Why Does My Bath Fan Run Constantly? Is it for mechanical ventilation?

ENERGY STAR and many new building codes require the use of some type of automatic mechanical ventilation system to provide fresh air exchanges in new homes. If your home has air quality issues, it may be lacking one of these systems. The easiest system to install and maintain is a continuous running bath fan.

[CMason-yrks]

I hear what your saying and understand the reasons for the fans. What has not been considered is the millions of people that have Tanitus (ringing of the ears) or other hearing issues. For lot of us the sound of these fans, fate as they may be to some is a BIG Problem for other. Even my quality of sleep has been effected. For me white noise sounds sharp & acute like high pitch metal rubbing against metal. I'm all in favor of better quality air but there needs to be some down time for me therefore OFF TIME for the fans. Thanks for this sounding board or channel. c. mason
If any code writers, investor, expert builders or thinks tank participates can come up with a different way for this evidently big air circulation and quality problem there will be people across the country grateful that we can have our better quality of life and living back.

[cougargold]

I live in WA state and my girlfriend lives in a new condo where the fans are hardwired. It’s asinine to have a fan running constantly in both bathrooms in a place that’s less than 900sqft. Her power bill is off the charts because it sucks so much air that her heating unit runs non-stop. This practice should only be allowed with HRVs otherwise this is not energy efficient at all.

[CJP]

How is sucking the heat out of my house helpful to me?

[dongkapuyawn]

How do I disable the stupid humidity sensor, it's causing a trip and power in the hallway n bathroom ...

[SubstanceD]

I have mental health issues and monotonous noise makes me start to hear music and voices. I need relative silence to know what's real and what's not so this 24/7 fan is really causing me a lot of problems and my apartment building won't let me turn it off. Sad times for me :(

[culturebreath]

If the main point is quality of air, just the bathroom venting isnt much help. 😂

[khaledal-sallal]

I can understand why it is made this way for health reasons. But how about energy consumption? Don’t you think being running all the time should result in a higher energy consumption and hence higher electricity bill. I’m actually more concerned about the higher air infiltration that leads to higher loads on the heating system; more than the increased hours of fan energy. Or you think the difference in energy consumption won’t be much greater between the manual on/off operation fan and this new smarter system

[vwchick]

So you are saying with a well built home you need to install on of these fans. How do you go about maintaining this to keep it clean? Also my next question, with that exhaust fan constantly running are you going to tell me that I am not losing any energy efficiency with my heating and air? Are you telling me I won't be using more of the hvac system in my home with this new age exhaust fan? I am stumped here. ??

[barbsof]

Hi I am moving into a new home and there is one of these fans in the guest bathroom. It's on a timer. Question...when taking a shower, will it prevent fogging on the mirror and windows like a traditional fan?

[melissamorton]

I'm not sold on this concept. Especially when I have a REALLY HIGH electric bill, which in CA the more you use the more they charge you per kilo watt (don't get me started on that ridiculousness). So, I have several bathrooms and these fans seem to be always running!! That has to add to my energy bill. I want to disconnect them somehow??

[creepyzeek]

I have one. never had one before. it's loud. i shut it off everytime the stupid thing turns on. What a bullshit design.

[johnmagus]

How is this supposed to be energy efficient? Pumping heat RIGHT out of the bathroom constantly make zero sense.

[bluwng]

After several years mine is running ridiculously fast

[rogerrabbit]

Just pure noise pollution, I need some quiet do I turn it off most of the time