Keeping your bathroom free of mold and excess humidity isn’t as hard as it may seem. Using the best humidity sensing bathroom fan, you may even find that reducing condensation in the bathroom is easier than you think.
Since there are many models on the market, this review will help you pick the best bathroom exhaust fan with humidity sensor.
Most of these units are designed to automatically turn the fan off, especially when it detects the humidity level above normal.
Let’s get started with this review
What Humidity should my Bathroom Fan be Set At?
You should set your bathroom fan between the percentage relative humidity levels of 25% and 75%. This range of humidity settings is ideal for keeping your bathroom comfortable and free from molds.
If the amount of moisture in the air in your bathroom reduces drastically, then you will find it uncomfortable to stay in the space. Similarly, if the room’s air is highly humid, then molds would quickly grow on the walls and other surfaces.
Once you program your device to operate within this range, the humidity sensor helps to automatically trigger the fan to run if the humidity level is either very low or high.
When the relative humidity score exceeds 75, the humidity sensor triggers the fan to start operating. The operating fan reduces the relative humidity in the bathroom over time.
If the relative humidity in your bathroom falls below 25%, then the humidity sensor triggers the fan to stop operating. This mechanism prevents the air in the bathroom from becoming very dry and uncomfortable.
Most humidity-sensing bathroom fans have a programable range of between 25% and 75%. Therefore, you can choose such a fan and set it within this range for optimum comfort.
How do Humidity Sensing Bathroom Fans Work?
Humidity sensing bathroom fans work by automatically switching on and off depending on your bathroom’s relative humidity levels.
The defining component of humidity sensing bathroom fans is a small device called the humidity sensor module. It combines a simple thermometer to accurately read the relative humidity of the air in your bathroom.
The humidity sensor can automatically trigger the bathroom fan on and off, depending on how you program your device. You can usually choose an ideal range of relative humidity (commonly 25% to 75%).
When the humidity sensor detects the relative humidity score above 75%, the fan automatically gets on and starts sucking out the excess humidity. When the relative humidity level falls below 25%, the humidity sensor triggers the fan to stop sucking the bathroom’s humidity.
How do you Wire a Bathroom Fan with a Humidity Sensor?
There are three ways of wiring a bathroom fan with a humidity sensor.
- First, you can decide not to use a switch. In this type of wiring, the humidity sensor of the fan will always be on. This may be an ideal option for large properties that are occupied by other people. Similarly, if you feel that there is no need to switch the humidity sensor on and off, you can wire your device.
- The second, and most common way, of wiring a humidity sensing bathroom fan, uses one switch for all the components. If you wire your humidity sensor and fan on one switch, it means that you can easily control both at the flip of the switch. This wiring method provides all the convenience you need to control your bathroom’s fan and humidity sensor.
- The third way involves wiring the humidity sensor on a separate switch from that of the fan and its components. The good news about this option is that you can add as many switches as you desire. It all boils down to your preference. Moreover, you will have total control over what component of the exhaust fan you would like to switch on or off.
Benefits of Bathroom Exhaust Fans with Humidity Sensors
Using bathroom exhaust fans with humidity sensors is beneficial in various ways.
First, using such fans helps to protect your bathroom. Excessive moisture can cause significant damage to your bathroom. Leakages from pipes over time can cause massive rots and damages to sections of your bathroom.
Fixing such problems typically costs a lot because it involves replacing the damaged surfaces with new ones.
Luckily, using an exhaust fan that has a humidity sensor helps to prevent such accidents from occurring. The sensor will ensure that humidity levels in your bathroom are within a safe range.
Moreover, molds and mildews can cause significant damage to your bathroom. Molds grow in highly humid conditions. If you have a humidity sensing bathroom fan, your bathroom will be fully protected against excess moisture and the possible growth of molds and mildews.
Second, using bathroom exhaust fans with humidity sensors helps keep your bathroom and the entire home safe. An exhaust fan with a humidity sensor automatically shuts off when the humidity levels fall below the programmed setting.
This automatic shutoff feature is critical in preventing accidents that can occur if a fan is left running for a long time.
Any fan can overheat if it is left to run for long periods. Also, a fan can cause a fire accident if left unattended for a long time.
The humidity sensor in this type of exhaust fan resolves this problem. The sensor triggers the fan to switch on and off according to the prevailing relative humidity levels and the programmed settings.
