Bathroom Condensation hell!

rajanm

Well what's the point in having a shower that you can only use at a low temperature? It's like having a TV and only being able to watch a couple of channels? Surely, my bathroom isn't the only one in the world to have this problem, and I'm pretty sure the solution can't just be to have cooler showers - even when it's moderately warm, the shower produces steam!

olly300

rajanm wrote: »

The bathroom is tiny...probably about 7ft by 5ft or thereabouts.

Then you definitely should not have wallpaper on the walls.

Remove it all.

And either replaster and paint the walls with bathroom paint, or remove the tiles as well and get the entire bathroom tiled again but this time properly.

My entire bathroom is tiled. The old bathroom had wallpaper on it and it had mould in places yet I've not had any mould on the ceiling or had a tile fall off in the 5 years since I had it done.

rajanm wrote: »

It isn't particularly cold either so I'm puzzled by the whole heating issue.

Just because it doesn't feel cold to you doesn't mean it isn't cold to the fabric of the building.

rajanm wrote: »

It doesn't matter what time of year it is - even in the height of summer, condensation is a problem. For me, the problem is the amount of steam generated by the shower. It becomes really misty when the shower is on, hence why I'm wondering whether a wall vent might reduce the problem.

What you are describing is normal in a lot of bathrooms.

However they don't have a problem with mould as they have adequate ventilation which is normally a window that opens.

Lots of bathrooms don't have extractor fans and don't suffer from mould.

rajanm wrote: »

It's an ex local authority flat with solid concrete walls so cavity wall insulation isn't really an option...also, there is no real ventilation in the flat at all, apart from the small vents in each of the windows...so again I'm thinking an air vent might be the way forward. It's proving a very difficult problem to solve!

Try it.

smcqis

Do you not have a window in it, open it..simples

Brallaqueen

Completely tile your bathroom, have a window open (on v-lock if double glazed) turn the bleeding shower down.

McKneff

I've got to be honest, I blumming hate warm showers, mine has to be piping hot, and we just have a ceiling extractor and it works well,
but again, squeegee the walls and shower screen after use, it takes just a couple of minutes.

saversfriend

I have a tiny shower room which I built two years ago.

It is fully tiled and has a very good quality extractor fan - it's the inline type, like this one http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Electrical/Fans/100mm+InLine+Shower+Fan+Kit+with+Light/d190/sd280/p22895

I have very hot showers but no probs .

I also painted the ceiling with special bathroom aint from Wickes which from memory cost me a tenner.

My guess would be to consider getting a much better extractor fan and make sure it is on for 25 mins after turning the light off.

tired_dad

has the humidistat actually been installed long enough for you to make a full assesment.

I suspect that in a small space + hot shower, there will always be steam condensate on the tiles. You wont be able to stop that. However this should gradually evaporate and the humidistat take care of the humid air.

I would leave things a full 1-2y before assessing.

I would definitely seal the tiles/grout so they dont discolour over time.

apples1

I would do whatever you can to be able to have the window open.

If you cant leave it open for long then a least open it from the second you are out the shower until the second you have to close it to go out.

If I were you I would leave the bathroom door open and open another window in the flat too to let air blow through. Do this for as long as possible as often as possible but especially just after your shower. I would shower with the bathroom door open but again have any other window open if you can. When you do have to have the window closed keep the radiator on (on a themostat so it keeps the room warm and dry) but windows open as much as possible for as long as poss whenever you can.

cyclonebri1

What did that pr£ck of a labour prime minister say? "ventilation, ventilation, ventilation", ;);)

withabix

An extractor fan in a small bathroom won't extract unless there is at least an equal unobstructed supply of air INTO the bathroom.

Open the window.

Wallpaper is a no-no in a bathroom. Get rid of it and either tile or paint with bathroom paint.