tell me about the broan recessed light exhaust fan combo . . .

[brantmacga]

daddy went el cheapo on the bathroom exhaust fan, and now its time to fix.


formula called for 100cfm and i went w/ the 50cfm broan 688 next to the shower.

*sigh*

i was about to take it out and replace w/ a 100 cfm fan in its place, but i saw the broan 744 recessed light/exhaust fan combo unit. I have a lithonia 6" recessed in place above the shower, and watching the steam rise, it looks like that would be the perfect spot for such a device.


so for those of you who have them or have installed/serviced them, are there any negatives to having the fan and recessed light as a combo unit? is there any reduced lamp life having an exposed lamp taking in the steam? does any rust appear after an extended period of time?

thoughts in general?

thanks

 

[DavidA]

I installed a couple light/fan combos in a friends house more than a year ago replacing the central bath lights. Don't remember the brand nor if they were properly rated to be installed directly above a shower enclosure, but both are still opperating and have had no trouble or need for lamp replacement using CFLs.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Most fan/light units require GFCI protection if placed over a shower. I used to use them all the time. Years ago it was a Fasco 1000 but after they sold out I started using Nutone -- It was a 110 cfm fan/light-- they work very well.

Mostly today I use the Panasonic.

 

[PetrosA]

Panasonic makes an excellent, low noise product and NuTone is quickly catching up to the low noise levels you get from Panasonic. One thing in NuTone's favor is incredible customer service over the phone - I've called them about 40 and 50 year old fans and was able to get info on replacement parts immediately. Panasonic's customer assistance has been lacking the few times I needed to use it. If low noise is the most important thing I'd recommend a remote fan with light kit. Nothing can beat it.

 

[tx2step]

What light/remote fan have you had good luck with? I've never used a remote fan setup for a bathroom vent. Or for any low cfm vent, for that matter.

 

[bradleyelectric]

I've installed the broan open baffle fan/light in showers without any complaints. Haven't actually looked at any that I installed years ago that I know that have seen heavy use.

 

[wxstevens]

I have been putting Panansonics in alot lately. They are very quiet and priced right too.

 

[stevebea]

I have been putting Panansonics in alot lately. They are very quiet and priced right too.

The last hotel we wired the specs called for Panasonic fans. We installed roughly 250 fans and I was very impressed how quiet they ran as compared to Nutone.

 

[brantmacga]

I've installed the broan open baffle fan/light in showers without any complaints. Haven't actually looked at any that I installed years ago that I know that have seen heavy use.

that's the light i was talking about. the "can" light; should've specified more clearly.




about those panasonics; i have installed several of those, and yes they're extremely quiet.

i'm not so much worried about the noise; just need something to get all that steam out.

thanks for the replies.

 

[kwired]

The last hotel we wired the specs called for Panasonic fans. We installed roughly 250 fans and I was very impressed how quiet they ran as compared to Nutone.

Which Nutones are you comparing to. The QTRN or QTXN series should be very competive in sound levels to the Panasonic. Have never had them in close proximity for comparison but both are very quiet.

Proper ducting makes a difference in sound level. Less restriction of air flow makes a quiet fan even quieter, do not undersize duct and avoid flexible duct - it has more resistance to air flow.

 

[PetrosA]

What light/remote fan have you had good luck with? I've never used a remote fan setup for a bathroom vent. Or for any low cfm vent, for that matter.

I've put in Fantech fans a number of times. They use the same kind of fans (inline squirrel cage) as the radon systems and I think they're made in Germany. One of the really convenient things about them is that they form a truly ducted system where one fan can pull from multiple inlets through a 4" or 6" duct - ex. you can have one over the shower and another in a separate W.C. A few of the master baths I've done were like that - split into smaller rooms. The only thing you might want to recommend to customers is a timer switch or lighted switch since they most likely won't be able to hear if the fan is running or not.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I totally agree. Fantech is a great fan. I have never had one go bad. The manufacturer told me they plugged up one end and the fan ran undamaged for one month straight-- they couldn't kill it.

 

[stevebea]

Which Nutones are you comparing to. The QTRN or QTXN series should be very competive in sound levels to the Panasonic. Have never had them in close proximity for comparison but both are very quiet.

Proper ducting makes a difference in sound level. Less restriction of air flow makes a quiet fan even quieter, do not undersize duct and avoid flexible duct - it has more resistance to air flow.

Point taken kwired. I was thinking of the Nutone RP series. The QT series sound levels are much more desirable.