One of the biggest challenges of owning a bathroom is making sure that you have a well ventilated, comfortable bathroom. A stale, muggy atmosphere can hinder your bathroom experience and can cause long-term damage. Poor ventilation results in a build up of condensation and excess moisture, causing damage to fixtures, fosters mildew and erodes the surfaces of your walls and ceiling.
With all these potentially harmful effects, how can you protect your bathroom from costly damage? Here are our top three suggestions to help ensure your bathroom is well ventilated and maximises air quality.
Maximise The Use of Ventilation Options
For many people, ventilation systems are already in place but are perhaps not maximising the full potential. Most bathrooms have exhaust fans used to enhance air quality and to remove the moist, warm air produced from baths and showers.
To make the best use of your exhaust fan, it should be turned on before you use hot water in the bathroom and for the duration of your shower. It should then only be turned off once the steam from your shower has completely disappeared. This fan should be regularly cleaned to ensure that it is working effectively.
If you don’t have an exhaust fan, it’s a good idea to get one. Before installation, you should consider the size of the room – getting a fan that is too small will mean that moisture and odour may still linger in the room, even when the fan is working. Location is also a factor, the fan should be placed in an area that experiences the most moisture.
If a fan isn’t an option, there are other ways to combat moisture and steam. By keeping your window or door slightly ajar, steam and warm air from your bath or shower can escape, therefore preserving air quality. You can also trim the bottom of your door to allow warm air to escape as well.
Moderate Temperatures
Limiting the hot air produced by your bathroom is another way to ensure that it is well ventilated. This can be done by ensuring that the water temperature in your bathroom is not too hot when you have a bath or shower. The ideal water temperature for a shower is 40°C. If you are unsure of how to control the temperature of your water manually, you should consider purchasing an automatic temperature control shower.
Another way to moderate temperature is to fill the bathtub with one inch of cold water before your shower. Then empty the cold water from the bath and proceed with your shower as usual. The cold water you have poured down the drain will act to stop the creation of steam that would normally result from your bath. By limiting the steam your bathroom produces, you can prevent mildew from growing and ensure your bathroom is a safe and healthy environment.
Remove Existing Mould, Mildew And Other Harmful Fungi
When creating a well ventilated bathroom with high air purity, you must ensure that mould, mildew and other harmful fungi and bacteria are not already festering in your bathroom and toilet. These organisms all contribute to lowering the quality of the air in your bathroom.
Consulting or hiring an expert to do a comprehensive clean of your bathroom is an ideal way to ensure that you can effectively start your bathroom ventilation efforts off with a clean slate. If you’d prefer to do the work yourself, you can read our top tips for removing mould in your bathroom. Ensuring that your bathroom is free from harmful growth creates a well ventilated, healthy bathroom for you and your family.
By maximising the use of ventilation systems, moderating temperatures and removing harmful moulds, you can ensure that your bathroom is well-ventilated for years to come.