Totally get where you’re coming from on the “drama sensor” front. I’ve been down the path of chasing mold with tech, only to end up with a fan that never shuts up and a chilly bathroom in winter. Your point about matching CFM to room size is spot on—so many people just grab the biggest fan they can find and call it good. I ended up dialing mine back and tweaking the humidity threshold, and it’s made a world of difference for both comfort and my utility bill. Sometimes the simplest fixes, like a light-switch timer or just leaving the door cracked, really do work better than overthinking it.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve got to push back a little on the “just leave the door cracked” approach. In my experience managing rentals, that’s the kind of thing tenants forget about after a week, and then you’re back to square one with mold creeping in. I’ve seen too many bathrooms with peeling paint and that musty smell because people relied on the “simple fixes” and didn’t stick with them.
Sometimes the simplest fixes, like a light-switch timer or just leaving the door cracked, really do work better than overthinking it.
I’d argue a humidity sensor fan, even if it takes a bit of dialing in, is worth the hassle for long-term peace of mind—especially if you’re not the only one using the space. Sure, it’s not perfect out of the box, but once you get it set right, you don’t have to trust anyone’s memory. Utility bills might go up a bit, but dealing with mold remediation is way pricier and a huge headache. Just my two cents from the “I’ve seen it all” side of things.
I get the appeal of a humidity sensor fan, but I always wonder about the upfront cost.
True, but if you’re on a tight budget, even a $60 fan feels like a lot. I’ve just been using a cheap box fan after showers—definitely not fancy, but it seems to help. Anyone else try low-cost options before going all-in on upgrades?Utility bills might go up a bit, but dealing with mold remediation is way pricier and a huge headache.
Box fan after a shower? Honestly, that’s kind of genius—low tech, but if it works, it works. I’ve definitely tried just leaving the door open and hoping for the best, which is probably not the most scientific approach. Ever tried just running a dehumidifier in the hallway? I did that once, but it sounded like a jet engine and my cat hated it. The humidity sensor fans are cool, but I always wonder if they’re really that much better than just cracking a window... assuming you have one that opens.
I’m with you on the box fan trick—simple, cheap, and it actually does the job. I tried one of those fancy humidity sensor fans in my last place, and honestly, it didn’t seem much better than just opening a window (when I had one). The biggest difference I noticed was energy use. The sensor fan kicked on even when it wasn’t super humid, which felt wasteful. I’m all about low-tech if it means less energy and less noise. Dehumidifiers are great in theory, but yeah, the noise is a dealbreaker for me too. My dog would bark at it like it was an intruder.
