Extractor Fan Bathroom

[Authenticity2020]

I have a small/medium bathroom and the steam & condensation problem is a nightmare despite having a large & small window. Mould grows quick. I researched online and found a lot of helpful info, ( thanks PigletJohn ) and opted for the Turbo Tube Pro 100 (4 inch inline fan and timer) extraction rate 245m3/hr which an electrician put in the loft, above the double shower. The fan runs 30 mins after light goes off. There is a small gap under the door to allow some air in the bathroom and we keep door and windows closed. Heating is usually on in bathroom as it’s winter.

The claim manufacturer makes is the fan will take out the steam before it has time to condense...

Now, that’s either a total lie. Or, the fan is faulty. But, how do you know which? What can I be checking or doing?

Steam situation is better than it was, but it is no way clear in the bathroom and after two showers (no more than 30 mins using shower in total) there are water droplets on the ceiling, the tiled walls and surfaces. The shower door, windows and mirror still steam up. Even after the 30 mins of the fan going after the shower use ends, it’s still damp in there.

I have to open the window up, use squeegee and a cloth etc.

I had rather hoped that spending £££s on fan and professional electrician that we would see a significant improvement. Especially with a high rate of extraction. But looks like I will still have to mop up a lot each and every time. What was the point?

Is this to be expected? Are the manufacturers over exaggerating the claims? Is the fan likely broken? Should I feel a lot of suction through the vent in the bathroom? What can I do?

I would need to pay electrician another call out to fit a replacement fan, so I don’t want to do that if it’s not going to help.

Thoughts? Much appreciation in advance.

If you’ve just got a towel rail, and it’s usually got towels on, that may not be enough heat...

Check out the installation videos on Youtube for your product. There's hardly any that show a fan running, here's one:

Check with the manufacturer/retailer too?

@PigletJohn i will try keeping the fan on all day, i wont be able to at night as my LO wont sleep as our doors have glass at the top so it shines through! I bought the fan so i know its the one installed and it has been put on high speed (three wires). I bought 5 meter ducting which was used. The outside wall was drilled to fit the outside vent. I will measure the gap under the door, its an old rubbish door so there is also a gap along the side so there is a way for air to enter the room.

I’m afraid of heights and so i have never been into the loft. I think i will need to call a new electrician to check it all out. Im wondering whether to just buy another extractor fan altogether.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good 4 inch one that will go on the ceiling? Like the best of the best, cant go wrong with it type of model.

@NotMeNoNo i will check to see if steam is coming out, the wall was drilled as you say

@GiraffeNecked Only hand towel, our main towels sit in the hallway as with all the dampness we dont let our towels dry in the bathroom

@sbplanet thanks, i might see if i can convince my OH to get in the loft and take photos of how its all set up

@LadyBishyBarnaby i like this! Just looked on YouTube and might get it for Christmas! And @Chumleymouse i hear you re quick showers, mines only 5-10 mins but OH cant help but spend 15-20 mins. Overall its only 30 mins which surely isn’t long really. But i take your point.

And yes i’m trying to find out who the manufacturer is!! Its not clear from the box or manual. Suspicious. So much work to get something so simple to work.

there is a similar fan by Soler & Palau, which is a very good maker, but I would want to rule out any problems with duct or vents first.

btw I do not have a ducted fan here to test, but I just tried a Soler & Palau Silent 100 in the bathroom, and when I held an A4 sheet of printer paper near it, it snatched it out of my hand and slapped it against the grill, holding it firmly against gravity.

it is only rated at 95 m3/hr, so I'd expect yours to have much more power.

I don't have any joss-sticks.

Did you say 5metre duct or was that a typo? Flex duct or solid tube/oblong ? It might be too long a run.

Ok it's an inline fan. I'd check it's installed the right way round, the backdraft shutter is the right way round and nobody stepped on the duct and squashed/kinked it in the loft.

@NotMeNoNo I bought 5 metre flexible ducting as i wasnt sure how much would be needed. I asked the electricians junior if he used it all. He said yes, he just cut it in half. Do you think that could be the cause?

It looks like i’ll have to go up there or my husband. Trouble is we are not exactly sure what we are looking for being the right or wrong way. I’ll check that YouTube vid again.

Feel like electrician should surely know and done this right!

