Bathroom Extractor Fan Lets in Cold Air

anotheruser

.... so our bathroom is freezing.

It's in an area of the house that is a converted garage. There's an extractor fan in the bathroom, which is great when we're using the shower but when it's off, I can feel cold air coming in.

Apart from fitting a new extractor (which isn't that practical as the side of the building where it comes out is next door's property and I don't feel okay to ask to come and look at it at the moment - we've not long moved in), is there anything else I can look at to stop this happening?

I covered one up with a load of paper in a flat I rented once - although that one wasn't motorised, just open all the time.

Owain_Moneysaver

You might be able to remove the fan from the inside and fit a backdraught shutter to its spigot before pushing it back into the duct, or replace the fan with one with an integral shutter. They're usually fitted from inside, with just a duct outlet on the outside wall.

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/BG4BS.html

You can also get heat recovery fans with heat exchangers which capture the heat in the exhaust air to warm the room.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

I had same problem in kitchen, depending what way the wind was blowing, and made a cover/lid for the interior vent.

Something like this,



It's handy if you can get a box the right size and just cut for the correct depth, but I just made mine from cardboard.

Just a bit of measuring, cutting, folding and taping/glueing.

I covered mine in lining paper and then emulsioned same colour as kitchen walls.

Just remember to slip it off anytime you are using the fan and allow the bathroom to breathe before putting back on.

If you're really handy you could make one from plywood or balsa wood and paint.

anotheruser

Just to mention, I ended up getting a hinged flap thing from Amazon (slightly cheaper than that in the link above).

It works a treat. I also used filler around the edges to hold it in the silver tubing.

Thanks MSE