Lots of condensation in new bathroom (have extractor fan)

TangoFiver

Hello,

We've just had a new bathroom fitted, fully tiled and complete with extractor fan.

Thing is, when having a shower, the amount of steam produced is colossal, and even with the extracor fan, the room if very wet with condensation afterwards...

It is a very small bathroom, but I was just wondering if there was anything else to try to eliminate all the steam?

The extractor fan we fitted is just a basic b&q jobby, not sure if a more 'powerful' one is needed?

Thanks for any advice/suggestions,

Joe

latecomer

Try heating it more - if the surfaces are not as cold there should be less condensation.

gmgmgm

Is the shower between the extractor fan and the door (ie source of dry air)?

Owain_Moneysaver

Cheap fans are useless. Get a xpelair or ventaxia. Also ensure there is a gap at the bottom of the bathroom door so that replacement air can enter the room.

Tiled walls will run with condensation - there's nowhere for the moisture to go. Plastered walls would absorb some of the moisture and then release it slowly afterwards.

TangoFiver

Thanks for the replies!

The shower is next to the extracor fan, maybe need to loosen the purse strings on the heating budget, and get a better extractor fan?

Joe

Nessynoo

Maybe turn down the water temperature? That would create less steam.

ronaldmacdonald

definiytely a false economy to fit a cheapo extractor. I inherited a crap cheap one and the mirror was always steamed up and tiles soaking. Dug deep and purchased a more expensive powerful one and the mirror doesnt get a speck of steam even with me having the shower on nuclear heat mode. well worth the investment. if it vents up through the ceiling make sure its not too long and doesnt have loads of crazy bends as that will seriously reduce the effectiveness

Chris_Michael

One important point here is how many outside walls does the bathroom have and are any north facing? These factors reduce the surface temperature of the walls and make condensation more likely. Also if the air is fairly well saturated before you even start the shower then condensation will be more likely. For example if you dry the washing internally within the house, boil veg with the lids off the pans, have a lot of people living in the house etc will all add to the moisture content of the air. As moisture migrates around the house and will always try to be in equilibrium (i.e. similar amount in each room even though you only see the problem on cold surfaces) the shower room could have a high moisture load before you even turn a shower on.

A good quality vent is a good idea in as much as good quality is always a better idea than cheap and cheerful. If any of the above sounds familiar then I would recommend a dehumidifier to back up the vent.

Hope this helps.

Chris

27col

If you are generating that much steam then the water is too hot. I don't get any condensation in my bathroom at all. It has no window and a 9" extraction fan. As others have said, make sure that the room is well heated to make the walls less prone to form condensation.

Tom_Jones

An extractor fan should run for at least half an hour AFTER you've finished your shower to remove the condensation. Get one that has a timer on it and set it to the appropriate time.

Chris_Michael

Getting heat into a tiled wall is very difficult and will be a false economy, time is not the issue here, moisture is. If you do end up investing in a new extractor fan get one with a humidistat so that the fan will run whenever the relative humidity is too high.

Chris