Cistern condensation

Home_Alone_2

I must admit I haven't read the whole thread. I have a high-flush cistern, my toilet being in a separate room from the bathroom. I get condensation on the cistern from time to time but don't if I flush the loo and then put the toilet seat down. It is the moisture, from the water in the pan, (in my opinion) that causes it.

ariba10

You either have to warm the water in the cistern, or cool the air around it.

(Warm air holds moisture, cold air releases it.)

Bilbo44

Yes, but - in practical terms - warming-up cold water that's been drawn off the main water supply is no simple matter, although it could be done. Our upstairs toilet is fed from a cold-water tank in the attic, where the water's less cold than it would be if taken directly from the main, and we don't have condensation problem arising in that toilet.

The best option must be to insulate around the cold water, in much the same way as you insulate walls to keep the cold outside - except that in this situation you want to keep the cold inside the cistern. The condensation only forms on the outside of the cistern up to the level of the water, so that's the upper level for your insulation. Aother aspect that will need some thought is lagging or insulating the pipe that brings in the cold water, to stop condensation forming there.

I'd be surprised if a bigger extractor fan (or one that was permanently on) made much difference to the problem, because I'd expect that to be drawing warm air from the rest of the house. I might expect that to increase the condensation problem, because even more moist, warm air would then be passing by the cistern, and would leave water on the cold surface.

Swipe

The simplest solution would be to just switch off the heating in the toilet.

Bilbo44

Yes, but (again!) it's a shower-room, used daily, so the water-vapour from the shower would condense on the cistern, as would the warm air filtering through from the next (heated) room, and we use the towel-rail-type radiator for drying clothes. Looks like I'm trapped.

Once the holiday-period is over, I'll be hunting for an insulated cistern.

MX5huggy

feeifif wrote: »

i've read a lot of tips about ways to insulate but what i'd like to know is, how do i actually stop the leak short of calling a plumber?

You have not given details of the leak.

Maybe post a photo.

Bilbo44

I've been doing a bit of digging around on this cistern-condensation problem, and I'm now thinking the real problem is a "British stiff-upper-lip just put up with it" attitude.

Some posts on other forums have noted that this is an increasing problem, arising from newer toilets being fed very cold water (in winter) from the mains supply as a result of combi-boilers not requiring a storage tank in the attic. Plumbers merchants say they've never heard of a solution and, although I've seen references to insulated cisterns, I've not been able to locate any. Most cisterns are ceramic, and this problem is widespread.

I think it's ridiculous that we should have to deal with this as a DIY project, perhaps by cutting strips off a Yoga mat and sticking them on the inside of the cistern. I'm waiting for feedback from a technical contact in Spain but, in the meantime, I've located a solution that may be comon in the US. There, you can buy an "adjustable toilet valve", from Universal Rundle. It's called Adjusto-Temp, model 5025-1, cost $33.

Meantime, we can all get enough water off the surface of a cistern to wash our face!

muks11

I also have this problem and was thinking a clear coat of some sort of plastic/acrylic spary might stop the condensation forming on the surface. What do you think?

Bilbo44

Someone suggested applying a coat of yacht-varnish, but if the surface is still cold I don't see how that will help.
Has anyone tried it?

I've located a product in the US, called Adjusto-Temp. It's a valve that uses a bit of hot water to raise the temperature of the cold water heading for the cistern. Made by Universal Rundle, model 5025-1, and costing about $30.

I'm still hoping to find something in the UK, or maybe use a mechanical shower mixing valve, the kind that has a big lever that you move from one side (cold) to the other side (hot). When the weather's not cold outside, the valve can be left at the cold setting.

keystone

Thats the third time in as many posts just recently that you have magically "located this US product" and I'm starting to wonder if you acquired a sales concession for it over here? Sorry if thats cynical.

Is it WRAS approved?

Cheers