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Ensuite dampness

  • 13-03-2014 4:16pm
    #1
    martineire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 328 ✭✭


    Hi I've a problem with dampness in my ensuite bathroom. There's no window in the ensuite but there is an extractor fan installed but this doesn't seem to be doing the job. Any advice on what I can do? There all black mould staining the ceiling :-(


Comments

  • #2
    MicktheMan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,880 ✭✭✭MicktheMan


    martineire wrote: »
    but this doesn't seem to be doing the job.

    There you go


    To quote another regular poster: Sometimes the answer is in the question :)


  • #3
    martineire
    Closed Accounts Posts: 328 ✭✭martineire


    MicktheMan wrote: »
    There you go


    To quote another regular poster: Sometimes the answer is in the question :)
    So what do u suggest now?


  • #4
    MicktheMan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,880 ✭✭✭MicktheMan


    martineire wrote: »
    So what do u suggest now?

    Find out why it's not "doing the job"

    Very often the ducting which the fan has to push moist air through is poorly designed / constructed.
    Maybe investigate an MEV type system


  • #5
    baby fish
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 267 ✭✭baby fish


    martineire wrote: »
    So what do u suggest now?

    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 Timer model , price is about 60e I think. The good thing about a fan with a timer is it will run for 3 - 20min after you turn it off, making sure you remove all the steam.

    3. Make sure the extractor fan is always used

    4. If the extractor fan is on an external wall I wouldn't expect anything to be wrong with the ducting, it will be short , probably max 350mm long.
    All you need to make sure is that it is the correct size, 100mm is normal and that it has a small fall to the outside to ensure that if any moisture gets into the ducting it cant run back into the fan and damage it.

    5. If the fan is on the ceiling make sure it is suitable to be connected to a duct of what ever length duct you have in the attic, maybe make sure there is actually a duct in the attic , the fan could be covered over with insulation.

    6.Make sure you just give the face of the fan a clean with a dry paint brush when if you see signs of dust building up on the front cover which could restrict air going into the fan.

    7. Mould in the ensuite

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

    Steam or as you cant see it most of the time its better to call it moisture laden air will travel from its source to the colder spots in your house and condense there, so its will move from the kitchen/utility room/and also from your bedroom(the air you exhale) towards the cold spots in your house.

    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.

    8. 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.

    9. Check insulation in attic, you can never have enough but just make sure there is an adequate amount there and its well installed.

    In short make sure the fan is capable of extracting and preferably with a timer, ensure adequate air supply in to the room to feed the fan, remove moisture at source in all other areas of your house, ensure trickle vents remain unblocked and that there is sufficient pathway between rooms for air to flow, check insulation in attic

    10.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

    Hope this is a good start:)


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