I've had similar experiences with humidity sensors—placement really is key. A few things I've noticed:
- Sensor height matters too. Installed mine initially near ceiling level, but steam rises quickly and triggered it way too soon. Dropped it down about a foot and it's been much more accurate.
- Agree on brand quality, but I've also found that cleaning the sensor occasionally helps maintain accuracy. Dust buildup can mess with readings.
- Kids and timers...yeah, that's a losing battle. Humidity sensors at least remove the human factor, mostly.
Still, nothing beats checking things manually once in a while...just for peace of mind.
Good points about sensor height—I've run into that issue too. Found that placing mine roughly shoulder-height was the sweet spot, especially since steam tends to swirl around at ceiling level and cause false triggers.
Cleaning sensors is often overlooked, totally agree there. I've seen sensors practically caked with dust after just a year or two, especially if the bathroom has poor ventilation. A quick wipe-down every few months can make a huge difference.
Curious though, anyone ever had trouble with humidity sensors being too sensitive in warmer climates or during summer months? Mine sometimes kicks on even when no one's showered just because it's humid outside. Ended up adjusting the sensitivity a bit, but wondering if others found better solutions or workarounds...
I've had a similar issue—my fan kicks in randomly on humid summer afternoons, and it startled me more than once, haha. Ended up lowering the sensitivity too, but now I'm wondering if anyone's tried pairing it with a timer switch to avoid those surprise activations...
Had the exact same thought about pairing mine with a timer switch. I mean, lowering sensitivity helped, but it still randomly kicks on sometimes when the humidity spikes. Honestly, it's not even the noise that bugs me most—it's just that unexpected jolt when you're half-asleep or zoning out brushing your teeth, lol.
Have you looked into those timer switches yet? I've been thinking about grabbing one next time I'm at the hardware store, but I'm curious if they're tricky to install or if they actually solve the issue. Seems like it could be a good solution though—just set it for a certain amount of time after showers and avoid those random afternoon surprises altogether.
Either way, glad I'm not alone in getting startled by my own bathroom fan... thought I was just jumpy from being new to homeownership. Good luck sorting yours out!
Timer switches are pretty straightforward to install, especially if you're comfortable with basic wiring. I've put in a bunch for clients dealing with similar humidity-triggered fan issues, and they usually do the trick. Definitely beats getting startled awake at 2 AM by your own bathroom fan kicking on... You're on the right track—grab one next time you're out, it'll probably solve your problem. Good luck!