Third, it is quite convenient to use a bathroom exhaust fan with a humidity sensor. You do not have to worry about manually turning the fan on and off. This level of convenience can be a great advantage to you if you have a busy schedule.
It may also be cumbersome for kids and visitors to have to get the fan on and off manually. Luckily, the humidity sensor in such fans does the job quite well.
How to Pick the Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan with Humidity Sensor?
It is challenging to choose the best bathroom fan with a humidity sensor because many brands are available on the market. Besides, all the brands have features that differentiate their performance.
Hence, it would help if you were sure about what you are looking to get the right fan for your bathroom. Here are a few things that you can consider when choosing an exhaust fan with a humidity sensor.
Adjustable or Fixed Fan Speed
The fan speed of exhaust fans and related devices is usually indicated in terms of CFM. CFM is the measure of air in cubic feet that the fan can move in a minute.
Some exhaust fans with humidity sensors allow users to adjust the fan speeds using an inbuilt switch. It is common for such fans to have the following settings: low, medium, and high.
Other fans allow for only low and high modes of fan speed. The low fan speed may be 6CFM, while the high mode may be 80CFM. Different devices have fixed fan speeds. If you choose such a device, it means that you will not control the fan speed.
Size of the Bathroom
The bathroom size in which you intend to use the device is an essential factor to consider. Ensure that you have an exhaust fan suitable for your bathroom size to avoid wasting energy or having excess moisture in the room.
If you use a fan with excess power, a lot of energy will go to waste. Besides, using such a fan is likely to cause pressure problems in your bathroom. Pressure imbalance may interfere with the way other devices, including fans, function in the home.
Small exhaust fans are unable to eliminate all the excess moisture from your bathroom. Thus, if you install a low-capacity exhaust fan, the chances are that all the problems associated with excess water will develop in your bathroom. Molds, rots, mildews, and eventually, damages are likely to occur because of excess moisture.
Generally, it would be best if you had 1CFM for every 1 square foot of space. If your bathroom measures 80 square feet, you need a fan with a strength of 80CFM. If you want more, check the highest CFM bathroom fan.
Noise Level
The noise level of exhaust fans is measured in terms of sones. An exhaust fan with a sones rating of more than 1.5 is considered slightly loud. An exhaust fan with a sones score of 1 or less is deemed to be ultra-silent.
When a fan with such a loudness rating operates in a completely silent house, one can only hear a whisper. Such fans usually have small LED lights to indicate when the motor is running. Fans that have sones ratings of over 1.5 are loud.
Best Humidity Sensing Bathroom Fan Reviews
1. Delta BreezGreenBuilder Bath Fan with Humidity Sensor
- Whisper-Quiet Fan: Ceiling fan to enjoy perfectly quiet operation at less than 0.8 Sones, ensuring a peaceful and serene bathroom environment
- Smart Humidity Control: Equipped with an adjustable humidity sensor that triggers full-speed operation to remove moisture efficiently, keeping your bathroom fresh and dry
- Customizable Airflow: Offers adjustable low-speed settings for continuous operation with options of 0 or 50 CFM, providing optimal ventilation tailored to your needs
- Ideal for Wet Areas: Ideal for tub/shower enclosures when used with GFCI-protected branch circuit wiring, ensuring a reliable performance in wet environments
- Intuitive LED Indicators: Blue and amber LED lights clearly show humidity control and full-speed modes, making it easy to monitor and manage the fan’s operation; Comes with a sleek white grille and convenient hanger bars for easy installation
One of the most fantastic features of the Delta BreezGreenBuilder GBR80H is that its humidity sensor module can be adjusted across various set points.
The fan automatically starts running when the relative humidity in your bathroom exceeds 80%. Once the relative humidity score falls below 50%, the fan stops running.
Additionally, you can toggle the fan speed between low and high levels. At the high level, the fan can move 80 cubic feet of air within a minute. When set on the low mode, it operates steadily at 50CFM. Because of this range of settings and options, one can adjust the performance of this fan accordingly.
It is worth mentioning that this fan has an ultra-low noise level of only 0.7 sones. You will hardly notice that it is running save for the small LED light at the bottom of the fan that goes on when the fan is running.
