PigletJohn are you able to help please?

[tobuild]

@Pigletjohn I've had an extractor fan fitted in a bathroom and have been told that the set up may cause issues which is worrying me.

Am I able to message you some pictures please? If that's not allowed I will post on here, I was just hoping to keep some anonymity.

Not sure if the @PigletJohn is case sensitive. Post the pictures on here unless you have a highly identifiable bathroom yes, I'm nosey

Thanks @WhoppingBigBackside
The pictures are of the loft so extremely boring but I feel bad (and paranoid if it's spotted) for potentially questioning the trades judgment, although I'm concerned about a comment I've heard so want to check so I can get it resolved asap if remedial work is required.

I sometimes wonder if pigletjohn is married and his wife is over on aibu going 'my dh is always messaging women on forums, he says its about extractor fans but aibu to be suspicious?'

Sorry op, just musing while waiting for the photos 😁

@Applesandroses that made me laugh 

Thanks @hannahcolobus

I've attached the pictures. You can see where the extractor is connected to the loft via the bathroom ceiling, also the pipe up to the roof and finally how that is attached to the air vents (?) on the roof.

A friend has mentioned that condensation could drip back down the pipe into the fan and cause issues, but it's not really something I'm an expert on.

It looks like he has used a plain plastic flexible hose, as used with tumble driers. This is economical but as you say, condensation can run down it. There is a better insulated version. It is heavier so needs to be securely fitted.

When uninsulated duct is used in a loft, it often runs along the loft floor and you can flop loft insulation over it, which would not work in your case.

Does your fan have a timer on it, and do you know the model and power? If it is strong it may blow the air fast enough not to get condensation. But that flexible plastic is often a problem in lofts and water is trapped by the grooves, even if a drain is fitted.

I had a dream where I found out that pigletjohn was actually my Uncle Andy, I was so impressed. Time to step away from Mumsnet perhaps.

Thanks @PigletJohn, really appreciate your quick reply.

I don't believe that it has a timer, as it switches off as soon as the light is turned off, unless you're referring to something else?

I have no idea about the fan unfortunately.

Would you recommend changing this set up? Is it likely to cause issues long term?

Thanks again

I can't see the exact one I had in mind, but this example only costs about £30 extra, plus the cost of time to fit, and I think would be well worthwhile.
www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/FDAD4.html

You will not see the condensation until winter.

If you take some photos of the fan, including any markings, and preferably the instructions or packaging (may be in your bin) I can make a guess.

Thank you so much @PigletJohn, I'll have a search later and come back with any information I can find on the fan

Hi @PigletJohn, unfortunately I can't find any packaging or see any markings on the fan. It is this one:

Thanks

I don't recognise the make, but I think it is a typical "builders" fan rated at about 80 cu.m/hr

I think it's this one

adequate for a room with a WC and a bath, especially as it vents upward which is very efficient

do you have steamy showers?

you can do better if you think it's worthwhile and affordable.

Thanks again @PigletJohn

No bath in there but there will be approximately 3 or 4 showers a day.

If we were to keep the fan would you recommend us changing the pipe so it comes out of the eaves? That way we can cover it in insulation like you suggested as a potential solution.

as a minimum, I would change the duct to an insulated one. the roll at about £30 is I think 10 metres long (the height of a house) so an ample amount. You can keep the rest for the next fan you do.

If you are paying somebody to do it, I would myself prefer to bite the bullet and get a (much) better fan installed, wired to the ceiling rose so it can have a run-on timer, and get the whole job done for years to come.

The fan you have is a very cheap one, low power, and noisy. With age it will become even noiser and you will want to change it. The power is less than I would want for a room with showers. You may need to leave the fan running constantly, which can be annoying as it is noisy.

A very good fan, with enough power to cope with several steamy showers a day, and including a run-on timer, is this one It has three times the extraction rate, and is quieter. It is bigger, so it is fitted in the loft, preferably on a thick ply board, spaced off the loft floor with a layer of carpet underlay or similar to deaden vibration. unsurprisingly it is more expensive. you use a bit more of the duct to run to the hole in the ceiling, where you put a decorative plastic grille.

Fans are usually fitted by electricians, who can wire a timer model so it turns on with the light switch, and runs on for a preset period to clear residual steam.

sorry, you meant running it horizontally and out through the eaves? yes, this would be a quick DIY job.

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain everything, it's really helpful.

Yes I also meant running it horizontally so it's under the insulation. Would this still be possible if I did as you recommended and also purchased the much better fan?

Thanks

yes

it must be done so the steam can't blow back into the loft