Hey everyone! I live in a newer house where the bathroom exhaust fans are supposed to run automatically, but one of them just keeps going non-stop. There are switches for each fan, but they seem to operate independently, regardless of whether the switch is turned on or off. I'm guessing this is set up because of a humidity sensor or something similar? I really want to know if there's a way to modify it so that I can control these fans myself with the switches when I want to. Just to add, these fans don't have lights. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
It could be adjustable! Many of these fans have a potentiometer that sets how sensitive they are to humidity. If you’re handy, find that and tweak it to your liking. But be aware that some might require you to briefly toggle the switch off and on to activate them if they’re wired in a specific way. Just something to keep in mind if you want to do it yourself!
It sounds like this might be a local building code thing since they want to ensure proper airflow, especially in damp climates. A builder once mentioned to me that they often install fans to run continuously instead of having actual ventilation units due to cost. Honestly, if it were my house, I’d definitely wire them to the switches so you can turn them on or off at will, perhaps even leave a window cracked for ventilation instead! If you want a more permanent solution, you could consider installing a proper ventilation system, but that might get pricey.
From what you described, it seems like your fan has a built-in humidity sensor. If you want to take control back, you might find a third wire going from your switch to the fan. Disconnecting that should let you control it as you wish. If you're not comfortable messing with wiring, you could also check out timer switches that can work similarly to light switches. They’re easy to install and will help prevent the fan from running forever!