The Delta BreezGreenBuilder GBR80H scores high in performance, useability, control, and noise levels. But you cannot use it in huge bathrooms. Its capacity is limited to small and medium-sized bathrooms and not large spaces that need high fan strength.
Pros
- Straightforward installation because of the small size of the body
- Easy to use, thanks to a LED light for indicating that the fan is running and dual-speed settings
- Adjustable humidity sensor module for personalized performance
Cons
- Unsuitable for use in extra-large bathrooms
2. Panasonic FV-0511VQC1 WhisperSense Ventilation Fan with Motion and Humidity Sensors
- Installation: Features a 4 or 6-inch duct adaptor ideal for renovations, assisted living and dorms
- Precision Spot Ventilation: Quiet and powerful ventilation while removing moisture and pollution
- Dual Sensor Technology: Provides built-in redundancy for automatic moisture and odor control
- Flexible Installation: Comes with Flex-Z Fast bracket for easy, fast and trouble-free installation
- Energy Star Rated: Delivers powerful airflow without wasting energy
The Panasonic FV-0511VQC1 is a powerful and dynamic bathroom fan, thanks to its enhanced control features.
When using this fan, you can choose the fan’s speed from three settings: low, medium, and high. At 110CFM, this fan can suck out excess moisture in large bathrooms that measure up to 110 square feet.
You can use the low-speed setting of 50CFM when the job at hand is a small one that does not need a lot of sucking power. One can take advantage of this feature to personalize the fan’s performance according to your preferences and the needs of the bathroom.
Another fantastic feature of the Panasonic FV-0511VQC1 relates to its noise level. With a noise rating of only 0.3 sones, this fan offers a truly ultra-silent mode of operation.
You will hardly hear it during operation. This aspect can be a massive advantage if you are keen on maintaining ultimate silence in the bathroom and the entire house.
Pros
- Ultra-silent operation due to 0.3 sones rating
- Adjustable fan speed for convenience and flexibility
- The humidity sensor model can be programmed with the motion sensor for personalized performance
Cons
- The advanced control features require extra attention
3. Delta BreezSignature Bath Fan with Humidity Sensor
- Noise level of 2.0 sones
- Precision engineered with DC brushless motor for extended reliability
- Easily switch in and out of humidity sensing mode by toggling wall switch
- ENERGY STAR qualified for efficient cost-saving operation
- Precision engineered with DC brushless motor for extended reliability, this fan will outlast many household appliances
- 0.36 A
The Delta BreezSignature VFB25AEH is the perfect fan for use in large bathrooms that measure up to 130CFM. Its rugged and durable motor can effectively exhaust all excess moisture in large bathrooms, leaving them dry and comfortable.
Besides, its fixed humidity sensor can be a big plus if you do not want to keep on programming the device. However, some people may find the non-adjustable humidity sensor feature an inconvenience.
This fan delivers value for money, thanks to its components, which are made from high-quality materials.
The DC brushless motor provides excellent performance and stays in good shape for a long time. You do not have to think about replacing your fan often once you get this one installed correctly in the bathroom.
The only notable drawback of this fan is that it does not come with a flexible install bracket. Its large size means that you may have to make adjustments in your bathroom to install it effectively. However, this is a small issue if you consider its ability to function appropriately in large bathrooms.
Pros
- Suitable for large bathrooms that measure up to 130 square feet
- Highly-quality DC brushless motor and other components for maximum durability
- Pre-programmed humidity sensor module provides great convenience
Cons
- The installation process is complicated because the fan does not come with a flexible install bracket
4. Broan-Nutone QTXE110S Ultra-Silent Humidity-Sensing Ventilation Fan
- VERSATILE FAN: Ventilation fan helps eliminate , tobacco smoke, and cooking odors in a near-silent performance in rooms up to 105 sq. ft. to keep your house smelling fresh and clean
- EFFICIENT: Operates at 110 CFM and 0.7 Sones and is motor engineered for continuous operation to provide the best performance
- EASY INSTALLATION: Includes 6" ducting for high-quality performance and hanger bars to provide a fast installation in 2" x 8" construction spaces
- SENSOR: Automatically powers on once it detects a rise in and features an auto on/off switch programmable from 5-60 minutes
- SAFE: This ENERGY STAR* qualified fan is HIV certified and UL listed for use over bathtub or shower when installed with a GFCI protected branch circuit
- 0.3 A
Although this fan’s humidity sensor is not adjustable, you can still customize its performance using the fan timer.
