Condensation issue

[ss]

Toilet/shower room roughly 2 x 3 metres. Condensation is an issue in it with mould forming on the grouting (tiles) I will be ripping it apart and redoing the complete room but maybe a year or so away.

One issue is the window is only about 6 inches wide and 18 inches high so very little ventilation. No extraction fan.

As I am retired I cant afford most work and depend on DIY and while I am ok for tiling and basic electric and joinery, some jobs I wont tackle. Now the answer would be to put an extractor fan in but the previous owner cant be trusted for the previous work on the house eg I am sure this small window is part of the previous back door and has just been built into the wall (he has extended the rear of the house), so I dont know where (or if) the lintel is, added to that I have never tried to drill/bore a vent hole through brick and then there would be the electricity supply for an extractor, possible but not keen to do it.

Sooooo....... I have seen these (cheap) dehumidifiers at around £30 which extract half to one litre of water and thought about mounting that at the top of the window, its a lovre type so could take a small pane out. Has anyone used these cheapos and are they worth considering?

[fred]

In article , ss writes

Don't be daft, none of the problems you describe are insurmountable with a bit of thought, fit a fan.

[The Natural Philosopher]

+1

you can get a hole cut in a window pane.

Alos, if you can be arsed, dry line the outside wall with some insulation and plaster board and retile.

Another neat trick is to run uninsulated hot water or CH pipes under the floor. Its not a LOT of heat, but it does help a lot.

[Harry Bloomfield]

Likely, the lintel would still be there. You best solution is a 6" fan, operated by both humidity and PIR, which can probably be run from the lights L+N assuming it is fairly modern wiring, but with a separate pull switch isolator. The best location for it, would be directly opposite the door, so steam is drawn out of the entire room. I would also replace the louvre with a nomal window as they constantly leak cold air into a room.

You cannot really install a dehumidifier in the room, you are not allowed sockets there and a £30 one would not work very well.

Insulation in the walls would also help, if you have none, to help keep the walls warmer. Moisture only condenses on cold surfaces.

[The Medway Handyman]

You could install a fan in the window, but do get a glazier to cut the hole. Fans run off the lighting circuit, so power might be easier than you think.

[ss]

I may not even need a glazier as the louvre type window (6 inches wide) has 3 small panes that angle to open or close so could maybe just remove one of them, just measured the panes and they are 17 x 17 cms. Wiring to the lights I could manage ok but I need to see if I can access from the ceiling as previous owners have fitted 5 halogen downlighters and god knows where the wiring goes or comes from.