Manrose 100mm Standard Mixed Flow Fan

Bought to replace existing model of the same brand which I had for at least 10 years

I purchased mine to ventilate a basement and reduce the humidity, and it works very well indeed, being quiet, powerful and reliable. Despite the listing info this is in fact a three speed fan!Here are the specs:High Speed - 2400 RPM, 25 Watts, 245 m3/hr, 24dB(A) @3m, Max pressure 200PaMedium Speed - 2100 RPM, 23Watts, 216 m3/hr, 22dB(A) @3m, Max pressure 170PaLow Speed - 1700 RPM, 20Watts, 180 m3/hr, 20dB(A) @3m, Max pressure 120PaFan speed can be infinitely controlled using a separate, optional speed controllerPhysical Dimensions:Total length, end-to-end: 298mm including the 30mm long spigotsDiameter of spigots: 102mm external, 98mm internalHeight O/A: 230mm (195 main body + 35mm electrics box)Width O/A: 175mmIn-line fans are far quieter and a lot more efficient than their surface mounted cousins, and I chose the Manrose for a number of reasons. Chief among them is that I have Manrose products installed elsewhere and all have been completely reliable. Unlike most extractors nowadays this one is manufactured here in the UK, in Reading. So if there was ever a problem, I needed a spare part, or some technical advice, it's easily obtainable. The same is not true of imported goods.It's also very well designed, and after installation the central motor unit can be unclipped and lifted away from the mounting without needing to undo your ducting either side, which is a great feature for easy maintenance! The listing says it's a two speed unit, but that is no longer correct, and this model has since been upgraded to three speed options, selectable by altering a jumper lead under the screw down electrics box on the top.As you'll see from the specs I gave, it's unusually quiet at 24db on high speed. Wikipedia quotes 30db as being an average whisper! When powered up unconnected it's noisier, due to undirected airflow noise, but once installed it's very quiet. I have mine connected up using acoustic damping flexible duct which pretty much eliminates motor noise both at the air inlet and outside vent. It works in a roughly similar way to a silencer on a gun, and I recommend it highly.Finally, here's an installation tip for you: extractor fans are always more efficient sucking air through a pipe rather than trying to blow it down. So in other words, mount your inline extractor as close to the exhaust vent as possible for maximum efficiency and performance. But it you want some attenuation of motor noise, do use a suppressor or short length of acoustic duct between the outflow spigot and the outside vent.I hope this review has been useful to you, and as ever I'm happy to answer questions if have any - just hit the comments button below and I'll get back to you. :-)

***Update October 2021***The fan became to make a very weird noise. It sounded like the fan had broke and pieces of it were grinding on the housing inside. I immediately reached out to the manufacturer and described the issue. They wanted evidence of the fault and a copy of the serial number. I explained it to them that it was placed in a very awkward location sending them videos and pictures of the location. The videos had audio that showed the problem. The manufacturer promptly send a new device free of charge. I could immediately tell that they had updated the fan blade material to be more sturdy and robust. I replaced the device and emailed back pictures of the old one.Very happy with the after care of the manufacturer.*** Original review ***I bought this to replace a faulty shower fan. I had to install mine on top of a box room inside a very tight space and on the ceiling (fastened on wood).The device works as advertised and is quiet and powerful.Installation was not easy mostly because of the awkward position and partially because of the bulk of the device and that it was designed to be installed on floor (face up).One tiny quirk, I wish the lips of the outlet/inlet had a bit of resistance/texture to fasten easier the duct pipe. I used zip fasteners and easily could slip. I didn't want to use tape but perhaps I should.

Bought this to replace a budget fan that had finally given up the ghost after 8 years service.I ended up having to mount the last fan on rubber grommets as the vibration through the ceiling joists (which the fan was screwed to) was making a very noticeable droning noise through the bathroom ceiling. Retro-fitting the rubber grommets largely cured this but the noise was still there.... Even when the fan was on during showering the bathroom still steamed up badly (resembled a steam room!) and the fan had to be left on for 15mins after the event to clear the fog!Fast forward to the present and the Manrose fan arrived in a big box! I was amazed as to just how much larger it was compared to the fan it was replacing! Not a big deal for me as the fan was going into the loft and the area where it was to be fitted had plenty of free space. Folk that are mounting this in a very tight space I would advise to carefully check the fan's dimensions to avoid disappointment...The fan was a doddle to fit! From looking out the ladders from my garage to switching the fan on took 35mins tops, and that was me taking my time. The fan cover hiding the electrical connections is held on with 4 Philips screws and after that all you really need is a small flat blade driver for the electrical terminals on the fan block connector. Oh and you have to pierce the rubber "grommet" to thread the mains cable through to the terminal block connector and there is a cable clamp to tighten once the wiring is completed. No earth wiring is needed as the unit is double-insulated. As this is the non-timer version of the fan, only two wires need connected at the fan. Simplicity itself!The fan has two speed settings that can be used, and you select the speed by deciding which terminal you connect the neutral wire to - again very straightforward (supplied instructions quite clear). I selected the slower speed as I only have a small bathroom.I decided to re-use the rubber grommets as I had them to hand and lightly screwed the fan down onto the joist (you need your own screws for this) taking care not to over-compress the grommets.The flexible hosing was quickly connected to the fan and I used duct tape to ensure the hosing would not come loose and also to ensure an air-tight seal. You can also use cable ties (or I expect a very large metal hose clip) to do the same thing.So job done, then! What's it like in use? To be honest it's a revelation in comparison to what went before! The bathroom hardly steams up at all now, and less than 5 mins later what little steam was there is gone! The bathroom mirror is quite close to the shower (it's a bath shower with a curtain, not a shower cubicle so steam can escape beyond the shower area) but the mirror is only JUST starting to fog-up after a 10 min shower, and that disappears quickly. Noise-wise the motor itself is completely silent, with not even the faintest vibration coming through the ceiling! The noise you do hear is of the air being sucked through the vent - which you never heard with the old fan - probably because it didn't shift nearly as much air. The suction noise is pretty noticeable, but I don't find it annoying - if anything its good to know the extraction is so effective!All in all I rate this fan really highly. It seems very well made, is mechanically near-silent, shifts a heck of a lot of air (even on low setting) and is easy to install. Servicing the motor (e.g. to remove lint/dust) only involves removing two screws and the fan part of the assembly detaches from the rest of the fan body, leaving the hoses undisturbed. Excellent! Can't comment on reliability, but the fan runs on good bearings and the chassis seems solid, so I expect it'll last.

I realised it was time to fit an extractor in the bathroom as the room turned into a sauna after my son had a shower. Having done a bit of research opted for the Manrose fan and am pleased I did. Installation was straight forward and the fan itself is nice and quiet. Better still no more saunas !!