bathroom ventilation

[wonka2004]

I open the bathroom window after a shower. My husband says to keep it closed to prevent mold. Who is right?

[NORMANTHEDOG]

to keep it closed can cause condensation,which can cause mold or damp patches

[shaneystar2]

We frequently have the same arguement .I always have the window open when I bath or shower and hence no steamy mirror or dripping tiles .When my men go in there they keep the window shut and it's like a sauna in there afterwards with all the windows steamed up and everything else including me !

[Ethel]

You need to either open the window or install a powerful extractor fan to prevent condensation and mould.

[raysparx1]

Ethel is spot on !!! if he is going to keep the window shut have a condensation controlled fan installed or a fan with a timer and set the timer to last for about 10 minutes.

[allotment10]

you are right wonka, the steam will cause damp & condensation, keep the window open a little while showering, then open up to let the room dry out.

[KARL]

My comment is going to go against pretty well all previous. Our house has somewhat high ceilings and ten years ago I was looking at false ceiling material for use in the kitchen and bathroom. The supplier was most insistent that the material (Armstrong) is quite unsuitable for either location, particularly because of humidity. I ignored that and installed it in both, bringing the ceiling down to about 2.5m in each room. Today both ceilings look to us exactly as they did when installed and we have absolutely no mould. Bath/shower room mould is not a problem in other countries I know (Europe and elsewhere) and from what I can see it need not be in Britain either. We do not open the window when showering, but as the rest of the house the place is permanently heated to daytime 20 degrees, 18 at night, and we do not close the door behind us when finished. Condensation on the window is only detectable on the very coldest days and is then only very slight and very briefly there. It seems to me the British attitude to heating is the main problem together with the habit of keeping all doors within the dwelling closed at all times.

[wonka2004]

Thanx for the input, I am in the US. California High Desert to be specific. 3000 feet altitude and dry/windy weather. The condensation is on the inside of the window if it is not opened after a shower. Typically it is about 45F when we shower in the am. Shame on me, I can't calculate into Celcius, but it is chilly for Southern California:)

[gasman]

Karl you're answer is actully in line with everyone else's answer you admit to leaving the door open afterwards so effectivley you are ventilating the room as are the people whom have posted before you, just in a different way but to the same effect. By the way wonka2004, 45*F equates to 7.2*C a bit chilly i would say. Brrrrrrrrrrr....