Why Your Humidity-Sensing Bathroom Fan Won't Turn Off (Fixed) -

Having a humidity-sensing bathroom fan is useful until it stops working properly.

This is when things become frustrating and you end up in a situation where you don’t know what to do next.

The first thing you will want to find out is why your humidity-sensing bathroom fan won’t turn off.

A humidity-sensing bathroom fan won’t turn off because the pull cord is in the wrong position. This causes the bathroom fan to override the sensor and run without stopping. To fix this, reset the pull cord to engage the sensor.

It’s a common issue that can happen when you are rewiring the bathroom fan or the pull cord is pulled by mistake.

This article will explain how to fix a humidity-sensing bathroom fan that won’t turn off.

Table of Contents

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How To Fix Humidity Sensing Bathroom Fan That Won’t Turn Off

1. Inspect The Pull Cord

The main reason your bathroom fan won’t turn off is due to the built-in override feature.

Humidity-sensing bathroom fans are equipped with a pull cord. This cord is designed to help override the sensor allowing the fan to run endlessly until it is turned off.

This is useful when you don’t want the fan to turn off and would prefer it to function based on how you need it.

Unfortunately, it is possible for the pull cord to remain in this position and therefore override the humidity-sensing feature all the time.

To fix this issue, you will have to reset the pull cord.

humidity sensing bathroom fan won't turn off

2. Reset the Pull Cord

To reset the pull cord for a humidity-sensing bathroom fan, it’s important to find where it is.

The pull cord will likely be set up near the bathroom fan. It is also possible the fan has a simple switch that does the same job.

It will depend on the model.

The goal is to reset it to the off position ensuring the humidity sensor starts working again. This will ensure any time the humidity is fine in the bathroom, the bathroom fan turns off.

This is key because you do need such control when it comes to doing things the right way.

3. Tighten The Screws

If the automatic bathroom fan keeps turning on, it is also possible for the screws to be loose. This can cause the sensor to stop working the way it is engineered to.

Your goal is to look at the wiring and make sure the screws are tightened properly.

If you don’t do this, the damage that can be done is extensive. A continuous running exhaust fan will break down and it is also going to put quite a bit of load on the electrical circuit.

It’s essential to get to the bottom of what’s going on including tightening the connectors that are holding everything in place.

How Do You Bypass The Humidity Sensor In A Bathroom Fan?

To bypass the humidity sensor in a bathroom fan, pull the cord attached to the unit. This is the override feature designed by manufacturers to ensure the bathroom fan runs manually. Some models will have switches that do the same thing.

It’s recommended to not use the override feature as it places a higher demand on your electrical circuit.

It wastes quite a bit of electricity and you are going to notice this at the end of the month.

However, if you do want to override the humidity-sensing bathroom fan then this is the way to do it.

What Does A Humidity Sensor Do On A Bathroom Fan?

A humidity sensor on a bathroom fan is designed to help control the unit based on the amount of moisture in the bathroom. If it is too high, the bathroom fan turns on. If it is normal, the bathroom fan turns off.

It’s a simple design to help save on electricity and ensure the fan runs when it needs to.

Final Thoughts

These are the reasons why your humidity-sensing bathroom fan won’t turn off.

The reason a humidity-sensing bathroom fan won’t turn off is due to the override feature. These fans come equipped with a pull cord and/or switch to override the sensor. This allows the bathroom fan to run endlessly regardless of how much moisture is in the bathroom.

It’s not recommended to run the bathroom fan in this position for long periods. It will waste a lot of electricity.

Instead, reset the pull cord and make sure it works the way you want it to.

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