Broan-NuTone 505 Exhaust Fan, White Vertical Discharge Ceiling Ventilation Fan, 8.5 Sones, 200 CFM, 8"

Solid Ventilation Upgrade for Rental Bathrooms I installed the Broan-NuTone 505 exhaust fan in a couple of rental property bathrooms, and it’s been a reliable upgrade. The 200 CFM power really moves air quickly, which helps keep moisture down and prevents that lingering humidity that can lead to mildew. For older homes or rentals where tenants may not always run the fan long enough, this kind of airflow is a big plus. It is on the louder side at 8.5 sones, but in a rental setting that’s not necessarily a bad thing—tenants know it’s on, and the noise discourages leaving it running all day. The vertical discharge setup made it a straightforward replacement in an existing vented setup, though it might take some extra planning if you’re switching from a horizontal vent fan. The build feels sturdy, and the white grille has a clean, simple look that blends in with most bathrooms. One thing to keep in mind: this is a workhorse fan, not a whisper-quiet luxury option. If you’re outfitting a master bath in a high-end home, the noise could be a drawback. But for rental properties where function and durability matter more, it’s an excellent choice. Bottom line: A powerful, durable bathroom exhaust fan that’s perfect for rental properties—less about quiet comfort, more about reliable moisture control.

I bought one and after installing it, I bought another. 6.5 Sones are LOUD. But I didn't care about the noise because it hides other more embarrassing noises. I chose this fan because it was the closest to replacing a Mercury/Nutone Vertical fan that was installed in the 60's and boy does it suck (as did the original). Bottom line it did everything I wanted it to do. Installation took some adjustment but took about 2 hours from start to finish. The existing hole was slightly bigger. Also some of the housing has sharp edges. So be careful and ensure you keep track of all the little pieces. Overall I give it 5 stars because it was a) what I wanted and b) it was a little over $55. Ask me again in 10 years.

I bought this fan because I needed a fan that was fairly noisy because my wife likes some background noise and often left our previous bathroom fan on. Little did I know what I was getting into. The following is all true. It started with the inaugural starting of the fan. Wow, it was fairly loud. Definitely what the package said, I guess I just didn't know what 6.5 Sones sounds like. Imagine vacuum cleaner like noise. Oh well, it at least seemed to be working really well, you could really feel airflow in the bathroom, it was like air was being sucked out of the heating vent. It actually created a kind of pleasant breeze. After being in the attic for an hour on a hot day it was pretty wonderful. Then I went to take a shower. I instantly knew something was wrong, the door wouldn't close. Something must be stuck in it, I checked everywhere but nope. Then it dawned on me, the fan was drawing so much air that the door was having trouble closing against the wall of air the fan was sucking into the room. "Small price to pay for a good fan" I naïvely thought as I switched off the fan and closed the bathroom door. I turned on the fan once more and started getting ready for my shower when I heard a loud bang. I glanced at the fan, no everything was good with it. Then I saw it, my heavy metal heater vent had been the only way for air to come in and the fan had heartlessly ripped it out of the wall so it could consume more valuable air. After a few screws were put in place I finally took my shower. The cold currents of air swirling around me kept me from ever being warm. The constant noise above my head kept me ever vigilant. I sometimes stare at it still, wondering what piece of my life it will try to destroy next. I want it gone, but at the same time I worry that it won't let me remove it. Anyway, this fan is a definite buy as long as you're ok with it being completely overpowered. I never have issues with steamed up mirrors and if I ever need to build an airplane I'm halfway there.

I live in a 24 year old mobile home. And as you out there in my position know it is HARD to find mobile home parts. So when our 20 + something fan broke for the guest bathroom we were shocked to find that Home Depot and lowes both didn't have one that would work in our home. We have a vent that shoots straight up (vertical) into the roof. And most vents now have a left or right (horizontal) curvature to the vent. So when we found this one we were thrilled it was the right kind. One that just shoots straight up. Now the fan is a little louder than we hoped for however after careful consideration we are glad it is. Have you ever been to a house where the guest bathroom is so close to the main family room you don't feel comfortable, thinking someone can hear you using the restroom?? Well problem solved. This fan is just the right amount of loud so you don't hear a thing. And our house HAS a bathroom right off of the living room---to close for comfort. So in my opinion this fan is perfect. The outside of it is beige/cream not white. And the base is pretty wide at 8inches. But fits perfectly. Again, it is loud but I'm sure my guests appreciate the loud "cover" for them to do what they have to do and not be embarrassed. I have had several get togethers and almost everyone has used the fan to mask their private affairs. Glad I got it. Hope this helped. I have inserted a photo of installed fan, hopefully it comes through alright.

