Bathroom Fan

Baldytyke88

I get black mould in the winter because of poor ventilation. I have seen the automatic fans at Screwfix for around £100

I had a quote, I was shocked when he said the total quote was £625 the fan would be in the ceiling and a vent via the eaves, I am in West Yorkshire.

I have put a metal bar on the window, so it doesn't close, but I do think a fan is a good idea. He did lower his quote down to £585, but it still sounds expensive to me.

I was thinking £100+ fo fit it, what is reasonable?

ThisIsWeird

That quote does seem crazy-high. But there may be a reason, such as difficult access.
For instance, what's above the bathroom - an open loft, or the floor of the storey above? How can the vent pipe be run to the eaves? Is scaffolding required to cut the hole and fit the vent on the outside?

Are there any alternatives? Could it be mounted on that wall next to - or in - the window, for example?

Have you only had one quote for the work?

Baldytyke88

ThisIsWeird said:

That quote does seem crazy-high. But there may be a reason, such as difficult access.
For instance, what's above the bathroom - an open loft, or the floor of the storey above? How can the vent pipe be run to the eaves? Is scaffolding required to cut the hole and fit the vent on the outside?
Are there any alternatives? Could it be mounted on that wall next to - or in - the window, for example?
Have you only had one quote for the work?

Just boarded out in the loft. I assume the roof mounting is the easiest and cheapest option.

I am thinking about another quote. You would think they would want the work, a quote too high is almost £500 lost.

At £625 I would need to go into the red, pay day today.

ThisIsWeird

So, there is a loft space, which presumably means access to power and the eaves for ventilating. Ok, some boards will need lifting too. 
That leaves outside access - can your soffit boards be reached easily by ladder?
If you choose either a lightswitch-operated extractor, or one separately switched using a ceiling pull-cord,  then you won't even need wiring taking down a wall for a new switch.
I'm struggling to understand the high quote, but if course I'm on the wrong side of the screen.
I would personally recommend a separate fan switch, so that it doesn't come on every time someone has a wee, but possibly choosing a model with a humidistat override so it comes on every time the room is too humid.
How many folk in the house? Will they be conscientious in using the fan?! If so, just 'manual' will do. It doesn't really matter if it's left running for an hour...

Emmia

ThisIsWeird said:

So, there is a loft space, which presumably means access to power and the eaves for ventilating. Ok, some boards will need lifting too. 
That leaves outside access - can your soffit boards be reached easily by ladder?
If you choose either a lightswitch-operated extractor, or one separately switched using a ceiling pull-cord,  then you won't even need wiring taking down a wall for a new switch.
I'm struggling to understand the high quote, but if course I'm on the wrong side of the screen.
I would personally recommend a separate fan switch, so that it doesn't come on every time someone has a wee, but possibly choosing a model with a humidistat override so it comes on every time the room is too humid.
How many folk in the house? Will they be conscientious in using the fan?! If so, just 'manual' will do. It doesn't really matter if it's left running for an hour...

Personally in a situation where mould is already an issue I'd have one with a humidistat that comes on automatically, (even if the light is off) if the humidity is over a certain level. I wouldn't have a pull cord or switch to activate it just when showering / bathing no matter how conscientious the occupants.

Baldytyke88

ThisIsWeird said:

How many folk in the house? Will they be conscientious in using the fan?! If so, just 'manual' will do. It doesn't really matter if it's left running for an hour...

Three people at the moment, I want an automatic fan, because I have the impression that they are not conscientious.

However with three people, it will get damp.

ThisIsWeird

Emmia said:

ThisIsWeird said:

So, there is a loft space, which presumably means access to power and the eaves for ventilating. Ok, some boards will need lifting too. 
That leaves outside access - can your soffit boards be reached easily by ladder?
If you choose either a lightswitch-operated extractor, or one separately switched using a ceiling pull-cord,  then you won't even need wiring taking down a wall for a new switch.
I'm struggling to understand the high quote, but if course I'm on the wrong side of the screen.
I would personally recommend a separate fan switch, so that it doesn't come on every time someone has a wee, but possibly choosing a model with a humidistat override so it comes on every time the room is too humid.
How many folk in the house? Will they be conscientious in using the fan?! If so, just 'manual' will do. It doesn't really matter if it's left running for an hour...

