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Recommendation for a sleek looking exhaust fan/light combo?

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I need exhaust fans for baths for a MCM remodel. My contractor is recommending a Panasonic unit, the Whisper Warm, which he claims is performs well and is very quiet, but it is larger than I'd like. I'm looking for something a little more sleek, and possibly even a can light that also has a fan -- I feel like I've seen those on here, but can't find them. I'm more interested in aesthetics over noise factor as we don't really use the fans all that much, just doing them for code. Any recommendations?

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Comments (5)

amanda99999
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I went with Fantech PB110H - fan/light combo with dimmable halogen bulb. (The one with flourescent bulb isn't dimmable.) It looks like a normal recessed light (and the motor is away from the ceiling so its really quiet). I don't like how large the Panasonic's grills (? the exposed part - a large amount of white plastic to look at).

Oh wait: Panasonic does make a small round light/vent combo called WhisperRecessed. Seems like a good choice too. (And Panasonic bath fans are far easier to buy on your own than Fantech. At least around my area you have to get Fantech through your contractor.) I'm considering Model
FV-08VRE1 for kids' bath. (its 80 cfm; the Fantech above is 110; IIRC Fantech also makes a larger CFM combo fan/light).
Pipdog thanked amanda99999
Olychick
7 years ago
I have the same Fantech as ap999 and absolutely love it! So unobtrusive and extremely quiet. Love the brightness and dimability of the halogen, too.
Pipdog thanked Olychick
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Maybe the solution is a fan/light combination such as this Nutone 744NT which appears to be a simple recessed light when installed. It uses a standard bulb so you could install a bulb of whatever brightness and color temperature you wanted. build.com has lots of fan/light combinations like this including the Panasonic FV-08-VRE2*. *The Panasonic uses a harder-to-find GU24-base bulb.
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Pipdog
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks, Olychick and ap999, that's exactly what I was looking for!
amanda99999
7 years ago
PS My GC's electrician was here today (he is very experienced, does lots of high end homes around here - which includes MCM). He said he has the Fantech 4" fan grill/light combo and loves it. Prefers it to the Panasonic WhisperRecessed - even though he admits he doesn't have it - because the motor on the Fantech installs away from the ceiling, so no chance of vibration (and thus additional noise). That all said, reviews say the Pansonic is very quiet too (and, well, some white noise in a bathroom can be good!), and I think someone going for your aesthetic should investigate the Panasonic b/c it sounds like (but I'm not sure) the placement and adjustability of the light bulb in it might work better for you - sounds like from their website that it can be recessed far up casting a different area of light. Something like that. HTH!
enduring
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I have a fantech recessed light with fan in my bathroom. I have 2 in the room, one in the shower and the other near the toilet. They Y together in the attic. Now mine seems to be a little noisy. But thats not all bad. I have rigid duct. I have it insulated (by DS2).

I have the whisper fan (no light) in my other bathroom. It is very quiet, and I wished it were noisier because the bathroom is right off the kitchen.

Fantech phone support was very helpful to me when I ordered the product and helped me size the setup for my situation.

This is the room with 2 fantech light/fan units. This is halogen and dimmable.

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