@PigletJohn nah mine definitely doesn’t snatch anything like how you described, its only if it is held up close that it catches.

I think from everyones replies it seems like either something is wrong with the connection or the unit itself isn't powerful enough.

If anyone can let me know if there is anyway of me being able to test in addition to the helpful pointers already given. Thank you all.

We have just installed an inline vent axia that is sold as 220m3/hr as our internal bathroom was getting really steamy and drippy after our daughters showered and we needed to share their bathroom while we were having an en suite fitted. Ours does steam up slightly now but soon clears and no more dripping. I could feel the suction when I put my hand near the grill. Not tried a piece of paper but could do that later this evening. Ours gets extracted out through the roof through a special roof tile and the ducting is probably about 5 metres long.

i'd look at the internal and external vents; the non-return valve, and the duct.

I think the problem is more likely one of those obstructing proper flow.

Even pulling the duct off the "blow" side of the fan for a couple of minutes would tell you if that makes a huge improvement.

It might well be that the non-return is either jammed, or fitted the wrong way round. If necessary it could be taken off while a replacement is ordered. Do you have a link with a picture of it?

Some photos would be a great help.

here is an example of a common non-return valve. The flap swings shut under gravity (so has to be upright) like a door, and it seats against a ridge so it will only open one way. you hear it "click" when the flap shuts after the fan stops running, and sometimes in windy weather when gusts blow it open and shut. I don't think there is a directional arrow on it, but worth marking it in felt-tip to avoid errors.

A more modern type has two thin and very light flaps of plastic like a butterfly's wings, and does not made a noticable click. This type is often included with higher-priced fans as part of the fitting, but is sometimes available as an accessory.

If you have to take out the valve because it is faulty, you can insert a straight joiner into the duct to take its place.

You can run without a non-return valve, but depending on wind direction, cold air may blow in when the fan is not running.

these parts are commonly sold in places that sell extractor fans.

Apart from a visual check, the valve is probably the first thing I would inspect.

I think we might have the same fan to be honest. I'm going up in the loft to get Christmas decorations later, I'll take a picture if we do.

Ok we do not have a turbo fan. There is some ducting wrapped up in gaffer tape and what sounds like a small insect buzzing inside, i.e. a cheap tiny fan, and we still don't have a steamy bathroom. Hope you get yours fixed.

wot no pic?

I know, the internet is poorer for it.

@Murinae ours is the Turbo Tube and I found out is manufactured by Vent according the extractor fan company that sold it. Although this is not apparent to me and doesn’t say it in the manual.

Anyway my husband and i feel no strong suction, just the gentle feeling of air.

I will try the piece of paper as well.

@PigletJohn @NotMeNoNo thank you both. I’m going to be brave and fight my fear and go in the loft at the weekend (DH can watch our LO). I will take photos and inspect what I can and report back on Saturday/Sunday.

Thank you all so much for your input and knowledge in the meantime.

Tried the paper test and it definitely sticks to it

Had to get quite close to it though for it to snatch it up. The en suite one (also an inline one but an older one that came with the house) doesn’t hold the paper. It falls off. That bathroom though hardly steams up at all which is why when we just redid the en-suite we didn’t feel the need to change it. We just changed the grill for a new one.

I am very tempted to say it will be the non-return valve fitted the wrong way round, but must try not to diagnose without more information.

There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who can extrapolate from incomplete information,

I've not tried the paper test with our ducted fan but our bathroom is an internal room so no window to open and my teen has the longest, hottest, steamiest showers in the world and there is no condensation. Hope you can get yours sorted.

I did the a4 paper test and it failed.

So I went up the ladder and very shakily took photos of everything I could see. Funnily enough, one side of the ducting had COMPLETELY come away from the machine. Now, I don’t know if this happened when the electrician returned to adjust the timer to 30 mins or if it had ALWAYS been loose/not connected from the get go. Because the ladder comes down from the loft and so when the ladder was pushed back it would have been very close the area where ducting meets fan. So possibly this is the cause that it was never properly connected. Honestly I am not holding my breath though so I thought before I call the electrician to come back and check it all over, is there anything else i should get him to double check?

Here are pics of everything installed and images of the actual items. There is no backdraft. I think because I opted for the gravity grille so Didnt think I needed one.

So it’s going out the wall as you can see and drops down to the bathroom. One side LOOKS correctly connected.