I totally get not wanting to swap out every single pipe just because the walls are open—sometimes it feels like the “while you’re at it” logic is how budgets evaporate. I left some of my old copper too, and so far, no regrets. As for the humidity sensor, I must’ve picked a dud or something... mine would randomly kick on if someone boiled pasta in the kitchen. Maybe I just need to upgrade brands next time.
Had the same issue with a humidity sensor once—ours would go off if someone even looked at the shower, but ignore actual steam. Ended up swapping it for a manual timer switch. Not as fancy, but at least I know when it’s running. Sometimes simple wins out over smart tech, especially when you’re watching costs.
- Totally get where you’re coming from with the “dumb” switch.
- I tried two different brands of humidity sensors before giving up. Both either triggered at random or didn’t trigger at all.
- Manual timer’s been way more reliable for me. No guessing if the fan’s running or not.
- Plus, way easier to explain to guests or kids—just twist the dial, done.
- Honestly, sometimes I think smart tech just adds more stuff to troubleshoot. If something breaks, it’s usually the “smart” part, not the basic mechanics.
- Only downside is forgetting to set the timer, but that’s on me.
- If you’re watching costs, those fancy sensors aren’t worth it unless you’re really into automation.
- Guess it depends how much you want to tinker vs. just have things work. For me, less hassle wins every time.
Honestly, sometimes I think smart tech just adds more stuff to troubleshoot. If something breaks, it’s usually the “smart” part, not the basic mechanics.
Couldn’t agree more—my last “smart” switch needed a firmware update just to work with my router, which felt ridiculous for a bathroom fan. I’m curious, has anyone found a humidity sensor that actually works reliably and doesn’t cost a fortune? Or is it just not worth the hassle for most folks?
Title: Finally got my bathroom reno approved—permit process wasn’t as scary as I thought
I get what you mean about smart tech being more hassle than help sometimes. When I moved in, I tried one of those “automatic” humidity switches for the fan, thinking it’d be a set-it-and-forget-it thing. Instead, it kept turning the fan on every time someone took a hot shower... or just washed their hands with warm water. Ended up swapping it for a plain timer switch. Maybe there’s a better sensor out there, but honestly, I’m not convinced it’s worth the extra cost or troubleshooting headaches.