Steamy bathroom

[John Brown]

When the steam from the shower hits the cold air from an open window... it instantly turns the water vapor into water. It's why you end up with soaking walls if you leave the window open... a fast extractor fan pulls this moisture out and expels it outside.

In a normal setting without the steam/shower you would be correct. Heating and a trickle of circulating air air from outside will produce low humidity and dry walls... in a bathroom... not at all.

Ah! Thanks for the explanation!

 

[Richard_C]

Isn't it a very simple no expense thing to test? "Try having the window closed and tell me if it's better or worse".

 

[John Brown]

Isn't it a very simple no expense thing to test? "Try having the window closed and tell me if it's better or worse".

If that's directed at me, then it'd be impossible to test, as I don't have a window in my bathroom. I wish I did, but it has no outside wall.

 

[Doug71]

Well I went for a look at the property yesterday and the bathroom was absolutely running with condensation, still no heating on.

The extractor was working but probably not as well as it should so I've organised for a more powerful one to be fitted.

Hopefully heating, more extraction and correct ventilation will sort things out

 

[Richard_C]

If that's directed at me, then it'd be impossible to test, as I don't have a window in my bathroom. I wish I did, but it has no outside wall.

No, it was for the op. I too lack a window in my en suite but the extractor fan works fine.

 

[John Brown]

No, it was for the op. I too lack a window in my en suite but the extractor fan works fine.

Ok. Mine is totally useless. I intend to put an online in the attic, but keep getting sidetracked.

 

[deema]

As a landlord it’s my understanding you can insist your tenants heat all rooms of the house adequately. I’ve never found an official temperature, but the NHS recommends a minimum if 18C along with other organisations. Not to heat house is going to cause you big issues long term. The tenants have a right to a mould free house, so, the fan / ventilation in the bathroom needs to comply with building regs. If the house is otherwise sound and you’ve done this and the tenants still won’t turn the heating on, I’d evict them after giving them notice to improve. You just don’t want a frivolous legal case against you.

I got rid of a family who turned off the bathroom isolator, dried all their clothes on the rads and cost me thousands fixing black mould everywhere / trying to identify the issue.

 

[deema]

The fan should be locate in the furthest position away from the door, often people put it where the steam is generated (I’ve been guilty of this too!) and not at the furthest point which allows the steam to accumulate in pockets around the room causing damp.

 

[HappyHacker]

My daughter rents out her small 2 bedroom mid terrace 1970 house while working away. I look after it and got a call from the tenants about a leak in the loft. The bedroom ceiling was dripping with water. I go in the loft and everything is dry. In addition the cloths in the built in wardrobe are damp and there is black mould and the curtain pole is rusty.

I explain about condensation, loan them a dehumidifier and explain that they have to open the windows or leave them in the locked vent position.

I have no idea how they managed to generate so much damp unless they never open the windows, boil rice/potatoes every day and dry their clothes on the radiator and never openn the bathroom window when showering/bathing.

It has generally been the younger tenants who have the problems, wanting to be able to wear shorts and teeshirt inside all year round and won't open windows due to the draught. Not helped by the total bills they have to pay when starting out in the careers and not earning much money.