Ventilate correctly and prevent mould growth in the bathroom
Don't forget to ventilate after showering! Sounds obvious and quite simple. However, there are a few mistakes that can be made when airing the bathroom that should be avoided at all costs.
Why is it so important to ventilate the bathroom?
Modern insulation materials offer significantly more protection today than they did a few years ago. However, this not only means that the heat is optimally retained in the room, but also the humidity. Regular ventilation is therefore essential for an optimum indoor climate and to prevent mould growth.
Correct ventilation in bathrooms with windows
A basic rule of ventilation is always to ventilate in bursts instead of gaps. But why is this actually the case?
Always ventilate in bursts
To remove moisture from the bathroom, the window should always be opened completely. This is the only way the air can circulate sufficiently and the moist air can escape. Just 5-10 minutes of ventilation is enough. This also minimises heat loss, as the heat stored in the walls quickly heats the room up again.
Why no gap ventilation?
If the window is only tilted or not opened properly, the air can hardly circulate. As a result, moisture collects in the coolest part of the gap. This can cause mould stains and mildew to form on the wall.
Removing moisture from a bathroom without a window
There are also effective methods for removing moisture from a bathroom without a window. After all, the moist air should not simply be released into the home after showering.
Installing a ventilation system
One option is to install a ventilation system. You can choose between a centralised and decentralised system.
Centralised ventilation system
A centralised ventilation system can be installed in an interior bathroom. This is connected to an unused pipe system or the ventilation shaft. A fan then extracts the moist air from the bathroom. However, no fresh air supply is guaranteed. This can be provided by a ventilation slot in the bathroom door, for example.
Decentralised ventilation system
A decentralised ventilation system can only be installed if the bathroom has an external wall to which it is attached. The fan draws the moist air outside and at the same time ensures that fresh air enters the bathroom from there. Many decentralised ventilation systems simultaneously extract heat from the humid air, which is used to heat the fresh air. This ensures that heat loss is minimised.
Other aids for dehumidification
If it is not possible to install a ventilation system, there are also well-functioning alternatives to rid the bathroom of excessive humidity.
- Electric dehumidifiers
- Chemical dehumidifiers
- Salt and cat litter
Electric dehumidifiers
Electric dehumidifiers collect moisture from the air in a tank. They often have a built-in hygrometer. This determines the humidity in the room. As soon as a certain threshold value is reached, the dehumidifier switches on.
Chemical dehumidifiers
A special granulate is used for dehumidification. This collects the moisture from the air and channels the excess water into a container. The granulate must be replaced regularly.
Salt and cat litter as dehumidifiers
Humidity in the bathroom can also be reduced with simple household remedies. All you need to do is spread a few bowls of salt or cat litter around the room. As soon as the trays have filled with water, the contents simply need to be replaced with new salt or cat litter.