Moreover, the simplicity and ingenuity of its retrofit installation process are unmatched. We've honed the installation down to a mere 35 minutes, a testament to the fan's design, although first-time installers may require a bit a lot longer.The fan's bracket system is a stroke of genius, designed for easy handling and installation by a single individual without the struggle of supporting its weight during attachment. This design thoughtfully allows for the separate installation of the vent and electrical components, minimizing the physical strain and simplifying the process.Beyond its installation convenience, the WhisperFit offers three selectable ventilation speeds, easily adjustable to meet diverse needs. Pairing this fan with an optional humidistat—Panasonic offers compatible models—addresses the common challenge of mold and mildew in residential bathrooms especially. This combination proves particularly effective in environments where user behavior or inadequate existing fans contribute to excessive moisture, automatically activating the fan when humidity levels rise. The combination is perfection.Our endorsement of the Panasonic WhisperFit extends beyond a mere five-star rating. Its consistent performance, ease of installation, and quiet operation have made it a staple in our business, with frequent reorders facilitated by the swift delivery services of Amazon. This synergy between Panasonic's innovation, Amazon's logistics, and our implementation expertise creates an efficient and effective solution for ventilationPlease keep in mind that footprint changes for ventilation fans will likely require minor drywall repairs or touch-up painting, highlighting the typical considerations when replacing or upgrading fans. Additionally, our video showcases the fan's discreet ramp-up feature, illustrating how it quietly progresses to its full capacity—a subtle yet significant detail that underscores the fan's sophisticated design.In conclusion, our allegiance to the Panasonic WhisperFit DC Retrofit Ventilation Fan is unwavering. Its impact on improving indoor air quality, coupled with the ease of retrofit installation and operational silence, makes it an indispensable asset for any property. Panasonic's commitment to quality and innovation continues to impress, ensuring our continued patronage for years to come.