The programmable fan timer has a range of from 5 to up to 60 minutes. Once properly programmed, the fan delivers personalized performance according to the needs of your bathroom.
The non-adjustable humidity sensor can be a benefit if you prioritize convenience and simplicity.
The fan automatically goes on and off according to the level of relative humidity in your bathroom. However, if you would like to adjust the sensor yourself’ relative humidity settings, then the Broan-Nutone QTXE110S is not the right choice.
This fan operates in the background without causing any form of distraction. At 0.7 sones, it can easily keep an extensive bathroom fresh yet produce non-discernable noise.
A significant drawback of this fan relates to its installation process. The 6-inch ducting and hanger bars that it comes with do not help much if one needs to carry out a retrofit installation.
But if you can make do with the sophisticated installation process, you will enjoy a clean and moist-free environment in your bathroom.
Pros
- Excellent performance, thanks to a fan speed of 110CFM
- Customizable performance because of the programmable fan timer
- Easy to use because the humidity sensor is non-adjustable
Cons
- Complex installation process
5. Delta BreezSlim Bath Fan with Humidity Sensor
The BreezeSlim SLM70H is the ideal fan with a humidity sensor if you are keen on performance and convenience.
This exhaust fan has a small body size that makes its installation very easy. You do not have to cut the joists or use wood pieces to make them fit into the available space in your bathroom.
Unlike other fans, the BreezSlim SLM70H has a pre-programmed humidity sensor module. The fan automatically starts operating when the relative humidity level in the bathroom exceeds 60%.
If the relative humidity falls lower than 60%, the fan stops sucking out excess moisture. This functioning mode can be a great convenience if you are not keen on having to program your fan all the time.
Sadly, this fan is slightly noisier than many others, which fall within about 70CFM. At 2.0 sones, you are likely to hear some noise in your bathroom all the time this fan is on.
Pros
- You can easily install the fan because of its small body size
- 70CFM is ideal for small bathrooms
- The humidity sensor is fixed at 60% for great convenience
Cons
- The fan is slightly noisy with a sones rating of 2.0
6. Delta BreezIntegrity Bathroom Fan with Humidity Sensor
This fan is the perfect choice for small bathrooms that measure about 80 square feet. It can serve you for more than eight years if it is properly installed and maintained.
And the good news is that the ITG80H Delta BreezIntegrity does not need a lot of attention in routine maintenance procedures. Therefore, you will enjoy peace of mind and a dry and fresh bathroom once you have this fan.
This energy star-qualified fan has a dual speed setting for your convenience. The fan is still useful in sucking out foul odors and excess moisture from your bathroom at low-speed. When set on the high-speed mode, the fan still maintains its energy efficiency properties.
You will have to bear with the noise level of this fan. Fans that have a sones level of 1.3 are slightly noisy. You will hear a light buzz whenever the fan is running in the bathroom. This noise level may be significant if you consider that this fan is ideal for small bathrooms.
Pros
- The fan has dual speed settings: high and low
- The 80CFM rating is ideal for small bathrooms
- Long-lasting performance with zero maintenance needs
Cons
- It has a high noise level of 1.5 sones
7. Hampton Bay Ceiling Humidity Sensing Bathroom Exhaust Fan
- Humidity Sensing Bath Fan or manual wall switch control
- Humidity more than 60% will turn the fan on.
- White grille
With a capacity of 150CFM and a loudness level of only 1.0 sones, the Hampton Bay 7136-01 may be your ideal choice for keeping a large bathroom fresh and free of excess moisture.
The humidity sensor is permanently set at 60% relative humidity level. The fan starts running when the humidity score exceeds 60% and stops once the bathroom’s moisture levels fall below this level. This feature can be quite useful if you do not want to waste time programming your fan’s humidity sensor.
You may have to create additional space for this large-sized fan to fit in your bathroom.
Besides, the hanger bars do not provide easy installation as you would expect because the fan is not designed for retrofit installations. These can be small drawbacks if all you are looking for is a large fan with a massive capacity for big bathrooms.
Pros
- The humidity sensor is pre-programmed at a 60% relative humidity level
- Excellent capacity of 140CFM
- Silent operation with a loudness score of 1.0 sones
Cons
- Complex installation procedure
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