Malfunctioning humidity sensors, wiring, issues, etc. are some of the reasons why your Panasonic bathroom fan won’t turn off.
Yes, such fans are designed to run non-stop to meet the continuous ventilation requirement but you should be able to turn it off either automatically or manually.
If not, there is trouble and this article should help you out. Stay with me for a while.
Why Your Panasonic Exhaust Fan Won’t Turn Off?
Such a scenario appears with cheap exhaust fans. And bath fan from Panasonic is not such fans. But when it gets old, it’s not immune to such problems.
Here are some possible reasons why is your Panasonic bathroom fan keeps running:
- Defective Humidity Sensor
The humidity sensor is responsible to turn the exhaust fan on automatically whenever it senses a certain level of humidity in the bathroom.
It’s a great feature to keep your bathroom mold-free! But such sensors can get damaged within the first few years or it was not adjusted properly in the first place.
When any humidity sensing bathroom fan won’t turn off, it’s usually due to the defective humidity sensor. It will send the false reading to the fan controller.
Among many issues, a defective humidity sensor may run non-stop or may turn on the fan when it does not need to.
It happens a lot to cheap bathroom fans but it’s very rare to Panasonic. And don’t forget— any exhaust fan will keep running if your bathroom is exceptionally humid all the time!
But it’s a good time to check the humidity sensor and make sure it’s functioning properly.
- Malfunctioning Circuitry/Wiring
If the humidity sensor is okay but your fan is running non-stop, it may be due to the wiring issue. For a new exhaust fan, it can still malfunction if it’s not wired correctly.
Almost all the Panasonic fans come with switches to control the fan and light. Assuming you have tried these switches to turn it off but it’s still running, you may have a tripped GFI.
When the fan is miswired, it will trip the GFI. Try replacing the GFI. If it does not work, try changing the switch that’s operating the fan as well.
Many have fixed their non-stop fans just by changing the switch!
- Is it A Continuous Fan?
Some exhaust fans are continuous in nature. Meaning they will keep running consuming very low electricity and making almost no noise.
So, that’s something you should be aware of. If yours is a continuous fan, nothing to worry about. Leave it running.
But how do you know whether it’s a continuous fan or not?
Well, if your electricity bill suddenly gets higher and the fan is making noise, then it’s not a continuous fan!
How To Turn-off Non-stop Panasonic Exhaust Fan?
So far I have talked about some possible reasons responsible for the continuous operation of the fan.
You can fix the sensor, change the switch, or replace GFI to fix it. However, not everyone is handy enough to make such changes themselves.
If you are one of them, call a professional electrician. But before you call the electrician, you should try to turn the fan off first using the HVAC system.
If your house has an HVAC system installed, there is an override control for sure. Find that control panel (which is usually near the thermostat) and you should find a setting to turn off the fan.
You still have an option even if you have no such override control mechanism. Not often but in the electrical panel, such exhaust fans have a dedicated circuit and breaker sometimes.
Usually, you can control that panel with a single switch and use it to turn off your fan as well.
Editor’s Opinion
Panasonic has many models of exhaust fans with lots of features for your bathroom. If it is meant to run continuously, let it run.
Yes, it will consume electricity, but that’s very low. Remember, such fans are extremely energy-efficient!
And the value of clean and fresh air in the bathroom is simply priceless.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Due to the damaged humidity sensor or malfunctioning circuitry/wiring, your bathroom fan may not turn off.
Some of them are designed to run continuously but you should turn it off during the night. Most experts recommend keeping it running for 30 minutes before and after you take a shower.
Broan SmartSense has a vacation mode. You can enable that mode if you are leaving the house for a couple of days. Besides, you can press and release the SET button twice to exit the program mode. That will turn off the master control and exit the program mode.
If you leave it on for a long time when nobody is inside the home, that can be problematic. Besides, if the fan is making noise, it can indicate the motor is malfunctioning. That can lead the motor to overheat and become a fire hazard.
All the modern exhaust fans can run for at least 8 hours continuously without causing any trouble.
Closing Remarks
When your Panasonic bathroom fan keeps running or won’t turn off at all, don’t panic and keep calm. Use the override controls from the HVAC system and turn off the light and fan.
Any electrical task should be left to the electrician. Unless you are that electrician, call one.
