Fed up with freezing downstairs loo

[MaggieFS]

The downstairs loo is freezing. It's in the 1970s equivalent of what I can best describe as adjacent to a side return so it's a single storey bit sticking out, semi detached on one side and with nothing neighbouring the rear or other side.

However, I think the biggest issue is the electric extractor fan which was installed when the house was redeveloped before we bought it. It's a horizontal vent to the outside wall and might as well be an open gaping hole.

I gather these are now part of building regs for bathrooms (even though this is just a loo). It also has a fully opening proper window which we use. We've switched the fan off an the isolator switch anyway so we don't use it.

Can I block up the hole some how? Even temporarily through winter?

I feel your pain. My main bathroom is the same and is colder than outside.. If I had the money I'd knock the whole thing down and start again. There should be a law against building extensions with no insulation whatsoever . It's just ridiculous.

I would. Just take the cover off and block it up.
Also maybe change the rad to a towel warmer one and leave it on a lot..

@whyohwhyohwhyohwhywhy OP would be better off going for the largest radiator that can fit if possible rather than a towel warmer. I made the mistake of fitting a towel warmer in the en/suite instead of a proper rad. I regret it bitterly. I want a actual warm bathroom not warm towels.

Thank you - it has a fairly small towel warmer radiator which pretty much does bugger all, but I don't think we're up for the cost of replacing it with anything bigger/more solid. I think it would be a bit pointless while we have the vent hole anyway.

Any suggestions on how to block up the hole effectively?

A builder should be able to brick up the hole.

Are they allowed to? I thought all 'bathrooms' even if it's just a loo had to have vents now?

If money and time is tight I'd fill it with expanding foam and stick a picture over the top of it.

please show us a photo, inside and out, of your fan and its vent

modern fans often have a shutter that closes when not running.

how often do you turn on this towel rail?

@JerkintheMerkin "There should be a law against building extensions with no insulation whatsoever ."

there is.

Sounds silly but get a terracotta plant pot and use it to hold tealights. 3 little tealights lit in a terracotta pot make a huge difference to the temperature in our downstairs loo. I get the 8 Hr burn ones from wilko or Asda and they keep the room warm ish all day.

New radiator might be a lot cheaper than you think. If you don't care about the way it looks you can get a big ugly white double panel it could make a big difference. Would be less than £100.

@JustWonderingIfYou

New radiator might be a lot cheaper than you think. If you don't care about the way it looks you can get a big ugly white double panel it could make a big difference. Would be less than £100.

I had the idea it was an electric one.

@PigletJohn I reckon my extension was built before those regs came in unfortunately

yes.

I think an anti-draught flap on the fan vent would do the trick.

does it have a flat roof, or a pitched one that could be insulated? Or a room above?

If the heater is electric, you could fit a timer to warm it up in the mornings.

The building regulations don't require mechanical extract ventilation in toilets (referred to as "sanitary accommodation") as long as there's an opening window of a minimum size. See the notes in the table on page 8 of the following document, and page 11 for the rules on "purge ventilation" (opening windows to you and me) which can be followed as an alternative to having an extractor fan in the downstairs loo.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1045112/ADF1.pdf

Get 150 hour candles or the church pillar ones! If they are safe for a church they are safe for your loo

Added bonuses they neutralise smells and are far cheaper than building work although the expanding foam/ polyfilla is worth doing too.

I’ve got “clever vents” - but they’re no match for the wind so for the kitchen one I just have to tape it up in winter.

Had some work done on my bathroom the other week - plumber discovered that the last time the toilet was fitted (old house), they’d basically knocked pipes and covered with plasterboard - so there were gaping great holes everywhere hidden from view by the plasterboard.

He filled with that expanding foam stuff and the bathroom is 10 degrees warmer already!

Thanks for all of the advice. That's good news if there you're not required by regulations as we could probably then get an electrician to remove it before blocking it up.

Apologies, the towel warmer is a plumbed in radiator, but not very big.

It's under a pitched roof, nothing upstairs.

The window is pretty big, it's a high up horizontal one, about 30cm x 60cm.

Pics attached

In case not obvious, the external cover us screwed onto the fascia under the gutter. It's a bit odd/ not very well planned!!

If the duct is horizontal, you can replace the outside grille with a cowl vent which has a weather cover and a non-return flap.

Is the radiator actually getting hot?

Do you think there is any insulation on the ceiling?