When it comes to protecting the health of your family and your home, few things can have as much of an impact as humidity. But striking a balance is challenging: too much humidity, defined as >60% RH, increases the amount of airborne microbes and pollutants, as well as the likelihood of mould and mildew buildup. Conversely, too little humidity, <40% RH, can cause many adverse health effects, including reduced resistance against chronic and acute airborne pollution, respiratory infections, and allergies.
It’s no surprise that your bathroom is the most at risk from the damaging effects of humidity, and while it is likely that the ventilation in the bathroom is able to manage it, it is not always used properly. After a shower or bath, it is just as likely for someone to have left the fan on for too long, leaching too much moisture from the air, as it is to have forgotten to turn the fan on at all.
The best way to guarantee that your ventilation is working optimally is to use Swidget Smart Home automations. By automating a Swidget Switch with Temperature and Humidity Sensor to turn your bathroom ventilation on when relative humidity rises and turn off when humidity goes back to normal, you don’t have to ever worry about whether your property or family’s health is at risk from suboptimal humidity levels.
Follow the Swidget Smart Recipe below to automate your bathroom fan with a Swidget Switch and Temperature and Humidity Sensor.
Description
This recipe automatically turns on your Swidget controlled bathroom fan when the humidity rises after a shower and automatically turns it off when humidity returns to normal.
Disclaimer
Please note that due to varying electrical code regulations, Swidget cannot give device wiring/installation advice. Please refer to the instructions that came with your product or consult a certified electrician if you need help.
Ingredients
Device: Choose one
| 15A Outlet | 20A Outlet | Switch | Dimmer | Auxiliary Control Switch | 20/40/60 Switch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Insert: Choose one
| Control | USB | Guide Light | Power Out Light | Motion | Temp/Humi | Temp/Humi/ Motion | Air Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Protocol
| Wi-Fi | Z-Wave | Zigbee |
|---|---|---|
| ✓ |
Skill Level
Moderate
Time Required
10 minutes
Recipe
1. First we will create the Humidity ON rule. Make sure that you have downloaded the Swidget App from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store, and that you have installed one of the Swidget Devices and paired a Swidget Insert from the chart above.
2. From the main menu, select the Automations Icon
3. Click Create Automation or the + sign.
4. On the Automations page, click Rule and give your Automation a name.
5. Click the + sign beside Select Trigger and choose the Humidity ( 
) icon for the Swidget Switch that is controlling your fan.
6. On the Select Trigger page, choose Humidity Average and under If relative humidity… Exceeds enter 10% and 2 minutes for the humidity level and time. Click Continue.
7. Click the + sign beside Add Action and choose the Switch that is controlling your bathroom fan.
8. On the Select Action page, choose Turn ON. Click Continue.
9. Click Save Rule to have the Automation work all the time, or Add Start/End Times and/or specific days that you want it to operate.
10. Next we will create the Humidity OFF rule. From the main menu, select the Automations Icon
11. Click Create Automation or the + sign.
12. On the Automations page, click Rule and give your Automation a name.
13. Click the + sign beside Select Trigger and choose the Humidity ( ) icon for the Swidget Switch that is controlling your fan.
14. On the Select Trigger page, choose Humidity Average and under If relative humidity… Drops Below enter 5% and 5 minutes for the humidity level and time. Click Continue.
15. Click the + sign beside Add Action and choose the Switch that is controlling your bathroom fan.
16. On the Select Action page, choose Turn OFF. Click Continue.
17. Click Save Rule to have the Automation work all the time, or Add Start/End Times and/or specific days that you want it to operate.
