In order to keep your bathroom warm throughout the winter it is important that you make sure it is properly insulated. The bathroom can be one of the hardest rooms in the house to keep warm due to the fact it needs ventilation along with the drastic changes in temperature and humidity as you use the shower or bath. Here are some tips on keeping your bathroom warm throughout winter and on giving the illusion of warmth within your room:
Replace silicone sealant on windows and ensure they close properly
Over time the sealant on your windows can start to wear away and this is how heat can escape and cold air can creep in due to the worn away gaps. This is very easy to rectify and can be done yourself, a tube of silicone and a steady hand and you will be amazed at the difference. If you find you can still feel cold air through your silicone there is a product called weather stripping which is a heavy-duty silicone alternative that can be used.
Install correct ventilation
The most popular way to ventilate your bathroom is to open a window, therefore allowing the moisture to escape along with all the built-up heat whilst also allowing the cold air in. When you lose heat this quickly it can be both difficult and slow to reheat your room especially in the winter months. Installing an extractor fan will then efficiently ventilate your room without the need for opening a window. These prove to be very cost effective and prices start from £69.
Check the heat output of your radiator and ensure it is sufficient to heat the room
The largest source of heat within any room including the bathroom is normally your radiator. It is important that you check the BTU output from your radiator is sufficient to deal with the size of your room, number of windows, doors and outside walls etc. If your BTU output is wrong the radiator will never work as a source of heat alone. This also applies to heated towel rails, a mistake made by many is to purchase based on style and design. A supplier or installer should be able to advise what size is required to provide adequate BTU’s to heat your room.
Bleed your radiator
As well as ensuring your radiator is large enough to heat your room it is worth checking regularly if it needs bleeding. If your radiator is not heating up, taking a long time to heat or only heating up in certain places the chances are it needs bleeding. This is a very simple task and if done regularly you will ensure your radiator is always working to the best of its ability. Purchase a radiator bleeding key from your local DIY store, turn the key in the bleed valve and you will hear air hissing and then when water leaks out you close the valve and job done – radiator will heat up quickly and evenly providing heat for your bathroom.
Warm up your room with plants
It has been said that having plants in your bathroom can make it warmer due to how they release moisture into the air. When this happens this increases the humidity within the space which then helps to make the room appear warmer. In a bathroom when it comes to warmth, humidity is good. Plants also add an element of the outside inside and are becoming more and more popular in many renovation or new designs.
Change your colour scheme and add warm lighting
Giving your bathroom a fresh lick of paint will not only refresh the look and feel of the room but by choosing a warmer colour it will also create a warmer atmosphere. You can purchase a number of high-quality heat reflecting, insulating paint products that contain ceramic and other insulating materials that reduce heat transfer by reflecting heat away from the painted surfaces and back into the room. Therefore, allowing the heat to stay within your space and not seep out through the walls.
As well as changing your bathroom colour you can also change to warm lighting in your bathroom to create the illusion of warmth. There are many bathroom lights on the market that switch from cool to warm so you can alter them depending on the time of year.