Hi All,
I have a problem with mold in my bathroom and want to install an extractor fan to remove excess moisture.
My household has 3 young adults, 2 middle aged adults and one child together with one main bathroom and an en-suite in the master bedroom.
As you can imagine, having younger adults, the main bathroom is in constant use, showering, bathing, grooming and general preening. Whilst this is all good, there is no ventilation apart from a small window. The main bathroom is small measuring approx 1.8m wide x 1.8m deep and 2.4m high.
The high use and lack of ventilation has led to a constant battle with mold despite using Zinsiser Perma White anti mold paint.
My next approach is to install an in-line extractor fan in the loft and vent the exhaust out via a 100mm hole drilled in the wall. I have already purchased an inline mixed flow fan with 100mm inlet size and switched timer. This fan has a variable run on time up to 20mins and an extraction rate of either 160 or 240 cubic meter per hour.
I have a couple of questions which I hope others can help answer as follows:-
- What is the best location for the extraction vent in the bathroom? I understand the best position is in the ceiling over the bath/shower furthest from the fresh air inlet. However the house has a very shallow pitched roof which makes access to the area above the bath/shower tricky. As an an alternative, can I mount the extraction vent high up on the bathroom wall? This position will lead to a much shorter route to the in-line fan (1m vs 2.5m), but the inlet will be nearer the fresh air inlet, possibly leading to less moisture extraction. Will the high extraction rates of the inline-fan overcome this problem?
- Do I need to use insulated ducting or is standard PVC ducting OK? As mentioned the in-line fan and ducting will be in the loft directly above the bathroom and landing. I could cover the ducting with fiberglass loft insulation to protect it from condensation.
For safety I will be using an electrician to wire in the fan and its switched live timer circuit.
All info welcome.
I have a problem with mold in my bathroom and want to install an extractor fan to remove excess moisture.
My household has 3 young adults, 2 middle aged adults and one child together with one main bathroom and an en-suite in the master bedroom.
As you can imagine, having younger adults, the main bathroom is in constant use, showering, bathing, grooming and general preening. Whilst this is all good, there is no ventilation apart from a small window. The main bathroom is small measuring approx 1.8m wide x 1.8m deep and 2.4m high.
The high use and lack of ventilation has led to a constant battle with mold despite using Zinsiser Perma White anti mold paint.
My next approach is to install an in-line extractor fan in the loft and vent the exhaust out via a 100mm hole drilled in the wall. I have already purchased an inline mixed flow fan with 100mm inlet size and switched timer. This fan has a variable run on time up to 20mins and an extraction rate of either 160 or 240 cubic meter per hour.
I have a couple of questions which I hope others can help answer as follows:-
- What is the best location for the extraction vent in the bathroom? I understand the best position is in the ceiling over the bath/shower furthest from the fresh air inlet. However the house has a very shallow pitched roof which makes access to the area above the bath/shower tricky. As an an alternative, can I mount the extraction vent high up on the bathroom wall? This position will lead to a much shorter route to the in-line fan (1m vs 2.5m), but the inlet will be nearer the fresh air inlet, possibly leading to less moisture extraction. Will the high extraction rates of the inline-fan overcome this problem?
- Do I need to use insulated ducting or is standard PVC ducting OK? As mentioned the in-line fan and ducting will be in the loft directly above the bathroom and landing. I could cover the ducting with fiberglass loft insulation to protect it from condensation.
For safety I will be using an electrician to wire in the fan and its switched live timer circuit.
All info welcome.