Personally in a situation where mould is already an issue I'd have one with a humidistat that comes on automatically, (even if the light is off) if the humidity is over a certain level. I wouldn't have a pull cord or switch to activate it just when showering / bathing no matter how conscientious the occupants.

Obviously a 'sensible' option, as is having it on a timer. But, the drawback can be that it then comes on every time someone pops in even for a wee, and even in the middle of the night.

But, each makes their decision - and I think Tyke has :-)

ThisIsWeird

Baldytyke88 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

How many folk in the house? Will they be conscientious in using the fan?! If so, just 'manual' will do. It doesn't really matter if it's left running for an hour...

Three people at the moment, I want an automatic fan, because I have the impression that they are not conscientious.

However with three people, it will get damp.

Fair do's.

So you just need more quotes.

Albermarle

Baldytyke88 said:

ThisIsWeird said:

That quote does seem crazy-high. But there may be a reason, such as difficult access.
For instance, what's above the bathroom - an open loft, or the floor of the storey above? How can the vent pipe be run to the eaves? Is scaffolding required to cut the hole and fit the vent on the outside?
Are there any alternatives? Could it be mounted on that wall next to - or in - the window, for example?
Have you only had one quote for the work?

Just boarded out in the loft. I assume the roof mounting is the easiest and cheapest option.

I am thinking about another quote. You would think they would want the work, a quote too high is almost £500 lost.

At £625 I would need to go into the red, pay day today.

You would think they would want the work,

Not necessarily.

Since Covid, tradespeople have been bombed out with work, not helped by many East European tradesmen going home and not coming back partly due to Brexit.
So it could be the high quote is related to that.

There are some indications that the situation is easing, so you might be in luck finding someone else at a more reasonable price.

ThisIsWeird

It's a pretty involved task, involving a few different skills and tools, tricky access - inside and out - and possibly a registered sparky. Or could this be considered an extension to an existing circuit, I wonder?

Anyhoo, I can well imagine most sparkies seeing this as an unpleasant job - lots of loft crawling, needing ladders outside, drilling and cutting, and the leccy part actually being very minor to the whole task. I suspect that the quote you were given reflected this - 'If you wanna pay me that amount, then fine - I'll do it. But otherwise...'

Just keep getting quotes.

I'd suggest that £100 labour is far too little, tho', and can imagine that £200+ will be more like it, so £300-£400 for the whole job - it quickly adds up!

But £585+ does sound like "I don't really want to do this, but could - rubs fingers - be persuaded..."

Emmia

ThisIsWeird said:

Emmia said:

ThisIsWeird said:

So, there is a loft space, which presumably means access to power and the eaves for ventilating. Ok, some boards will need lifting too. 
That leaves outside access - can your soffit boards be reached easily by ladder?
If you choose either a lightswitch-operated extractor, or one separately switched using a ceiling pull-cord,  then you won't even need wiring taking down a wall for a new switch.
I'm struggling to understand the high quote, but if course I'm on the wrong side of the screen.
I would personally recommend a separate fan switch, so that it doesn't come on every time someone has a wee, but possibly choosing a model with a humidistat override so it comes on every time the room is too humid.
How many folk in the house? Will they be conscientious in using the fan?! If so, just 'manual' will do. It doesn't really matter if it's left running for an hour...

Personally in a situation where mould is already an issue I'd have one with a humidistat that comes on automatically, (even if the light is off) if the humidity is over a certain level. I wouldn't have a pull cord or switch to activate it just when showering / bathing no matter how conscientious the occupants.

Obviously a 'sensible' option, as is having it on a timer. But, the drawback can be that it then comes on every time someone pops in even for a wee, and even in the middle of the night.

But, each makes their decision - and I think Tyke has :-)

We have this in both bathrooms, the trick is to buy a quiet fan.