Leviton Humidity Sensor Switch for Bathroom Exhaust Fan, Automate Ventilation, Air Circulation, Moisture Control, ¼ HP, Single Pole, DHS05-1LW, White

I just installed 2 of these in our 2nd floor full baths, and both are working well! They turn on within 30 seconds or so of the showers being turned on in both bathrooms. Both bathrooms have 7.5 ft ceilings, and the fan switches are located no more than a few feet from the tub and shower enclosure.I programmed ours to turn on at the lowest relative humidity (35%) with a 30 minute timeout. Note that after the timeout period shuts the fan off, if the relative humidity (RH) still exceeds the preset percentage limit, the device will reactivate the fan for 50% of the programmed time - so if the timeout is 30 minute and the RH is still too high, the fan will reactivate and run for an additional 15 minutes, which is half the 30 minute timeout I programmed - it will do this 2X if needed, so in that case, the fan will potentially run for a total of 60 minutes if a 30 minute timeout is programmed - programmed time values are 10,20,30 and 45 minutes.Installation is straightforward - I wire nutted the line and load leads on this switch to existing pigtails for the mechanical timer that I replaced with this switch. I added the neutral lead wire from this switch to the existing wire nutted neutral bundle, and the ground lead to the ground bundle.Note that this switch DOES NOT require a neutral, but if no neutral is present, the white sleeve on the neutral lead is removed to re-identify it as a ground wire, and both that wire and the explicit ground lead are both connected to the ground wiring in the box - so while a neutral wire is not required, a ground is required in the box to make this switch work - note that in older homes without an explicit ground wire, sometimes the steel box itself is grounded, so a ground lead could be attached to the box and wire nutted to the re-identified ground lead and explicit ground lead on this switch.There are an impressive number of programmable operating modes and settings within those modes on this switch. Out of the box, the switch is defaulted to operate in bath fan mode, with a 20 minute timeout period and a 50% relative humidity setting, which likely will work fine for many folks.As mentioned, I overrode the default timeout from 20 minutes to 30 minutes, and the relative humidity from 50% to 35% - the programming is a bit tricky and may take a couple passes - best bet if you mess up is to let the programming period timeout so that the settings aren't saved, and then re-enter programming mode after your "practice run" after you have the hang of programming it.Keep in mind too that the switch can be operated manually, and will run for the programmed time when turned on; the automatic operation can be disabled by pressing the bottom of the switch for 5 seconds, and re-enabled by pressing the top of the button.

While I'm not a fan of the price point, this switch is great. We installed the switch in the owner's bathroom where the ceiling fan sits just outside of the shower door. Before this sensor, someone (who shall remain unnamed) would take a scorching hot shower and not turn on the fan. Condensation would coat the windows and mirrors, walls would start sweating leaving discolored trails in the paint, and a hero from the adjacent room would have to plunge into the steam cloud to manually activate the fan. And of course, once it was on, it’d run for hours — far longer than needed — simply because no one remembered to turn it off.This switch solved all of that. Installation was simple despite my best efforts to overcomplicate it. Wiring it straight forward and only takes a few minutes (less than 5 minutes, unless your toddler "helps" you by keeping the wire nuts but then melting down when learning they don't get to keep them as toys). The think that took me time was adjusting the humidity threshold for activation and how long the fan stays on — though after some fiddling, I ended up back on the default settings. Honestly, they got it right out of the box. I would have saved 30 minutes had I at least given their defaults a day or two to test run instead of messing with things.One note: keep the printed instructions. You program the unit using button presses and then decode its status via a series of color-coded LED flashes. It’s not difficult, but trying to pull up a support PDF on your phone - the printed instructions are just easier.Still not wild about the price, but I'd begrudgingly pay it again because I feel like the quality is. It consistently fires up before any condensation gathers and I don't have to gasp through any more steam plumes caused by my wif... er... that unnamed culprit's lava showers.

As an electrician, I tackle a lot of DIY projects around the house. When the exhaust fan in our bathroom gave up the ghost, I figured it was the perfect time to upgrade the old manual switch as well. We use a lot of Leviton products at work, so I knew I was getting a reliable brand.The main issue in our household is that my wife enjoys marathon showers and often forgets to leave the fan on long enough to clear out the humidity. This can lead to problems like mold and mildew. Enter the Leviton DHS05-1LW. This switch automatically activates the fan when it detects humidity, ensuring the bathroom stays dry without anyone having to remember to flip a switch.I was so impressed with its performance that I installed these switches in all three of our bathrooms and the laundry room. Installation was straightforward, and the switch's slim profile fit easily into our existing wall boxes. Plus, it can be installed with or without a neutral wire, adding to its versatility.In summary, the Leviton DHS05-1LW has been a game-changer for our home's ventilation. It's a smart, reliable solution that keeps our bathrooms and laundry room free from excess moisture.

This sensor seems to function as intended and has different operating modes depending on room and type of humidity level (eg. bath fan, continuous air flow, etc). My only knock against this things is it feels really cheap. Like soft cushy plastic cheap. Like others I put this in my kids bathroom because they cant remember to turn the fan on, but I cant imagine this holding up with continuous daily use if it was your only switch. Thankfully I have a dedicated fan switch, which they don’t touch anyways, so this will kick in as needed. Would recommend despite this issue—others work but not well so if you’re going to do the work to install you might as well get something you won’t regret soon later.