Are you tired of dealing with a damp and moldy bathroom ceiling? Well, the good news is that you don’t have to suffer anymore! In this episode of The Money Pit Podcast, our expert hosts provide some practical tips to help you prevent condensation from forming in your bathroom.
- First and foremost, ventilation is key! Make sure your bathroom has proper ventilation, such as an exhaust fan, to help circulate air and reduce moisture buildup. You can also crack open a window or door to let some fresh air in.
- Another tip is to keep the bathroom door open after using the shower or bath. This will help the steam escape and prevent it from condensing on surfaces like the ceiling. Additionally, you can use a squeegee or towel to wipe down the walls and shower after use.
- When it comes to temperature, try to keep it consistent. Fluctuations in temperature can cause moisture to form, so keep the bathroom at a steady temperature throughout the day. You can also try using a space heater or heated towel rack to help keep things warm.
- Last but not least, be mindful of how much water you’re using. Taking shorter, cooler showers can help reduce the amount of steam that forms and ultimately reduce the amount of moisture in the air.
By following these tips, you can help prevent condensation from forming in your bathroom and say goodbye to that pesky mold and mildew. So why not give it a try and see the difference for yourself? Your bathroom (and your health!) will thank you.
Read Transcript
LESLIE: Adam in Iowa is dealing with a wet bathroom. Tell us what’s going on in there.
ADAM: Well, I have condensation on my ceiling.
LESLIE: OK.
ADAM: We had our roof redone, oh, about three years ago and now it seems like when it gets cold out, we get condensation on our ceiling.
LESLIE: Do you have any sort of venting in your bathroom? Because it sounds like your attic is cool and you’re in your shower and the bathroom gets super-hot and then there’s no movement of air in that bath and that’s what’s causing that temperature differentiation.
TOM: So what happens is the warm, moist air strikes the underside of the chillier bathroom ceiling and condenses.
ADAM: OK.
TOM: And so, if we were to warm up the bathroom ceiling by making sure it’s insulated above, couple that with proper bathroom ventilation, then this problem will totally go away.
ADAM: Right. OK. So the vent we have for the shower is probably not significant enough for the bathroom itself?
LESLIE: And are you certain that the vent that you have in the bathroom is actually vented outside and not just venting into your attic?
ADAM: I believe it is. There is – I don’t know. I’d have to look for sure but I think they did put it but it’s not a very big vent itself.
LESLIE: OK. So you have some air movement but just not enough. It could be that you’re just not getting enough of that moist air out or you’re not using it in the proper way.
Traditionally, with a bathroom vent fan, you want, obviously, to have the vent fan on while you’re bathing and then you want to continue to run it for about 10, 15 minutes once you’re out of the shower because that’s when the condensation really occurs.
Now, if it’s time for a new one – maybe your model’s just not efficient enough or not moving enough of that moist air out – a great company to check out is Broan-NuTone. And if you go to their website, Broan.com – B-r-o-a-n.com – you’ll find a ton of different models available with lights, without lights, ones that actually look like vent fans, one that looks like a ceiling high-hat that really conceals a bath vent fan.
And what’s great is that a majority of their models are Energy Star-rated, because they’re made so efficiently to be silent and to move a tremendous amount of moisture out of the bath. That’s how they meet a lot of the Energy Star ratings. They’re affordable. It’s really worth looking into because if you’re dealing with this problem over and over again, eventually you’re going to get mold and mildew growth on your ceiling. You’re going to have to repaint, repair. There’s a lot that this is going to cause if you don’t nip it in the bud right now.
ADAM: OK. And this is something I could install myself?
TOM: Yeah, absolutely. If you’re a handy guy or you’re a DIYer, you definitely could put in a new fan yourself. It’s not terribly a difficult project to do; pretty much basic carpentry and basic electrical work.
ADAM: OK, guys. Appreciate it.
TOM: You’re welcome, Adam. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.
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