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Bathroom window open with extractor fan on?

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Could anyone tell me whether an extractor fan will work more effectively with bathroom window open or closed? (I don't want to use more electricity than necessary, and also want to clear the post-shower moisture from the room as soon as possible. I realise these two aims may not be possible to achieve simultaneously!)
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Comments

  • Jonesya
    Jonesya Posts: 1,823 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I'd have thought that having the window open will help clear the moisture more quickly and it'll help the fan very slightly as there's less restriction. Possible downside is that you lose the negative pressure in the bathroom, so more moisture/smells etc might blow under the door back into the house.

    I'd forget the electricity though, little fans only use a few tens of watts and the difference will be minimal, fractions of a penny per hour.
  • I always open the window to clear the steam quicker...
  • butler_helen
    butler_helen Posts: 1,866 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    I always open the window to clear the steam quicker...

    Same here and it is a noticeable difference to having just the extractor.
    If you aim for the moon if you miss at least you will land among the stars!
  • katejo
    katejo Posts: 4,252 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Same here and it is a noticeable difference to having just the extractor.

    I agree. My bathroom window stays open a lot of the time.
  • A consensus to continue what I'm doing, then! Thanks, all.
  • lstar337
    lstar337 Posts: 3,443 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Your best option is to also have the window open while the steam is being produced. So open it before you have a shower/bath to let the steam out before it has a chance to settle on walls etc.
  • evoke
    evoke Posts: 1,286 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Yep, definitely open for as long as the extractor fan is operating.
    Everyone is entitled to my opinion!
  • cyclonebri1
    cyclonebri1 Posts: 12,827 Forumite
    It's not a definite at all I'm afraid. Think about it

    It's all down to where the extractor is in relation to the window.

    If you have a 10 ft long bathroom with the window 3 or 4 feet from the fan, what's going to happen?

    The air will be pulled from the window and take a shortcut or short circuit up the extractor, Air at the far end doesn't get changed.

    I can quote my own situation, bathroom 15 ft long and mostly quite narrow. Extractor over shower, only window is to the side about 5ft away. Opening window doesn't work, the mirror at the other end over the sink will not clear.
    The answer in my case is either to shut the window and interestingly watch the air being drawn down from around the flush mounted ceiling lights, (the mist swirls below, you can see what's happening). Or, open the door which is at the far end from the shower, this clears the room fastest, but I do that dependant on season.
    I like the thanks button, but ,please, an I agree button.

    Will the grammar and spelling police respect I do make grammatical errors, and have carp spelling, no need to remind me.;)

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  • lstar337
    lstar337 Posts: 3,443 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 8 October 2013 at 2:47PM
    It's not a definite at all I'm afraid. Think about it

    It's all down to where the extractor is in relation to the window.

    If you have a 10 ft long bathroom with the window 3 or 4 feet from the fan, what's going to happen?

    The air will be pulled from the window and take a shortcut or short circuit up the extractor, Air at the far end doesn't get changed.

    I can quote my own situation, bathroom 15 ft long and mostly quite narrow. Extractor over shower, only window is to the side about 5ft away. Opening window doesn't work, the mirror at the other end over the sink will not clear.
    The answer in my case is either to shut the window and interestingly watch the air being drawn down from around the flush mounted ceiling lights, (the mist swirls below, you can see what's happening). Or, open the door which is at the far end from the shower, this clears the room fastest, but I do that dependant on season.
    Yes, it is going to be room/situation dependant. Best thing to do is experiment.

    If I leave the job to my extractor fan, it'll take all day. In fact, using the window alone is far better at clearing the moisture than anything else.

    Our extractor is wired into the light, so it's not really possible to not use it, but I always use the window to speed up the process.
  • penguingirl
    penguingirl Posts: 1,397 Forumite
    We have a humidistat fan and it def switches itself off much quicker when the window is open
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