NuTone PurePower PP5501 Review

Specifications

"Not yet verified" means the manufacturer has not published the figure or we could not confirm it. We never fill a gap with a guess; our own measurements are added once a unit has been tested hands-on.

The short version

Who this unit is for

The NuTone PurePower PP5501 is for someone replacing an existing NuTone power unit in a small home who wants the same bracket footprint, the same 391 bags and a plug-in install. NuTone rated it for 1,000 to 4,000 sq ft. It is the smallest of the three PurePower units and the simplest: single-stage motor, disposable bag, standard filtration.

It is not a unit to seek out otherwise. Broan-NuTone marks it discontinued, and the central vacuum line has moved to Drainvac, so you would be buying remaining stock with an uncertain support path.

What the specs tell you

NuTone’s spec sheet lists 550 air watts and 120 in of water lift from a single-stage, 2.1 HP thru-flow motor drawing 12 A. Air watts predicts carpet cleaning power at the tool; 550 is at the low end of what residential units in our records publish. Water lift is sealed suction for long runs and climbs; 120 in is adequate for a small, compact pipe layout and the reason NuTone capped the rating at 4,000 sq ft.

Noise is rated at 66 dB, higher than the PP6501 (64 dB) and PP7001 (63 dB).

Collection is bagged only, with a 6 gal NuTone 391 disposable bag and what NuTone calls standard, self-cleaning filtration. HEPA is not claimed. The trade-off: clean bag changes and a protected motor, against a per-bag consumable and no bagless option.

CFM is not published. Dimensions conflict: the spec sheet says 13.25 in wide by 14.625 in deep by 29.75 in high, while the product page swaps the width and depth figures. Either way, plan on roughly 15 in of wall width and 30 in of height.

Fit and compatibility

Standard 2-inch pipe, wall bracket mount. NuTone lists low-voltage and direct-connect electric inlet compatibility, and low-voltage crimp connectors are in the parts bag. Power is plug-in 120V on a 6 ft cord; NuTone recommends a minimum 20 A circuit even though the unit draws 12 A. Not hardwired.

Exhaust outside is recommended. The wall cap (Model 393 or CI330) is not included. Weight is 22 lb.

What’s in the box, and what you still need

In the box: the power unit, wall-mount bracket, 6 ft power cord, debris pail, one disposable bag and a parts bag with low-voltage crimp connectors.

Not included: utility valve, hose and attachments, pipe, fittings and inlets, and the exhaust wall cap. Unlike the PP7001, there is no utility valve on the unit, so garage cleanup means running a hose from a nearby inlet.

Warranty and support

NuTone’s terms: 5 years on parts, with the first 3 years parts and labor at an authorized service center, for the original purchaser. Registration is at nutone.com/register and NuTone reserves the right to limit the warranty if the unit is not registered. Evidence of the original purchase date is required, and NuTone’s guide says not to return the unit to the place of purchase; service goes through an authorized service center. No statement about online marketplaces was found.

Living with it

Bags are NuTone 391, 6 gal. There is no separate filter to wash; NuTone describes the filtration as self-cleaning. Change the bag when it is about two-thirds full; a packed bag on a 550 air watt unit noticeably cuts suction at the far inlets.

At 66 dB this unit belongs in a garage or on an exterior utility wall with the exhaust vented outside through the 393 or CI330 cap.

What we’d verify before buying

• CFM: not published.
• Dimensions: product page and spec sheet disagree on width and depth.
• Model: identified by its 550 air watt rating, since the listing does not print PP5501.
• Current warranty administrator, given the Drainvac transfer and the broken Drainvac link.
• Marketplace coverage: NuTone’s terms do not address it.
• Availability of 391 bags over the unit’s life now that the line has changed hands.

What's in the box, and what you still need

Most power units ship without a hose or powerhead. Our attachments guide explains which hose fits your inlets.