Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans With Humidity Sensors

Did you know that there are exhaust fans that turn on automatically once they detect an increased level of humidity inside the bathroom? If this kind of hands-off approach on dealing with excess moisture sounds interesting to you, keep reading – I’ll be taking a closer look at the seven best humidity-sensing bathroom fans available on today’s market:

Reviews of the Best Humidity-Sensing Bathroom Fans

Panasonic WhisperSense FV-0511VQC1

The very first humidity-sensing bath fan I’m going to take a look at is considered by many to be the best appliance of this type currently available on the market. I’m of the same opinion – the WhisperSense FV-0511VQC1 is a genuinely feature-rich model whose performance and build quality are very difficult to match.

One of this model’s biggest advantages is undoubtedly its Dual-Sensor Technology. In other words, this Panasonic ventilation fan doesn’t only have a humidity sensor, but a motion sensor as well. As you can already guess, the latter of these two sensors is capable of detecting the presence of a person inside the bathroom. I advise setting it to run for about 10 minutes after you leave the bathroom.

The next great thing about WhisperSense – and one of its main selling points – is the button that allows the owner to switch between different speed modes. These are 50, 80, and 110 CFM.

While this is certainly an energy-efficient model (and Energy Star-certified, at that), it’s great to see that it provides its owner with even more control over its energy efficiency. If the maximum speed of 110 CFM seems unfit for the current circumstances in the bathroom, you can simply switch to a lower fan speed.

This is also one of those humidity-sensing fans that stay quiet while in operation. When used at the lowest fan speed setting, the level of noise that this Panasonic bathroom exhaust fan produces stands at only 0.3 Sones, which is very impressive. It definitely lives up to its name and is a great option for folks looking for a bathroom exhaust fan with humidity sensor that is also quiet while in operation.

I also liked how easy it is to install this bathroom ventilation fan. This is due to the fact that it comes together with Panasonic’s proprietary Flex-Z bracket, which can be of great assistance when it comes to positioning this bath fan exactly where you want it. However, I should point out that the unit was designed to be used only with 6” and 4” ducts – you may have to buy an adapter if you have a 3” duct.

Moreover, if you’re searching for a bathroom exhaust fan with humidity sensor that also looks good, this Panasonic model is an excellent choice. It sports a minimalistic but elegant grille design that goes well with most bathroom decorations. Finally, the unit is accompanied by a very generous warranty deal – 3 years on the parts and 6 years on the engine.

All in all, it’s quite easy to see why this appliance is the best bathroom exhaust fan with humidity sensor. With it, proper ventilation is guaranteed – it effortlessly removes excess humidity from a larger bathroom due to its powerful, energy-efficient motor while also being easy to install and use. What more could one want?

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Delta Electronics BreezSignature VFB25AEH

The next bathroom exhaust fan with humidity sensor on my list comes from Delta Electronics, one of the world’s most renowned manufacturers of these appliances. Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way first – the only serious downside of this bathroom fan is the fact that it can be difficult to install. Otherwise, this is a fantastic product with a lot of convenient features.

First of all, it comes with an adjustable humidity sensor. This is one of the biggest improvements over the older variant of BreezSignature VFB25AEH. The previous version had an excessively sensitive humidity sensor which caused the bathroom fan to work even when it was not supposed to. The fact that this is now finally fixed deserves special words of praise.

This Delta Electronics model is also one of the best bathroom fans for folks who need a genuinely powerful appliance of this type. Its potent variable-speed engine does a great job of eliminating humidity – with 130 CFM of air-moving power, it effortlessly deals with large amounts of excess moisture in large bathrooms. With this humidity-sensing bathroom fan, improved indoor air quality is guaranteed.

The powerful DC brushless motor of this bath fan also has an energy-efficient rating, i.e. it bears the Energy Star certification. The variable speed feature, which I have mentioned above, also deserves admiration. Namely, the BreezSignature VFB25AEH is one of those appliances with humidity sensors boasting the so-called soft start feature, i.e. they start removing excess moisture at a low fan speed and then eventually reach their highest air-moving rate later.

Although the Sone rating of this Delta Electronics bath fan isn’t as low as that of the Panasonic unit described above, this ventilation fan is still fairly silent, at 2.0 Sones. One thing worth pointing out here is that, due to the presence of the aforementioned soft start feature, the Sone rating of this model stands at just 0.3 when it is first turned on.

