My downstairs cloakroom, next to the front door, is made cold by the presence of the adjacent integral garage, the wall between them being a single skin of light blockwork. As I type, the temperature in the cloakroom is 16 degrees, it's half that in the garage. It occurs to me that the situation could be improved by fixing Celotex or similar to the wall on the garage side. The trunking to the alarm panel and the drain from the basin would have to be accommodated but the wall on the garage side is otherwise accessible. The distance between the pillars on the garage side is 1.5m. There's a similar issue with the kitchen but that would require a lot of stuff to be moved to address. Fixing the cloackroom could see a big improvement for a little effort, and cost. I'd be glad of any opinions on this. It's only taken nearly 30 years to realise that it's the garage that is the problem. I thought it was the front door.
Fixing cold cloakroom
Nov 20, 2024
Last reply: 1 year ago
10 Replies
Yes, that will work, although not as perfectly as internal, because the wall will conduct heat sideways upwards and downwards as well in all probability. But well worth a few quid to try out
You have not mentioned what heat source you have in the cloakroom, simply adding insulation will not make anywhere warmer by itself. Considering it is a cloakroom and not somewhere you spend a great deal of time in 16deg. C seems quite adequate but if you have a radiator in there have you tried turning the heat up if you feel uncomfortable. By all means insulate the garage wall as it will slow the rate of heat loss but do not expect that by itself to simply make the place warmer unless you have adequate means of raising the temperature in the first place. Myself I would not bother heating up an underused facility any more than it needs to be.
Indeed, 2 KW fan heater to use while you're in there and turn off when you leave.
Maybe "cloakroom" is a euphemism and it's not a place used for hanging cloaks.
There is a small single-panel radiator. In the light of your comments about additional insulation in the garage not of itself increasing the temperature I might be better off by changing the rad for a double one of the same size. It doesn't need to be mega hot in there but I'd like it to be a little warmer than it is at present.
All of you, or just a warm bum ?
formatting link
'Outlet needed within 45 inches of toilet' - how does this meet UK electrical regs ?.
I have a 3Kw fan heater just inside the door of my bathroom. I know the risk but it doesn't half heat the room up quickly and its only on for a few minutes.
There used to be wall-mounted electrical fan heaters that might comply with zoning but I haven't seen them on sale for ages.
That's what I used in my last house. Fused/switched outlet and a pull switch for on off.
Surely zoning only applies around a bath or shower and has nothing to do with a toilet or washbasin?
There is a zone above a wash basin, semi-circular in shape extending 600mm certainly in a bathroom but I do not know if it applies in other circumstances but you would think it would.
Richard
It only applies to rooms with a bath or shower and doesn't apply to washbasins (in a bathroom or otherwise):
formatting link
Theo
Join the Discussion
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Didn't find your answer?
Ask the community — no account required