Panasonic FV-08WQ1 WhisperWall Bathroom Fan - Thru-the-Wall Ventilation Fan - 70 CFM

My first review is for the unit I purchased 12 YEARS AGO. I hard wired to the ceiling light switch so that the fan comes on EVERY time you use the bathroom. I didn't want anyone taking a shower without the fan, EVER. So this fan has had a lot of use. Effective, quiet, and nice looking. My shower/tub has tile up to about 6 feet high then plaster above. I installed it above the tile where it is still hidden by the shower curtain so you don't see it until you're in the shower. the unit held up great - the white enclosure is still pristine, no rust or corrosion on the inner metal parts. easy to unplug and take the fan unit out to stick your arm through the hole to clean out the short duct and flapper.Recently I tore down some plaster-and-lath walls and I think this may have caused the fan to fail. I tried to clean it out but it was sluggish and never ran quietly again. I should have unplugged the unit and taken it out of the wall to protect it from plaster grit.I ordered the same model number, hoping I can just swap out the innards and it will fit without having to re-do the duct or flapper etc. I will update my review after the new one is installed.Update:So the Amazon delivery driver called me FROM MY HOUSE because he was hesitant to leave a big box on my porch. he walked around to the side entrance and carried it up steep stairs to the back deck. So that was amazing customer service. The manufacturer's box was inside of a larger Amazon box with packing materials. Not a single mark on anything.I took the cover and the inner motorized fan unit out of my old duct and plugged the new ones right in. flipped the switch and it was like brand new. I'll save the other parts incase something needs to be replaced. If I could give 10 STARS I would.

All,After reading the reviews I decided to purchase this fan for an upstairs bedroom with a vaulted ceiling. As you can imagine, it can get pretty hot up there and with little or no cross ventilation, I wanted an fan just to push out the trapped heated air the collects in that room.Pros: Installs easy, Quiet enough (you can hear it if you listen for it, but it is quiet enough not to have it bother you unless you are hyper sensitive). That said, the fan is MUCH MUCH more quiter then your average bathroom fan. Since I have just installed it before the heat of the summer, I will defer it's performance for a more detailed review at a later time.However, just using it in a short amount of time (1 hr) we did notice a difference as that particular room was as cool as the other rooms that were upstairs - which has never been the case! So it seems to work well. I paired it up with a switch that has a timer function, so it should be good to go for the summer.Cons: As other reviews have indicated, there are compliance stickers on the bottom of the grill. That said, it doesn't bother me however, I will "flip" the grill upsidedown so that they are not seen. The unit protrudes from the wall more than I would like, but I'm being a bit picky here. It's a bit pricey for sure, but as stated before, it's pretty quiet. So, other than cost, there really are no cons for the product itself.I will update this review as we get a little deeper into the summer, but so far so good.

Installed this fan in the peak of my living room vaulted ceiling to provide whole house ventilation. Home is heated with hydronic baseboard, so not easy to move air. Live in Alaska, so house has been sealed very well to save heat. I did not want to use my bathroom fans for home ventilation, so installed this fan. Code required 58 CFM continuous for my 2000 SF two story home, so I am running this on a SmartExhaust timer switch for approximately 45 minutes per hour -- may adjust down when weather get colder. Also adding a relief air vent with filter into my bedroom and living room. I included a manual override switch to shut the fan down for periods when we are away or for summer when windows are open and we don't need it. Easy to install, went into an 8" thick wall. Runs fairly quiet, but noticeable -- may add some acoustic baffles later to reduce sound further. Well built fan, housing, and exterior hood.

I purchased this as an exhaust fan for my garage. It's great for that purpose (continuous run, quiet, and can be thermostat-controlled) and seems to be very well-made. However, I won't buy additional for use as bath fans, because every time the wind kicks up, the damper, which is light as a feather, opens wide. I suppose this may be a common issue with through-wall fans. The other issue I would note is that it's not a great design if you are going to put it in the middle of a circuit and against a stud with the electrical box on the stud side. Maybe would have worked better with smaller 3/8" conduit. Just wouldn't fit with 1/2" Al conduit. The fan can be mounted upside down if your stud spacing is tight and won't accommodate wires in conduit running around the fan duct, which is 8.25" in diameter.

We replaced an old wall mounted fan with this model, and the difference is significant. This is so quiet that we felt the need to put it on a timer so that we don't allow it to run all the time. Also, this is great at moving air out of the room without allowing a lot of winter cold or summer heat in. A great buy.Update: The past few days have brought below zero temperatures and high winds. Inevitably, a cold breeze has been coming from the fan. I made the equivalent of an over-sized shower cap -- just a plastic bag and a loop of elastic -- which has done an acceptable job of blocking the weather. It makes the fan useless for the moment, and it isn't beautiful, but you do what you have to!I am leaving the 5-star rating. Compared to the unit we replaced, the fan did a good job of keeping the cold out prior to the super-cold snap.