Also, it is equipped with two indicator lights – an amber LED light and a blue LED light – so that the owner knows whether the bath fan is currently in operation and which mode it is using – manual or humidity-sensing mode.

Are there any other features worth mentioning? The automatic humidity-sensing mode mentioned above is easy to override by using the toggling wall switch. Furthermore, Delta Electronics claims that this bath fan with humidity sensor can run without any hiccups for more than 70,000 hours, which certainly inspires confidence in its longevity. Lastly, the model is backed by a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.

In summary, the Delta Electronics BreezSignature VFB25AEH is a genuinely phenomenal humidity-sensing bathroom fan and one that you certainly won’t regret investing in.

It’s a particularly great option for homeowners with bigger bathrooms, as it has a CFM rating of 130 and effortlessly deals with excessive moisture levels. Tricky installation is the only drawback, but that’s a problem you can easily solve by hiring an electrician to do it for you.

Check out these posts on the best Delta bathroom fans as well.

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Broan-NuTone Ultra-Silent QTXE110S

Here we have a bath fan with an adjustable humidity sensor, a delay timer, an Energy Star-qualified motor, and enough power to deal with increased moisture levels inside ~105 sq. ft. bathrooms.

Its name is Ultra-Silent QTXE110S and its manufacturer is Broan-NuTone, one of the most well-known names in the bathroom exhaust fan industry. Is this model the right choice for your needs?

One of the main selling points of this particular unit is the fact that it’s one of those bath fans that have both a delay timer and a humidity sensor. As its name suggests, the job of the latter feature is to keep the humidity level in check, but what about the former one?

The default setting of the unit’s timer is a 20-minutes delay, which means that it will stop operating only 20 minutes after the humidity level has dropped to an acceptable amount in order to adequately complete the ventilation process.

Another great thing here is that both the timer and the humidity sensor can be adjusted. The timer can be set from 5 minutes to one hour, and the humidity sensor from 50% to 70%. The adjustments are done on the unit’s housing and require the use of a screwdriver. All in all, the combo of these two exceptionally convenient features is something I’d like to see on all bathroom exhaust fans with humidity sensor.

At the heart of this Broan-NuTone bath fan is a variable-speed DC motor with a 110 CFM rating. It’s pretty safe to say that this is one of those bathroom exhaust fans that can easily deal with not only an increased humidity level but also steam, tobacco smoke, and cooking odors. And, as its name suggests, the engine can slow down or speed up to improve performance, which is always a big plus in my book.

The next thing worth talking about is the noise level. The Broan-NuTone Ultra-Silent QTXE110S definitely lives up to its name in this department as it has a 0.7 Sones rating, which means that it efficiently gets the job done without making too much noise. Unfortunately, however, there’s not a LED indicator light of any kind on this humidity-sensing bath fan, which is also its biggest disadvantage.

One very important thing to say about this exhaust fan is that it was designed to be used with 6” ducts. In other words, those with smaller ducts will not be able to get the best performance out of this unit unless they upgrade them. Finally, this exhaust fan with humidity sensor doesn’t fit 2 x 6 ceiling joists but it comes accompanied by adjustable hanger bars.

All in all, I think this is yet another of quality Broan-NuTone bathroom fans with humidity sensors and a great investment for anyone who needs a reliable appliance of this type. While it lacks a LED light of any kind, most of its features are very convenient and highly adjustable.

And most importantly, the unit is more than capable of dealing with increased humidity levels caused by people taking hot showers inside regular-sized bathrooms.

Read our post on the best decorative bathroom exhaust fans as well.

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Air King Dual-Speed E130DH

Is this bathroom exhaust fan really “the king”? There are a lot of good things about it – there’s no doubt about that. Not only can this exhaust fan with humidity sensor work at two different CFM rates, but it’s also very quiet in operation, Energy Star-qualified, and backed by a 5-year limited warranty. Unfortunately, it is not flawless – it features no indicator LED light of any sort.

The main selling point of this exhaust fan is definitely the fact that it can operate at both 50 CFM and 130 CFM. How is this possible?

It’s because it’s equipped with a well-engineered humidity sensor that does a great job of detecting humidity levels and transferring this info to the unit’s engine, which can then exercise humidity control by removing air at an appropriate speed. Quite convenient, isn’t it?

