The Broan NuTone 157 is a surface-mount, fan-forced electric ceiling heater built into a low-profile aluminum housing that extends only 2-3/4" from the ceiling, letting it mount directly to a standard electrical box without the deeper cavity a recessed heater would require. A built-in fan actively dispenses heat evenly across the room rather than relying on passive radiant convection alone, and the permanently lubricated motor is designed to run maintenance-free for the life of the unit.
Homeowners and contractors installing supplemental heat in bathrooms, small offices, and other rooms without adequate primary heating reach for the 157 because its compact 11" x 2-3/4" footprint mounts to the same standard 3-1/2" and 4" round or 4" octagonal ceiling electrical boxes already common in residential construction, making it a straightforward retrofit into an existing fixture location. Automatic overheat protection shuts the unit down if airflow is restricted or the heater overheats, and Broan explicitly designs the 157 to provide supplemental heat only — it is not intended to replace a home's main heating system.
Common configuration: 1250W wattage output at 120VAC, 1-phase, 60 Hz, 10.7A amperage draw, 4,266 BtuH heating capacity, fan-forced heating method, rated to heat approximately 125 sq ft, overall dimensions of 2-3/4" (or 2-11/16" per some documentation) height x 11" width x 2-3/4" depth, satin-finish aluminum housing and grille in a gray/silver color, roughly 2-1/4 to 2.85 lb weight depending on source, UL Listed, and a 1-year manufacturer warranty. No thermostat is included with the unit — Broan recommends pairing it with the separately sold Model 86W line voltage thermostat and, optionally, the Model 81W/61V 15-minute timer.
Quick-Reference Spec Glossary
- Wattage output
- 1250W
- Voltage/Phase/Frequency
- 120VAC, 1-phase, 60 Hz
- Amperage
- 10.7A
- Heating capacity
- 4,266 BtuH
- Heating method
- Fan-forced
- Area heated
- ~125 sq ft
- Overall dimensions
- 2-3/4" H x 11" W x 2-3/4" D
- Thermostat included
- No — Model 86W recommended separately