Condensation Problem!

vickyb242

Hi Guys,

I am looking for some advice for what i think is condensation.

Our bathroom and bedroom are next door to each other, the bathroom has 2 external walls. The bathroom is fully tiled, and every time we have a shower, the room is soaking wet for hours and hours afterwards. It's running down the walls off the ceiling etc. We have an extractor fan, which comes on with the light and stays on for an additional 20 mins after the light is switched off.

Also over the weekend we noticed water dripping from the spot lights in the bedroom, which I find really worrying because of the whole water and electricity thing. We haven't lived in the house that long, and have not got round to putting in any loft insulation as yet, and I was wondering if this the causing the problem in the bathroom and now in the bedroom?

One last question if I may, I saw in Homebase at the weekend, when buying the loft insulation, some thermal sliver bubble wrap stuff that goes in the roof, over the joists, at £30.00 a roll, I was wondering if anyone had used it and if it was worth it?

Any advice or knowledge on these problems would be much appreciated.

Thanks
V

WestonDave

Water will condense out of humid air when it hits a cold surface. In the bathroom you generate steam when you shower which will condense on the cold ceiling and outside walls. In the bedroom you are breathing out moist air, and I suspect the spot lights are a pathway to the cold loft, so water is condensing on the cold metal and the bulbs.

Insulating the loft should help, however you need to be very careful with recessed spotlights as they get hot. I have put metal boxes over mine in the bathroom (you can get them from screwfix - http://www.screwfix.com/prods/84802/Lighting-Lamps/Internal-Lighting/Fire-Rated-Downlights/Fire-Hoods/Halolite-Downlight-Fire-Guard-340mm ) and then put insulation over the top. Be careful about covering electric cables as again these can potentially overheat if covered.

I personally wouldn't bother with the bubble wrap stuff - Focus have space blanket on special offer at the moment and whilst its more expensive than the really cheap stuff you can get, the covering on it means it is much more pleasant to handle.

If you can extend the running time of the extractor fan that may help as well (or just leave the light on for a bit to extend the time)

phill99

You also need to keep the bathroom door closed after you have used the shower/bath to stop moisture moving into the bedroom. Also keep the bathroom window open as long as possible as this will assist the reduction of condensation. Insulating your loft will certainly help. Also when you bath, put cold water in first as this minimises the amount of steam generated.