Exhaust fan won't turn off

13 years ago

Hi all,

It's been one week since we've moved into our new home and since then, the powder room fan has not turned off. There is no switch and I've searched everywhere for a thermostat or control that would shut it off. The powder room is located on the main floor and we have an upstairs and basement. We live on the south-west coast of BC about 30 minutes south of Vancouver. Our current humidity is 81% or around there.

Is it possible that this fan is ALWAYS on?

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marie_louise

13 years ago

Is it by any chance a Panasonic? I bought Panasonic Whisper Green Lite fans for my bathrooms. They have a built-in timer that is activated by a motion detector. After a period of time it goes back to whatever you set it. I'm going to set mine to zero but the factory default setting is that it goes down to half speed after 20 minutes, or in other words, it is always on. (Not exactly green, IMO.)

Mine has switches in the wall, though-three to be exact: one for the fan (to turn it to maximum or off), one for the lights and one for the nightlight. Maybe you have this but they didn't install the switches?

Here is a link that might be useful: Panasonic

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Comments (9)

peteinsonj
13 years ago
That does seem odd --

the vent fans I've seen are either on their own switch (often with a timer) or tied in to go on with a nearby light fixture.

that said, there are vent fans that have their own humidistat -- and will turn on when the moisture levels are high.

you'll need to do a little investigation -- take the cover of the fan and get the name of the manufacturer and the model number. then look it up online.

to me it seems likely you have a fan with a humidistat. some models are adjustable.
MongoCT
13 years ago
Some fans are triggered by a humidistat, if this is on one, it's possible the high humidity has closed the circuit. But a humidistat in a powder room isn't the most logical location for an installation.

You could try localizing the circuit that it's powered from by turning off the breakers in the main service panel one-by-one.

IF the fan turns off when power is removed from that bathroom, if you're comfortable, you could also remove the bathroom switch face plate and see if it's simply hot wired, or shorted.

This is a basic bathroom ventilation fan and not an air exchange fan or a heat recovery ventilator, etc? Again, a powder room would not be a logical location for ether of those. If you;re not certain, you could pull the grill off the fan and see if there is a manufacturer and model #.

Then there is also the phone call to the previous owner asking what the deal is with the fan.
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David Simpson
2 years ago
My whisper green doesn't ever turn off either, I have a motion sensor
Helen
2 years ago
If you have a fan without a switch, it is probably one that turns on and off based on ambient moisture levels in the room. I have a Panasonic Whisper fan and that is how it works.

When I moved back after my remodel the fan was on constantly - or almost constantly. The problem was that the humidity sensor needed to be adjusted because it was too sensitive. My HVAC guy was there one day and he just changed the setting and now it runs when it should - it turns on after someone showers - runs for awhile and then turns off.

FWIW, I really like the automatic feature based on moisture as it works perfectly without my having to remember to turn on or off. My bathroom lights are on auto sensor and I really like that feature as well - that is required by California Code in bathrooms to save energy.
David Simpson
2 years ago
I solved my problem last night. In the junction box there are two red wires labeled "Signal", if those are wired together or "on" it will bypass the multi-speed timer and motion sensor. The manual is absolutely terrible, shame on Panasonic.

I unhooked them and poof the motion sensor kicked in to gear and turns the fan off completely after 20 minutes.
DARRYL LEBRON
last year
You need to put installation around the Box in the attic also the duck run flex cand flex cannot be bent that's that's why it is running constantly because it's not getting your fishing flow I had the same problem I took the band out and put in but insulation around the Box shut off When I tell it to shut off 10 minutes 5 minutes it's working fine
millworkman
last year
What???
tlithgow
last year
that ain't english