Many buyers search for industrial-grade heavy-duty exhaust fans for their large professional or commercial workspace, only to end up with something like the Broan-Nutone 512M that can’t even cover a small room. But the MaxxAir IF14UPS that we are going to take a look at today is different. Not only is it solidly built, but it also performs extremely well. In fact, it performs so well that a fan like this doesn’t really make sense indoors in a room. So it might not be the best fan for kitchen use, but it sure is one of the best exhaust fans to install in a commercial workspace.
Related: Read this Maxxair HVWM 18 UPS review for other great options.
Why We Like It – MaxxAir IF14UPS
The MaxxAir IF14UPS is a simple, straightforward heavy duty exhaust fan, similar to the iLiving 10-inch shutter exhaust fan. The saying “less is better” really does apply to this fan as it doesn’t really have too many modern features. But with its extreme performance and durable build quality, it’s bound to impress a lot of buyers.
- Galvanized steel that prevents rust
- Shutter for preventing drafts
- One-year limited warranty
- Loud fan and shutter noise
Related: Have a look at the Nutone 8210 review
Performance/Power
The MaxxAir IF14UPS performs well so that even a 1200 sq. ft. room is adequate for it. In total, it can move up to 1400 CFM of air, and that’s insane for just a 14” fan.
Durability/Build
Well, this fan is made for professional workspaces, so it’s bound to be durable. It’s entirely made out of galvanized steel and doesn’t get dusty or rust very easily. Everything from the fan to the body and shutters is made from steel.
Noise/Sound Level
Noise is a big issue for this exhaust fan, as expected. On higher speed levels, the fan gets ear piercingly loud. But in a big commercial space, that noise shouldn’t really be an issue. If you need something quieter for your personal room, you need to go for the Hon Guan 6 Inches Exhaust Fan.
Versatility/Modern Features
As mentioned before, this fan is very simply built for a very specific use case. So you don’t get a lot of bells and whistles you might see on a more consumer-grade exhaust fan at this price. But you do get backdraft protection. When the fan is off, the steel shutters close automatically. But, unfortunately, the opening and closing of the shutters are not user-controllable. So there’s not really any form of backdraft protection while the fan is running. Even the iLiving 10-Inch Shutter Exhaust Fan has user-controllable shutters at less than half the cost.
Value
With the MaxxAir IF14UPS, you really do get what you pay for. It might seem a little too costly, considering it loses out on so many new and modern features, but the performance, build quality, and reliability easily makes up for it. More included accessories (like mesh filters) would have been nice. But on its own, it still is an excellent value-for-money exhaust fan.
MaxxAir IF14UPS Wrap Up
The industrial-grade exhaust fan market isn’t anymore what it used to be a decade ago. The MaxxAir IF14UPS is one of the few remnants of the older, more reliable exhaust fans still available to buy.