I needed something more powerful than the normal 70-100 CFM bath units for an interior bath, and was not concerned about noise, so opted for this one. Install was not that easy for my application. My old unit was flush against a truss so the install arms supplied would not reach over to the next truss 24" away. This means I had to go cut three 2 x 4 pieces and build a box between the two trusses. Not terribly difficult in some attics, but where my fan is located is not easy to get to but is what it is. I followed instructions, taking motor and fan out, but could see there was no way to mount the thing from bath so be prepared to go into attic. I went up, removed old unit, built box, centered the fan and screwed in the four arms to 2 x 4's. I then wired it up per instructions, and then found you CANNOT reattach the electrical junction box to the fan housing with it mounted. So, do yourself a solid and wire the thing, attach the junction box and THEN mount the thing in the hole. After that it is simple to reinstall fan and motor and attach vent cover. The bottom of fan MUST be flush with the sheetrock ceiling in the bathroom if you want to use the all-thread bolt supplied to attach plastic vent cover. I had a square 8" x 8" hole for old fan, and I just set this fan on top of sheetrock in attic and mounted, since it would not fit down into hole and I didn't feel like trimming at that point. So, after I attached duct to top of fan and was done in attic, I found that, with the fan sitting up on top of sheetrock, the all-thread bolt that screws up into middle of fan was not long enough to reach to the vent cover centerpiece that it screws into. Instead of going back in attic and lowering fan, I found an all-thread bolt in my shop and cut it to length needed. Despite the extra trouble mounting, I am very happy with the fan's performance and while it is louder than normal fans, the wife and remaining daughter have no complaints about it. Personally, I like a powerful, noisy fan in a bathroom!

The purpose of a bathroom fan is to reduce or eliminate steam buildup that can lead to blistering paint, rotting carpets, delaminated mirrors and other problems. Most bathroom fans are very low volume air movement in an effort to be as quiet as possible. While this fan is louder than many, it is relatively low noise for for the amount of airflow. This fan is the best I've found and have been using one for 20 years. I was pleased to find it is still available when it came time to replace the old motor and a broken cover plate. In my estimation, it is the best.

I've lost count of the number of Broan products (e.g., vent fans, hoods, whole-house fans, etc.) we've installed over the years in new construction, repair, and remodels. They're relatively inexpensive, they've been around for years, they're popular, and consequently there are a lot of them out there. In this case my faith in the product line has dropped dramatically. I haven't seen a new one in about two years and if this is any indication of their QA/QC, they're in trouble. Right off the pivot bar the air baffles ride on wasn't even installed on one side. The keeper-cap had been shoved on, but it hadn't managed to enclose the rod. I thought about going through the whole hassle of sending Amazon photos and asking for a replacement, but time on a job site is money and we were at a point of having the roof off for access and couldn't leave it open indefinitely. I pressed on an took the until apart and discovered that whoever assembled it also didn't have both of the the two rubber grommets that the baffles rest on; they'd stuck in an ill-fitting sheet metal screw in place of one of these. It fell out as I was turning the unit over. Now, I also needed something to land that baffle side on and the search for a suitable replacement began and then the fitment. Time wasted, money wasted. Eventually I got it all dry-assembled (something I learned to do with vent fans 40 years ago) before I tried to fit it up in the attic above the kitchen. Here's where a DIYer would have gone off the rails. The electrical make-up box wiring diagram is a doozy and if you didn't know you have to access these babies years from now to install replacement fans in the housing, you could create an access nightmare. I finally finished it up after about 4 hours. I'd expected 1-1/2 hours tops. The owner told me that fan we replaced had been in this house since 1939; we think it too was a Broan. They'd considered just a motor replacement, but went for a new one. It was the old style 8" with a pull chain. I don't know how long this one will last, but I'm doubting they get 80 years out of it. The truth is, they don't make 'em like they used to. For an additional $3-$5 they could produce a fan I'd give 5 stars; this isn't it. I'd pay more for better quality.

This product was everything I ever wanted for my bathroom.🤗 I no longer have to deal with disgusting smells 😝from my teenager🤢🤮😂🤣 teenage boys stink🙈🙉🙊 I no longer have to deal with steam or smells 😝in the hallway either. This fan absolutely takes care of everything. I'm absolutely please how dry my bathroom is now. I feel like I have a built-in plane propeller in my bathroom. It even muffles noises that drive me crazy when someone's in the bathroom. 🤗 If you're thinking about buying this product. Remember what my daddy says,Go big or go home🙌 I went big and I'm absolutely happy about it🥰

Love the fan. It was the only 8" vertical discharge fan I could find. It's a little noisy, but the perfect cover up for the bathroom sounds while you or someone else is in there. Great suction, it actually lifted the toilet from the floor! (Just kidding) works great. Definitely recommend it to anyone that has an older mobile home!

Solid, well made fan. Easy to install in Mobile Homes. Could use neoprene pads on baffles as they rattle a little on windy days but no big deal here. Tested in 8x10 baths and works well. Easy to Install (for a Contractor). Approved Contractor Grade A

I had to return this for a refund as the internal height of this unit was just too large to fit in my bathroom ceiling without performing extensive modification to the existing space. Too bad too, because it looks and feels like a pretty decent fan.

Works great Perfect for older houses and just need an updated unit

My gawd, ive bought this fan 2x -meaning i bought 2 of them and i cannot say enough about it's performance! Very easy to install and when you have your shower, you literally get out and wonder if you even showered cause there is ZERO steam anywhere. Zero residue on the mirror or the walls or toilet.. Buy this Fan...