Extractor fans in bathroom...

[Gigi1985]

Hello everyone :) - having updates to my bathroom and wondering if we need an extractor fan plus a window? I know we don't technically need one, and I would prefer to save on the cost, but I wondered if anyone had any better insight than what I can find on Google?!

you need an extractor fan.

If you only have baths, and the bathroom is well heated and warm, with CWI on the external walls, you may get by with a small wall fan.

If not, or if you have steamy showers, you need an extra powerful extractor. The best ones are mounted in the loft, sucking through the ceiling and blowing through a duct through the eaves or a hole in the wall or roof.

What is above your bathroom ceiling?

how old is the house?

Ours is broken in our en-suite and I would say you definitely need one. We both shower every day and within a few weeks of the fan being broken there was so much mould behind our bed and under our bedroom window. And that’s with the window permanently open

Oh thank you so much for this advice, so great to get the POV of someone who knows what they are talking about! There is an attic above the bathroom. The house is old - maybe 110-120 years...

Thank you as well @Turnedouttoes - this is really good to know. Extractor fan it is!

Pigletjohn is spot on, we put a large on in the loft bathrooms much better

Just be careful which you get:
First was my London flat - came on with bathroom light but also had isolation switch to turn off if required.
Second - fan in current house comes on with light, no isolation switch, is noisy when you nip to the loo at night.
Boyfriend’s work flat - turns off with bathroom light, goes off about ten minutes after you turn the light off and sounds like a garbage disposal and keeps everyone awake.

Try to go for the first one!!!

You can buy quieter ones and also sound proof the floor under them, ours has an adjustable timer. The Digital display on our shower gives enough light for nocturnal wee's, but I have seen one bathroom that had an additional light switch that just brought a small light on for night time

Extractor fan essential get one with a timer that runs after light switches off but also has a second light . Something like a small one above a mirror for night time wee's .

Ditto with PigletJohn! Always sage advice.

Our house had no extractor fan in the bathroom when we bought it, just a window and it was an essential when we renovated it. We went for the proper loft extractor.
Your house will thank you!

We’re about to renovate our extractor fan-less bathroom and it’s probably No 1 on my list of fixtures; I’d sacrifice any number of freestanding baths, fancy tiles or proper storage just for the right extractor fan. Otherwise you’re just installing a posh mould box.

@burritofan @PigletJohn @SweatyBetty20 @Funf @rwalker @december2020 Ah thanks everyone, this is all so super helpful and reassuring to have a unanimous response!

If you don't have an extractor fan you will get mould. I get them put in all our btl houses.

No problem life is easy if we can all help each other

I have an extractor fan with a humidity sensor so it comes on automatically if the bathroom is starting to get steamy, not just when the light is turned on.