Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Condensation in bathroom

  • 25-01-2014 11:33am
    #1
    Whacker paddy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 ✭


    I have a problem with condensation and slight mildew in an en suite shower room. There is a Velux window in the room that is about 1 metre from the top of the shower. Despite opening this there is always condensation. I have a fan fitted but its not effective. Any ideas on how to rectify this? Thanks in advance!


Comments

  • #2
    muffler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46,548 ✭✭✭✭muffler


    Whacker paddy wrote: »
    I have a problem with condensation and slight mildew in an en suite shower room. There is a Velux window in the room that is about 1 metre from the top of the shower. Despite opening this there is always condensation. I have a fan fitted but its not effective. Any ideas on how to rectify this? Thanks in advance!
    Sometimes the answer is in the question :)


  • #3
    Whacker paddy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 ✭Whacker paddy


    muffler wrote: »
    Sometimes the answer is in the question :)

    Should I disconnect the fan?


  • #4
    muffler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46,548 ✭✭✭✭muffler


    Whacker paddy wrote: »
    Should I disconnect the fan?
    No, not at all. You probably need a more robust / stronger fan.

    Get an A4 sheet of paper or newspaper page and place it against the fan when its running. If it doesn't hold the paper in place its not extracting properly. Thats just a quick check method.


  • #5
    sky6
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,444 ✭✭✭sky6


    I think the first thing you need is a Dome over your Shower. This will catch and condense the steam from the shower before it reaches any cold surfaces.
    I would think this is a must to begin with.
    Then I'd look at DCV short for Demand Controlled Ventilation. You can read about it online. What it basically does is control and balance the ventilation in the Room automatically.
    Hole in Wall vents although common are pretty much useless in dealing with the problem. In many cases they make it worse by creating very cold surfaces for Steam to condense on.


  • #6
    4thHorseman
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6 ✭4thHorseman


    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056799976&page=2

    Look at the pics in the above thread. If you painted the roof of the now enclosed shower.....over even better tile it then you would drastically contain the steam. Combined with an effective extractor fan.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    Whacker paddy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 ✭Whacker paddy


    4thHorseman wrote: »
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056799976&page=2

    Look at the pics in the above thread. If you painted the roof of the now enclosed shower.....over even better tile it then you would drastically contain the steam. Combined with an effective extractor fan.

    Thanks but nothing showed up on that link. "Page not found" was the message I got.


  • #8
    WilyCoyote
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,059 ✭✭✭WilyCoyote


    If the room is insulated properly and the fan is the right strength, you would not have a problem. So, IMO, it's one of these two.
    But if the fan is the right strength and the door is airtight ...... so you'll need to take the door off and get the plane out.
    Work out the cubic feet of the bathroom and then check with an on-line chart.
    That should sort you.


  • #9
    Whacker paddy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 ✭Whacker paddy


    Thanks for all the advice. Am going to try the DIY showerdome and upgrade fan. Fan I currently have not strong enough.


  • #10
    Whacker paddy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 ✭Whacker paddy


    Dome fitted by my brother two weeks ago. Sheet of Perspex, silicone and angle bracket and the job is oxo. Works very well, no condensation on mirror and shower cubicle very warm due to steam being trapped. Thanks for all the advice.


  • #11
    hfallada
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,180 ✭✭✭hfallada


    My bathroom was recently renovated and has a mould problem. There is a fan installed by the builder, but it's not great. There is a vent on the outside for the fan but it's the metal grill ones like the ones for a bed room. Is that outside been wrong?


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    Whacker paddy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 ✭Whacker paddy


    Clean the mould with a bleach and water mix. You will probably need a stronger fan and be sure to open windows daily to let air circulate. You could also paint the area affected with anti mould and mildew paint. It's annoying after renovating to have to patch up things again but worth it in the long run!


  • #13
    michael999999
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 7,771 ✭✭✭michael999999


    Zinsser permawhite will do the job in steamy bathrooms to keep the mould at bay!


  • #14
    baby fish
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 267 ✭✭baby fish


    The vent outside could be a problem but difficult to say without seeing it,
    here are some other things to check:

    1. make sure you have a gap of 8mm - 10mm under the ensuite door. For proper extraction to take place you need to have a source of air into the ensuite, its not all about getting air out of the room!! If the supply of air in to the ensuite is restricted then the volume of air going out through the fan is also restricted and with this the steam stays in your ensuite.

    Getting sufficient air in will allow the fan to extract at the expected rate and with it will go the steam. see if you can push a pencil under the door, if not the gap is definitely too small. Some people don't like this gap but it really is essential.

    Actually you should have this gap under every door in your house to allow good cross ventilation from one room to another.

    2.Make sure you have a decent extractor fan, vortice are a good brand,
    I'd recommend the Vortice Ariett , price is about 50- 60e I think.

    3. Make sure the extractor fan is always used

    4. . Mould in the ensuite

    The ensuite and bathrooms tend to be cold areas of a house. Lets leave having a shower out of the equation for a minute. You would reckon that this would end your problem of mould in the ensuite ? Possibly not!

    moisture laden air from outside the ensuite will travel from its source to the colder spots in your house and condense there, so it will move from the kitchen/utility room/and also from your bedroom(the air you exhale) towards the cold spots in your house, in this case it could be the ensuite.

    Its VERY IMPORTANT to make sure you are removing all moisture at source in your house, use the kitchen extractor fan( same rules, make sure it is suitable and it has sufficient air supply) , stop drying clothes in your house on a clothes horse if you are/can, make sure your tumble drier is ducted to outside, and make sure you have not blocked all the trickle vents. Re trickle vents/hole in the wall vent : Remember air supply in allows the air to flow out, this is why it is important to have a gap under all doors. All rooms are connected with a path way to let the air move around your house. It is important these vents remain unblocked and that they are on opposite sides of the building to allow for good cross ventilation. Air in through a vent in one room - air out through a vent in another room.

    5. Heat is important to a certain extent, warmer air will hold more moisture, have the radiator turned on in ensuite, normal heating pattern is sufficient.

    6. are the surfaces where the mould is forming properly insulated?
    it will be hard to stop condensation forming on uninsulated walls.


    7.If after all of this you are still not happy, consider 1 decentralised DCV fan in the ensuite ( Lunos, rough price 500e, 1 room only ) or a centralised DCV fan in attic ( Aereco, rough price 700e, but this will also do more than 1 wet room ) A decentralised MHRV fan is also an option but I'm not a big fan of MHRV at the moment


Advertisement