bathroom condensation

[scrumpyjack]

Our single glazed bathroom window and window reveal?? is almost always running with condensation every morning.
The wall is north facing,shaded and cold, but even with good roof insulation /cavity wall done ,and an extractor fan it gets so wet that mould keeps coming back.
Would trickle vents help?? I dont want the window open all the time --too cold!!, or maybe installing a small heater to keep the air temp up??
Any suggestions welcomed as my recent decorating is getting wasted and i'm at a loss as to what to do for the best.

 

[breezer]

secondary double glazing?

 

[JohnD]

What floor is the bathroom on?

Do you always run the fan during and after baths and showers? Triggering it from the light switch helps as many people are reluctant to turn a fan on.

Is there the possibility of a slight water leak keeping the room damp? Or is it just moisture from wet towels, hot baths etc?

Try leaving the extractor running overnight (it is probably only 20watts or so, which will run for 50 hours for 8p), that should remove the humidity, unless you have a source, such as wet washing around the house or draped over radiators.

Sadly a single-glazed window is always going to be cold and attract condensation. If I were you I would try to add secondary glazing, even a cheap plastic sheet solution would cut the condensation.

Adding heating will not help, but ventilation will.

Check that the fan, duct and grille are not choked with dust and cobwebs.

 

[scrumpyjack]

The fan is on a timer , operates via the light switch and runs for 20 mins-about its max.I suspect that the moisture is rising up to the first floor bathroom from the kitchen and the lounge--with 2 young chils its a bitch trying to keep doors shut And we dont dry wet towels in there.
I think I might put a window ext fan in the kitchen,and a damn great door closer on.
Also ,maybe a trickle vent and some cheap sec/glazing in the bathroom.
I really want to stop the mould though--its not healthy
Any more work and i'll need another m/gage.

 

[^woody^]

You will never, never stop the condensation.

Even with normal humidity and heat levels, a cold single glazed window on a north facing wall is going to get condensation

All you can hope to do is minimise it and prevent the eventual mould growth. And the only option for you is to wipe the windows at least twice a day to dry up the condensation and prevent it from stagnating on the cill, which will lead to the eventual mould growth.

Although comon advice is to ventilate and heat, the practicalities and sucess of this in isolation is negligible in situations such as this. Your idea for a small heater may make things worse, because as soon as you switch it off, the air will cool and condense again.

No, its kitchen towel for you I'm afraid

 

[Nige F]

don`t ya just love them ole` crittal single glazed iron windows .....you might find a position on the staybar and the cockspur that allows sash to be left a fraction ajar

 

[JamesA]

Our new UPVC double glazed windows are guaranteed against condensation for 10 years.
Before that though we got the same problem.
I think until you get new windows, you'll have to squeegee and then mop the water with kitchen towel.
Our previous windows had secondary double glazing, but we still got condensation. It was the type you slide across.
If they are wooden window frames they can go rotten quickly.

There are water-absorbing crystals etc but I'm not convinced they work well enough.

I read somewhere you should keep the window open for 20/30 minutes after a shower or bath. brrrrrrrrrrr!

 

[^woody^]

You will find that the glass units are guaranteed for 10 years (against condensation between them ie the seal going) but the window (frame and glass) is not guarnanteed that it will not get condensation on it.

None can guarantee that.

If there was such a guarantee, then I would boil a kettle on the window cill and make a claim. But what could I claim for?

 

[masona]

How about the auto humidity control fan

 

[RigidRaider]

Expensive option: a dehumidifier.

Other less expensive option: a PVCu window from your local specialist (NOT one of the nationals). We paid £80 for a small bathroom window about 550 x 950mm with acid etched glass, it's airtight, warm, top hinged and easy to leave securely latched an inch open. We installed it ourselves. No more problem.

 

[SparkyUK]

How about installing a tubular heater? They are normally rated about 150 watts or so depending on size. These are designed to be left on, unlike extractor fans, which are not continually rated.

 

[JohnD]

A tubular heater will not remove the moisture from the air.

Neither will it make the outside world warm, so the window glass will continue to be colder that the warm air in the bathroom.

Therefore it will not reduce window condensation.

Ventilation, such as an extractor, will.