Bathrooms are a common place for condensation issues in the home. The high levels of moisture from showers are a recipe for disaster. This is why extractor fans are crucial to keeping your bathroom free of mould. However extractor fan maintenance is often neglected.
Bathroom Extractor Fans
Part F of the current building regulations says that bathrooms must have an extractor fan that can move 15 litres of air per minute. It also notes that the extractor fan should come on when the light is switched on and should stay on for 15 minutes after the light is turned off. This part is important, if the extractor turns off straight away it will not have a chance to remove the wet air in time.
Unfortunately whilst a lot of extractor fans that are fitted into new homes do comply with this, without proper maintenance and installation they are rendered useless. In todays blog we are going to outline to you some things to look out for with your extractor fans.
Extractor Fan Maintenance
The Paper Test
Firstly if you want to give your extractor fan a quick easy test try using the paper test. This is where you take a couple of sheets of toilet paper and hold them up to your fan. If working effectively these should stick to the vent of the fan, if not it may be a sign its not working as it should.
Cleaning
Now you know if the fans not working, its time to think of some common causes. Over time dirt, dust and debris is caught in the filters and fans, this is the first place to look. Carefully isolate the extractor fan, remove the cover and clear any dust and debris. This should help the fan work more efficiently.
The next place you should look is where the extractor fan exits the building. Commonly this may be through an external wall. If so make sure the vent is clear of any debris outside.
Loft Spaces
Another popular exit location is the loft space. Oftentimes there will be a plastic flexible reinforces pipe that drapes across your roof space. If the pipe is sagging in areas this may allow moisture to pool. This reduces the efficiency of the vent and may cause leaks.
The pipes have metal reinforcements if these rust from the pooling then they may expand and cause rips in the tubing. In turn this causes leaks to the ceiling below and reduces the efficiency of the fan. Therefore it is important to check that your pipework is secured properly with no sagging to an adequate terminal.
Another common issue is vents that drip water back into your bathroom. If your vent pipe goes straight upwards the warm air will condense in the pipes and drip straight back out into the bathroom. It is important that the pipes are redirected if this is the case. Ideally the best pipe system is a hard fitted pipe that vents directly to the outside.
We hope this blog on extractor fan maintenance is able to help you keep the levels of moisture in your home down. If you are looking for more advice on damp and moisture in your home contact us today!
The importance of extractor fan maintenance
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