I've had clients call me out because their fancy sensor fan kicked on every time someone boiled water downstairs. Sometimes simpler really is better—especially when it saves you from midnight tro...
Haha, I feel this. We had a humidity sensor in our upstairs bath that went off whenever my wife steamed broccoli downstairs. Nothing like hearing the fan kick on and wondering who's showering at 3pm...Timers all the way for me now.
Timers are decent, but honestly, a properly calibrated humidity sensor usually solves that issue. Most factory settings are way too sensitive...a bit of tweaking and placement adjustment can make a huge difference. Just my two cents from troubleshooting these things regularly.
Humidity sensors are great, but personally I still keep a timer as backup. Had a sensor fail once (long story, haha)...ended up repainting half the ceiling. Better safe than sorry.
"Humidity sensors are great, but personally I still keep a timer as backup. Had a sensor fail once (long story, haha)...ended up repainting half the ceiling. Better safe than sorry."
Funny you mention that—I had the opposite experience. Used to rely on timers religiously until my kids started messing with them. One day I walked into a bathroom that felt like a tropical rainforest...walls dripping and everything. Switched to a decent humidity sensor after that and haven't looked back. Maybe it depends on the brand or model? Curious what went wrong with yours...
Funny you mention kids messing with timers...I swear mine think it's some kind of game to see how long they can leave the fan off before I notice. I've had decent luck with humidity sensors myself, but I totally get the caution. One thing I've learned is placement matters a ton—had mine initially installed too close to the shower, and it kept triggering prematurely. Moved it closer to the door and it's been smooth sailing ever since.
Also, brand definitely seems to matter. Had a cheap one from the hardware store that was about as reliable as a weather forecast. Upgraded to a slightly pricier model online (nothing fancy, just better reviews) and it's been night and day difference. Still, I keep an eye on things occasionally...just in case. After all, repainting ceilings isn't exactly my idea of weekend fun either, haha.
