Keeping your Bathroom warm and dry

Because the bathroom is the place where you start and end your day, it’s important that it’s a place you enjoy spending time in, so keeping your bathroom warm and dry is essential. It’s also important in maintaining a healthy and happy home.

Extractor Fans

Extracting steam should be a high priority for keeping your bathroom warm and dry. The positioning of the extractor fan plays an important role in circulating steam in your bathroom, so install it above the shower and keep a window open a little to allow the air to circulate.

Leave the extractor fan running and keep the window open for 10 minutes after your shower, and shut the door – this will significantly reduce condensation and the risk of any mould appearing in your bathroom.

Image credit: Trilect Electrical

Put a lid on it

Put a lid or shower dome on your shower cubicle to stop steam from escaping into your bathroom.

Image credit: Showerdome

Install a bathroom heater

Not all heaters are suited to bathrooms. Here are some of the best heating options for New Zealand bathrooms:

Heat lamps

A heat lamp is an incandescent light fixture that provides instant warmth and light. They are an excellent source of warmth because they provide fast, radiant heat and even though they are used for short periods, are relatively economical. They also reasonably energy efficient for bathroom heaters too.

Heat lamps are suited to small bathrooms and when switched on they become hot instantly. In larger bathrooms they lose their efficiency so consider installing two or more heat lamps.

Image credit: Lighting Plus

Radiant bar heater

If you have a large bathroom, look for a heater that distributes heat evenly. A permanent heater, for example a radiator or bar heater, is a good option as they produce furious heat. Radiators can be installed low to the ground, whereas a bar heater is best installed near the ceiling to prevent burns.

Image credit: bathroomheater.org

Consider a heated floor system

Although expensive to install, a heated floor system will help keep you, and your feet, warm in the winter. It’s also highly effective solution as heat dries the wet floor quickly, preventing slips. Under floor heating systems are best suited to floor materials that don’t contract or expand too much when the temperature changes, for example, tiles, wood and stone.

There are three common types of electric under floor heating systems: In-slab heating; in-screed heating and under-tile heating / carpet floor heaters. All of these heating systems involve laying heating wires under the floor and are commonly controlled by a thermostat.

Image credit: plumbedup.org.nz

Re-paint those walls

Giving your walls a new coat of paint is a great (and affordable) way to make your bathroom warmer. With new technology, some bathroom paint is heat-reflecting and insulating. At Butterfield Bathrooms, we prefer Dulux paints for their durability and ease of application.

Dulux Wash & Wear + Kitchen & Bathroom Low Sheen and Semi Gloss are paints fortified with a powerful mold-inhibitor. Both paints are hard-wearing, easy to wash and have lasting protection, great for damp and humid conditions.

Image credit: Dulux

Heated towel rails

Add a bit of luxury to your bathroom with a wall-mounted heated towel rail. The rail will not only keep your towels toasty but will warm the air in your bathroom too.

Image credit: bathrooms online

Bath mats

A simple and cost-effective solution, by simply placing a bath mat on the floor of your bathroom you will help retain heat in your bathroom, and stop your feet getting wet and cold!

Image credit: aliexpress.com

Skylights

Let the sunlight naturally warm your bathroom by installing a skylight.

Image credit: Velux

Insulate

Consider insulating with Pink Batts and double glazing your windows to protect your bathroom from the cold and any draughts.

Image credit: Pink Batts

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