Looking for an effective bathroom extractor fan

[TheGander]

This is for my rental property. The bathroom is at the front of the house ( cul de sac) and for privacy the tenants have put black plastic all over the frosted glass window. The windows are also
usually closed. I’ve tried addressing these issues but it’s clear the behaviour is not going to change. To reduce condensation, I’m looking for a powerful extractor fan- recommendations of makes and models welcome.

Have you got a blind fitted? If not, and their tenancy prohibits them from attaching things to walls, you should offer to do this ASAP.

Frosted glass very often doesn't provide privacy if the bathroom light is on, so I can understand why they want to cover the window.

Is there an extractor already in place that vents outside, so you just need to upgrade/ repair it, or is it a new installation?

Thanks hedgehog. I was thinking of a blind but worried this would simply gather moisture to itself . But happy to fit one. There is an extractor fan there that goes on when the light is turned on, but I fear it is very weedy and not having any impact. There must be some that are more effective but I have no idea of brands.

You can get a waterproof roller blind for bathrooms, I’ve used them and they work well. Then you want to fit an inline extractor fan that comes on when the light does, is quiet (so they’re not tempted to switch it off at the isolator switch) and has as powerful an extraction rate as you can find. This one looks good: https://www.screwfix.com/p/manrose-mf100t-4-axial-inline-extractor-fan-with-timer-240v/719gy

I'd fit a heat recovery extractor. You can get them for about £300 so they're more expensive than standard extractors but they keep the dry warm air in the house.

Check your current fan first. A lot have two speeds but are fitted on the slow, quiet setting.

This is the current fan, I really don’t think it makes much of a difference. Looks like it’s this model or an earlier one https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/164664-100mm-4-inch-axial-fan-c-w-timer?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsburBhCIARIsAExmsu5HBz_-fGho4kxd0zg2nkG7NlxNu3T1hZS37BYJnxHWauvHj_aBZXAaApClEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
i think a better fan plus a roller blind set away from the window recess might be the way forward, in the long run I might look at PIV, although the house has never had issues before the current tenants.

A pretty normal fan. I suspect the tenants switch it off at the isolator like my partner because they don't like the noise.

It's not the best fan, but you should definitely investigate it first. If not switched off or at a low setting, the hose might be blocked or disconnected, so it isn't extracting at all.

A specific bathroom blind should then hopefully remove the black bag issue.

Thanks everyone. Unfortunately the house is a whole day’s round trip away so I can’t pop over and investigate the fan. Full disclosure, I was hoping to attract a certain PigletJohn with some model recs but I see he posted recently here https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/home_decoration_pictures/4944942-bathroom-extractor-fan so I’m going to get the fan changed and install a blind.

That sounds great. Hopefully your tenant and property benefit from these solutions.