Fortunately, all of this can be controlled manually as well. This is because the E130DH is one of those bathroom fans that come with a dual-speed control switch. Once you install the exhaust fan on the ceiling and the wall switch on the wall, you’ll be able to use this same switch to swap between the two CFM rates whenever you want. And being able to control the speed of the ventilation fan is always a big plus in my book.

Besides this superior performance and the fact that the unit’s potent motor makes reaching the desired humidity level as quick and easy as possible, the Air King Dual-Speed E130DH is also a very quiet appliance. I was beyond surprised to see how its noise level never goes over 0.4 Sones even with the model working at full speed. If you’re looking for a powerful exhaust fan with humidity-sensing technology that is also very quiet, this one is definitely among your best options.

Another thing that turns E130DH into one of the best bathroom exhaust fans of this type is its energy efficiency. This is one of the Energy Star-qualified bath fans – you won’t have to worry about excessive energy consumption at all.

Also, when compared to most bath fans with humidity sensor, this one has a genuinely generous warranty deal – a 5-year limited warranty undoubtedly inspires confidence in the model’s reliability and longevity.

While it’s not the prettiest appliance of this type out there, at least it’s very easy to put in place. That’s because Air King Dual-Speed E130DH comes accompanied by hanging brackets, which are fully adjustable and make installation a breeze. As far as I’m concerned, there are never too many easy-to-install bathroom exhaust fans on the market.

To recap, the Air King Dual-Speed E130DH is among the greatest exhaust fans featuring humidity sensors for a couple of good reasons. Besides being energy-efficient and providing an impressive performance, it is also very quiet in operation and comes with a 5-year limited warranty. The only serious drawback is the lack of an indicator light.

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KAZE Appliance Ultra-Quiet SEP120H

The only drawback of this fantastic humidity-sensing bathroom fan is that it’s quite pricey. However, the model’s cost is undoubtedly justified by its performance, quality, and overall reliability. This is the best bathroom fan KAZE Appliance ever made, as it provides a super-quiet operation and has very durable housing. Let’s take a closer look at it!

The very first thing I noticed about the Ultra-Quiet SEP120H is that it’s one of those genuinely sturdy bathroom fans with humidity sensor. It’s one of the best bathroom exhaust fans on my list in terms of construction – it sports a Polymeric grille and its case is made out of durable galvanized steel. It’s a rust-proof, heavy-duty housing that turns this unit into a truly reliable device.

Another feature that places the SEP120H among the market’s best bathroom fans of this type is the fact that it’s equipped with a permanently-lubricated motor. Unlike the engines found in some of the other bathroom fans in my roundup, this one operates at very low temperatures, which is yet another thing that contributes to the model’s overall durability. For extra peace of mind, this KAZE Appliance exhaust fan with humidity sensor is backed by a 3-year warranty.

Performance-wise, this is a very potent device. With a CFM rating of 120, it’s a suitable choice for all 120 sq. ft. bathrooms (or other similarly-sized rooms – remember that these kinds of appliances deal with cooking odors just as well as they do with increased humidity levels). The humidity sensor found on this model is quite sophisticated and quickly responds to an increased humidity level inside one’s bathroom.

It’s pretty safe to say that the KAZE Appliance Ultra-Quiet SEP120H lives up to its name. This is a genuinely quiet bathroom exhaust fan – its noise level stands at only 0.3 Sones. In other words, you really have to listen to this unit if you want to hear it working. So, if you’re looking for a quiet 120 CFM-rated bathroom exhaust fan with humidity sensor, you won’t make a mistake by going with this one.

Is there anything else noteworthy about this model? I should also mention that it’s energy-efficient and that it bears the Energy Star certification, as well as the fact that it’s exceptionally easy to install.

This is due to the fact that it comes accompanied by special mounting bars – you’ll need just a tiny bit of DIY know-how in order to install this exhaust fan on your own. The delay timer feature also deserves a mention – to ensure proper ventilation, you can set this bathroom fan to operate for additional 30 minutes.

If you’re dealing with excess moisture in your bathroom or poor air quality in any other room of your home, the KAZE Appliance Ultra-Quiet SEP120H is an excellent investment. Wherever you decide to put it, the unit will do its job quietly and efficiently, which is precisely what makes it one of the best bathroom fans of this type currently available on the market.

