Bathroom Heating Recommendations

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Rickles

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#304530 12-May-2023 11:15

Thoughts on bathroom heating please.

I have a bathroom about 3M x 3M and a 3M stud (ceiling height, not me).

Our shower has a dome (works brilliantly), but getting out of it one hits cold air. There is a ceiling lamp-extractor unit with two infrared lamps, but they don’t really help.

So, is it a wall mounted fan heater or one of those heaters that purportedly melt snow?

timmmay

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#3075399 12-May-2023 11:41

First up, I'd probably remove any snow in your bathroom. That can't be helping.

A wall mounted fan heater is an easy option. Get a good brand, I got a cheaper $80 one from Bunnings for a small toilet and the fan isn't very powerful.

We have under floor heating, we don't need anything else even in winter. We just turn the temperature up a bit in winter.

Scott3

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#3075415 12-May-2023 12:04

Heat lamps are typically around 275 watts each (of course some of that energy gets lots to the extraction system or roof space.

So any dedicated heater is likely too be much more powerfull.

If ripping the floor up installing underfloor heating is off the cards (or going whole hog with central heating for your home), your main options are:

Fan forced Hot wire heater Link
Fan forced Ceramic heater Link
Radiant heater Link
Low power panel heater (or a powerfull heated towel rail or two): Link

Last option is good if you want to keep it on 24/7 to keep the bathroom from getting really cold.

Other options good to provided a quick blast of heat, so the room will be warm when you get out of the shower.

Fan heater will heat the air in the room (ceramic versions cost more, but are less prone to the burnt dust smell)

Radiant heater Heats objects directly, so great for basking in front of. Also good for windy locations where heating the air is pointless. Would want to install it in a location where you don't touch it when toweling off.

Rickles

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#3075439 12-May-2023 13:10

Thanks all, great information.

We have a fan hot-wire heater in the kitchen which is OK for cold mornings, but as above the dust and cooking residuals does mean a regular de-gunk. Also, only last a couple years.

Stu1

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#3075483 12-May-2023 15:17

These are great options https://bathroomsonline.co.nz/products/serene-classic-fan-heater-s2069?variant=44595571589439¤cy=NZD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpPKiBhDvARIsACn-gzDaZTJaJ2pDE1GItgw2UYGW0RUMMfmH8gcPfnzaXvovTkgzyzyGYC8aAoSXEALw_wcB

tweake

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#3075510 12-May-2023 16:49

first thing i would look at is where is the replacement air coming into the bathroom coming from. if its sucking in air around a window its probably sucking in cold air. make sure the door has enough of a gap to suck air in easily or install a jumper duct or ventilation duct. of course seal the window. then its a question of how hot is the rest of the house.

fe31nz

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#3075681 13-May-2023 01:18

I would also recommend a better heater brand like Serene. Ages ago we had a cheap bathroom heater (I think it was a Goldair) and it simply did not blow the hot air down low enough. Then it failed (after only a couple of years I think), and in 2010 we replaced it with a much more expensive Skope 988E model that was recommended at the time, and that was excellent until earlier this year when it finally died (as all fan heaters ultimately do). So I went looking for another Skope and found that they were no longer made, but their site pointed me to the Serene site as a suggested replacement. So we got a Serene S2069, as the larger Serene model I would have preferred was not in stock at the time. Both the Skope and Serene push the hot air down to below your backside, where the Goldair did not really heat your shoulders.

If you are still feeling a little cold even with a proper bathroom heater, you can grab a towel and flap it in the air to get the hot air up at the ceiling down lower. Doing that actually makes quite a difference.

Rickles

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#3075718 13-May-2023 10:18

All good advice.

There are no draughts as such, and although house fully insulated top and bottom, mornings are a touch cool 😉

With the shower dome there is no need to use the extractor fan, and the two heat lamps are OK after a time if one stands still.

Think we will try a wall mounted fan heater and see if that helps ... least expensive trial option I guess, so thanks to those who reccomended brands

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richms

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#3075780 13-May-2023 11:06

I just have a cheap plug in 2.4kw fan heater in there, so I can point it at my feet when I am using the toilet. It also warms the place up nicely for a small room in no time.

Never liked the wall mounted ones as they seem to only make a tiny warm area infront of them.

Richard rich.ms