Curious if you’ve had any luck with humidity-sensing fans or timers in your bathroom renos? I’ve been debating whether they’re worth the extra cost. They seem like a nice upgrade on paper, but I’m not sure if tenants actually use them or just ignore the features.
I’ve put in a couple humidity-sensing fans for family and honestly, it’s a mixed bag. My uncle’s place—he never touches the switch, just lets the sensor do its thing, and it seems to keep the bathroom dry. But at my sister’s rental, tenants kept flipping the breaker because they thought the fan was “broken” when it ran longer than expected. Ended up swapping it for a regular timer switch.
Timers are a bit more foolproof, but even then, I’ve seen folks just leave them set to “off” and forget about it. I get why people like the idea of automation, but sometimes simple is safer. Less chance of someone messing with wiring or getting confused and calling you at 10pm because the fan won’t stop.
If you do go for a sensor, maybe stick with one that has a manual override. That way, if someone doesn’t trust the tech, they can still use it like a normal fan. Just my two cents from seeing both sides...
I get where you’re coming from about “simple is safer,” but honestly, I think that’s only true up to a point. In my experience, the biggest problem with regular timer switches is that people just don’t use them—or they set them for two minutes and call it good, which doesn’t actually do much for moisture. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen mold creeping up the ceiling in places where folks were supposed to run the fan after showers, but didn’t bother.
“Timers are a bit more foolproof, but even then, I’ve seen folks just leave them set to ‘off’ and forget about it.”
Exactly. That’s why I lean toward humidity-sensing fans, even if they’re not perfect. Sure, you’ll get the occasional tenant who thinks the fan is haunted or something, but most people just want to get in and out of the bathroom without thinking about it. The sensor does the job for them. I’ve had way fewer callbacks for moisture issues since I started putting them in, especially in rentals where you can’t count on folks to follow instructions.
I do agree that the manual override is a must, though. Some of the older models were a pain—either they’d never shut off, or they’d kick on at the slightest whiff of steam from a cup of tea. The newer ones are a lot better, and if someone really wants to turn it off, they can. But honestly, I’d rather deal with a few confused phone calls than repaint a ceiling every year because someone can’t be bothered to hit a switch.
At the end of the day, nothing’s totally foolproof, but I’d rather trust a sensor than hope tenants remember to use a timer. Just my two cents—sometimes a little tech headache up front saves a lot of maintenance down the line.
Couldn’t agree more about the humidity sensors. I’ve seen way too many bathrooms where timers just end up as wall decorations—folks either forget or set them for, like, 90 seconds and call it a day. Mold loves that kind of neglect. The newer sensors are a huge step up, especially with the manual override (because yeah, nobody wants the fan running after you just boiled water for ramen). Bit of tech confusion beats scraping mildew off grout any day.
Humidity Sensors Are a Game Changer, But Not Foolproof
You nailed it with the humidity sensors—I've lost count of how many times I've seen tenants ignore the timer fans or just crank them for a minute and call it good. But I’m curious, have you run into any issues with those newer sensors misfiring? I had one setup where the fan would kick on every time someone took a hot shower, which is great, but then it’d also start up if someone just left the door open and humidity from the hallway drifted in. Not a big deal, but it made me wonder if there’s a sweet spot for calibration.
I do agree that tech confusion is better than dealing with moldy grout... that stuff is a nightmare to clean once it settles in. At least with the manual override, people aren’t stuck listening to the fan drone on after making tea or something. Out of curiosity, do you think these sensors actually help keep maintenance calls down long-term? I’m still on the fence about retrofitting all my older units.
Funny you mention the calibration—had a similar thing happen in my last reno. The fan would kick on every time someone opened the bathroom window, just from the outside air. I fiddled with the sensor sensitivity for ages and finally found a setting that worked... mostly. I do think they're worth it in terms of reducing moisture issues, but I still get the odd call about “the fan won’t turn off.” It’s not perfect, but honestly, fewer headaches than dealing with peeling paint or moldy caulk down the line. Retrofitting older units is a pain, though—sometimes the wiring alone makes me question if it’s worth it.