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Broan-NuTone Roomside AER110SLW

The second Broan-NuTone bathroom exhaust fan on this list is called Roomside AER110SLW and it stands as a fine choice for folks looking for a dependable appliance of this type. It’s not flawless – its LED light has a somewhat uncomfortable blue-ish tint – but it certainly deserves its place among the best humidity-sensing bathroom exhaust fans currently available on the market. Here’s why:

First of all, the Roomside AER110SLW allows its owner to quickly and easily change the sensitivity of its humidity sensor. By default, the sensitivity of the humidity sensor of this exhaust fan stands at 80%.

If this setting doesn’t suit your needs, you can easily increase it or decrease it. Believe it or not, the adjustability of this feature is not something you can find on all bathroom fans with humidity sensors, so this is definitely a big plus for the Roomside AER110SLW.

As its name suggests, this is one of those bathroom fans that are capable of moving 110 cubic feet of air per one minute.

As such, it’s a kind of a middle-of-a-road appliance that can be used in most mid-sized bathrooms, but it’s definitely not a suitable choice for larger (or smaller, for that matter) bathrooms and other rooms inside a typical residential building. While it’s not the best bathroom exhaust fan out there, it does its job pretty well and I have no complaints in the department of performance.

As stated in the intro, the only real disadvantage of this Broan-NuTone humidity-sensing bathroom fan is the blue-ish tint of its 3500-Kelvin light. Although this certainly isn’t a huge drawback, it can be somewhat annoying and, what is more, it cannot be changed – it’s an integrated LED chip panel. On the positive side, this is one of those bathroom fans equipped with delay timers.

One other thing I liked is the alloy steel housing – it looks and feels quite sturdy, so there’s no need to worry about the durability.

This bathroom fan uses a 4” duct, which means that you’ll need to purchase a separate adapter if you have an older 3” duct – keep that in mind if you’re planning to buy this model. On the other hand, the slim profile of the Roomside AER110SLW makes it easy to fit this device in 2 x 6 ceiling joists.

In my opinion, most bathroom fans sporting humidity sensors look quite good, but this one is an absolute winner in the design category.

The Broan-NuTone Roomside AER110SLW is the most aesthetically-pleasing bathroom fan on my list and an excellent choice if you’re looking for something truly special for your bathroom. Finally, this is an Energy Star-qualified appliance and one that is backed by a 3-year limited warranty.

Is this the best bathroom exhaust fan with humidity sensor? It’s not, but is definitely up there. The light problem I mentioned above is a very minor drawback when compared to the sheer number of convenient features this bathroom fan is equipped with, as well as with its overall build quality and performance. All in all, it’s yet another great model in Broan-NuTone’s lineup of bathroom fans.

If you want to check out more round fans, read our post on the best round bathroom fans.

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Delta Electronics BreezSlim SLM70H

The next bathroom fan with humidity sensor on my list is yet another unit made by Delta Electronics. However, this particular model is a member of the company’s BreezSlim series. While certainly not the most powerful appliance of this type in my roundup, the BreezSlim SLM70H is a great option for folks with small bathrooms.

Performance-wise, this bathroom fan is much weaker than all of the humidity-sensing bathroom fans reviewed above. It has a CFM rating of 70, which, obviously, means that it shouldn’t be used in larger bathrooms (or any other sizable rooms). If the square footage of your bathroom stands at 70 or less, this particular model is a fine choice. If it’s bigger, make sure to check out the rest of the models I reviewed in this article.

On this bathroom fan, you will find both the manual and the automatic humidity-sensing mode. The automatic mode does a great job of detecting excess moisture and quickly and efficiently dealing with it, but that’s something I expected from a bathroom fan made by Delta Electronics.

Whenever you want to use the model’s manual mode, on the other hand, you have to toggle the wall switch twice and, in that way, override the automatic mode.

One of the best features of this 70 CFM-rated bathroom fan is that it has two lights. Both of these are located on the model’s grille (which is, by the way, quite minimalistic and easily fits in with most bathroom decors) and they tell the owner which mode is the bathroom fan currently operating in.

The fact that the blue indicator LED light shines brightly enough to be used as a night light is an added bonus.

As a 70 CFM-rated bathroom fan, the BreezSlim SLM70H is one of the most compact models on my list. This turns it into a great choice for the so-called “retrofit” installations – replacing an older exhaust fan with this one is as easy as it gets.

