November 2nd, 2018 by Chris Chapman

Damp is a real problem in winter. The wet weather outside means you’ll be constantly tracking moisture into your home, which can easily lead to damp in your walls and flooring. An even bigger issue is the condensation that forms on your windows, which can cause damp to rot away floorboards, plaster, grout, and more. Your kitchen and bathroom are hit the worst by condensation on winter, but the damp caused by condensation can actually spread around your home surprisingly quickly. Luckily, there is a solution to this problem: an extractor fan!

Why Does Condensation Form on My Windows?

Air naturally contains lots of water vapour. When warmer air comes into contact with a cold surface, this water vapour turns into condensation. Your windows get very cold in winter, so when the warm air in your home hits your windows, the water vapour in the air turns into condensation, fogging up your windows. If you don’t ventilate the room properly, the condensation that forms on your windows will lead to damp in your walls and wood flooring, as well as around the sealant on your windows. This is usually at its worst in the kitchen or the bathroom, as that’s where you’ll regularly be using warm, steamy water and therefore adding more water vapour to the air.

Ventilating Your Bathroom and Kitchen

The only real way to get rid of condensation and damp like this is to ventilate your room by opening your window. Unfortunately, in winter this isn’t always a viable option! If it’s freezing or raining outside (or, more likely, both – this is Britain after all!), the last thing you want is to open the window and let freezing cold air in. An extractor fan gives you a way of ventilating your rooms without having to worry about letting draughts into your home.

Extractor Fans for Your Bathroom and Kitchen

Extractor fans can be easily fitted to your wall or ceiling. They’ll need to be powered, so you might need to get an electrician in to do it, but once it’s fitted you’ll never have to worry about condensation or damp again! Extractor fans themselves are actually pretty affordable to buy and don’t tend to run any more expensive than a decent-quality desk fan. Extractor fans suck out the humid air from your home and blow it outside. This will clear the steam from your bathroom or kitchen very quickly, long before it can cause any damp to spread around your home. This means you can enjoy a hot bath or shower in winter without having to worry about condensation causing damp damage, rot, or musty smells. It’ll also help prevent mould or mildew from building up – mould loves warm, humid places – making it easier to clean around the house and generally keeping you happier and healthier. If you’re interested in picking up a quality extractor fan to make your life a little easier this winter, consider browsing our range of domestic extractor fans here.