Broan-NuTone AE80LK Ventilation with LED CleanCover and Roomside Installation, ENERGY STAR Certified, 80 CFM, 0.7 Sones, White

I bought this to replace a massive 40+ year-old light-fan-heat unit that was becoming a fire hazard. Because the old unit was a completely different size (and ancient), I knew I wasn’t going to be able to use the retrofit feature or do the installation from the bathroom itself. (However, if you’re buying this expecting to do the full installation roomside, you’ll be disappointed. Only the fan and light can be swapped without attic access, but installing the box requires attic.) The installation was pretty straightforward and as-expected; I won’t go into the nitty-gritty of how awful working in my attic is or the troubles of replacing an ancient fan, but that’s not this fan’s fault. (Should caution, I have construction experience, and doing a first-time installation of this would not be a good job for the average DIYer.) Connection to existing 4” duct was easy. The tabs to place the fan with the correct drywall spacing were a nice touch. The unit only screws into a joist against one side, so I was worried during installation that it would sag and not sit level, but that hasn’t been an issue since the whole thing has been assembled. Installing electrical and fan were a breeze. The clips on the cover were annoying but to be expected. The cover has slight gaps against the drywall but I’m hoping it’ll settle into place over time. The light is super bright and the fan quality is superb - quiet and clears condensation from a large bathroom with ease without making the room feel cold or dry. Overall, this is an incredible fan that I would absolutely buy again, but my one caveat is that if I had bought it thinking I could do the entire installation roomside, I would’ve been disappointed.

This is a far better bathroom exhaust fan than others that are out there. This one is able to be installed by code unlike many that I looked at here. It was easy to install, I did have to go into my attic but if you have everything in the right place you may get away with not having to but I was not that lucky. The cover was hard to get just right, i must have done something wrong but I finally got it. The led color is warm and bright. This fan is also super quiet.

Broan has a huge share of this market space so it’s puzzling why they can’t design a better way to attach the cover on this product. I like everything else about this fan - the quality, performance, and all but the last step of the installation process, but snapping those pesky retaining springs in place was a headache for me. They continually popped out of the little jaws that hold them onto the cover frame, to the point where I had to file a groove around the jaws and wire them shut around the springs. Only then would the springs clip on without detaching from the cover.

Love this fan, so quiet and light is definitely bright. Installation was straight forward, and quality is fantastic. Definitely recommend for any bathroom refit or new install.

Super quiet and great design.

The Broan-NuTone AE80LK is an intriguing ventilation fan. Its 80 CFM rating effectively tackles moisture issues in most bathrooms, while the CleanCover grille boasts minimal dust collection and easy cleaning. Installation from the room side is a DIYer's dream, especially with the SnapFit flange and FoldAway mounting ears. However, the advertised "whisper quiet" operation falls short.My decibel meter clocked the AE80LK at 1.2 sones, exceeding the 0.7 sone spec and bordering on noticeable in a quiet bathroom. While not deafening, it's a hum you'll register. The noise originates primarily from the motor, with minimal blade noise. This suggests potential for improvement through motor isolation or acoustic dampening in future iterations.On the upside, the integrated LED light is surprisingly bright and energy-efficient. The AE80LK is a technically sound ventilation fan with some acoustic compromises. If noise sensitivity isn't a significant concern, it's a solid choice for efficient bathroom ventilation with modern conveniences. However, alternative options might be worth exploring for those seeking whisper-quiet operation.

It took a while to get installed but mainly my issues, not because of the fan itself. Although I wouldn't trust the dimensions they say to cut the hole, I would trace the housing on the drywall (if doing a retrofit like I did) and then cut. It's too late for me, but maybe it will help someone else. The wiring diagram in the instructions make sense, if you look at them really closely. I popped a circuit on my first try then looked again and realized my mistake. Then comes the cover. The spring clips are garbage! HORRIBLE! I'm going to be asking Broan if they have any kind of alternative. I have tried for a couple of hours to get it to work and the clips just will not hold. If I didn't have the whole thing installed, letting the cover just dangle at this point, I would pack it all up and send it back. But honestly, the fan works great and is really quiet, at least compared to the one I replaced. So fix the cover and it's a winner!