An important thing to mention here is that this bathroom exhaust fan was designed to be used with 3” ducting, as well as that it’s UL-approved for installation over bathroom fixtures if connected to a GFCI-circuit.

Just like the BreezSignature VFB25AEH, this bathroom fan with humidity sensor is also quite loud. Its Sone rating stands at 2.0, which means that it’s not the best choice if you’re looking for a really quiet appliance of this type. It is, however, incredibly energy-efficient due to its brushless DC engine and bears the Energy Star certification for a good reason.

Is this bathroom fan the right choice for your needs? It goes without saying, but the factor that decides the answer to this question is the bathroom size. If you have a smaller bathroom and you need an exhaust fan that will improve air quality and keep the humidity level in check, the Delta Electronics BreezSlim SLM70H is a wonderful option.

Features to Look For in the Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Humidity Sensor

Like with all other home appliances, there are a couple of factors you need to keep in mind while shopping for a bathroom fan with a humidity sensor. Here are the three most important considerations:

Humidity Sensor Adjustability

Those looking to purchase a reliable and well-made humidity-sensing bathroom fan need to pay special attention to the most important part of this appliance – the humidity sensor itself. In most cases, the humidity setting of a bathroom fan will look like a dial or a knob. To adjust it, one needs to use a flathead screwdriver.

Sometimes, the humidity sensor’s default setting will be too low. This can be quite problematic if you live in a very humid region, as it can cause the bathroom fan to run non-stop. And if it’s set too high, on the other hand, the humidity sensor simply won’t turn on at all just when you need it the most.

However, this doesn’t mean that you should just go for a non-adjustable humidity-sensing bathroom fan, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind. Also, don’t forget that a bathroom fan with an adjustable humidity sensor is almost always more expensive than its non-adjustable counterparts.

Fan Speed or CFM

Correctly sizing a new exhaust fan for your bathroom is vital – you really don’t want to end up with a unit that is too powerful or too weak for your needs. The strength of these appliances is measured in CFM, and this rating tells you how many cubic feet of air a particular fan can move during one minute. The bathroom size plays a huge role here – the larger this room is, the more powerful exhaust fan you will need for it.

However, in most cases, sizing a bathroom fan with a humidity sensor is easy. All you need to follow is the simple “1 square foot = 1 CFM formula”. So, for example, if the floor of your bathroom measures 90 square feet, you’ll have to purchase an exhaust fan whose CFM rating is at least 90. Things get a bit more complicated when it comes to sizing fans for larger bathrooms, though – check out our bathroom exhaust fan sizing chart.

Noise Level

The level of noise created by the exhaust fan with a humidity sensor is measured in bathroom fan sone ratings. Generally speaking, models that bear a 1.5 Sones rating are considered quiet. Bath fans that are rated below 1 Sone, on the other hand, are considered to be extremely quiet. Conversely, 4.0 or even 5.0 Sones-rated units are typically very loud and can completely ruin the experience of taking a relaxing shower.

Some homeowners actually like models that are loud, because such appliances produce a type of “white noise” that provides a bit of privacy for those currently using the bathroom. Other people may want their bathroom fan to be as quiet as possible for a variety of different reasons. One of them, for example, is not waking up your small kid whenever you’re taking a shower in the evening. So, you might want to check out my post on the quietest exhaust fans as well.

The Wrap Up

If you want to keep the level of humidity inside your bathroom in check, the exhaust fan with a humidity sensor is a must. These kinds of appliances are gaining in popularity with each passing year, and for a good reason – they provide a hands-free approach to quickly and efficiently removing excess humidity from the bathroom.

All of the bathroom fans I reviewed above are great in their own ways, which is precisely why I consider them to be the best appliances of this type currently available on the market. However, one of them is the best of the best – [amazon link=”B076QNM3X8″ title=”Panasonic WhisperSense FV-0511VQC1″ /]. In fact, it’s the best bathroom exhaust fan overall.

While it’s the most expensive model on my list, this Panasonic exhaust fan stands up to its name and provides a genuinely whisper-quiet operation. What is more, it can be used at three different air-moving speeds and sports both a humidity and motion sensor (Dual-Sensor Technology). And on top of all that, it’s backed by a 6-year warranty and looks great. What more could one want from a bath fan?