Looking to eliminate mould and mildew from your home?
Start with the room that produces the most moisture – your bathroom.
Every time someone has a shower, around half a cup of condensation is created. Damp windows, walls, and ceilings rapidly become breeding grounds for mould and mildew, particularly during the chilly winter months.
Adequate ventilation helps, as can manually squeegeeing and wiping down wet surfaces, but there is a less time-consuming solution. A Showerdome works by preventing moisture from creeping out of the shower and into the rest of the house.
So what is a Showerdome and how does it work? We’ll answer these very questions now and look at the pros and cons of installing one in your house. Let’s get cracking!
The Problem With Condensation
Those droplets of water that appear all over the walls, roof, and windows of your bathroom when you’re running hot water? Those are formed by the process of condensation, which occurs when the water vapour in the warm air hits a cold surface, converting into water droplets.
Because of all the heat and steam, bathrooms are literal hothouses for condensation. This dampness promotes the growth of mould, which can pose a serious risk to your health over the long term. And just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Mould can grow behind a sink or elsewhere out of sight.
Exposure to mould can cause a range of health issues, such as rashes, irritated eyes, coughing, dizziness, and nausea. The long-term effects can be even more troubling for those with weakened immune systems. Children, the elderly and people with allergies are considered more vulnerable to the adverse effects of mould exposure.
Aside from the health effects, mildew and mould can cause damage to wallpaper and paint, and moisture can seep into the structure of your home, causing long-term damage.
This all sounds pretty dire, but there are ways that you can reduce the risk of mould and mildew from forming in your home. A Showerdome is one of those ways.
What Is A Showerdome?
A Showerdome is one of the most effective ways to stop steam and condensation from filling your bathroom. A clear, acrylic, dome-like lid is attached to the top of your shower cubicle, essentially trapping the hot, steamy air inside.
The Showerdome prevents the hot, moist air from escaping and mixing with the cold air, eliminating condensation from your bathroom and reducing the chances of nasty mould growth.
Pros
● The air within the cubicle stays nice and warm, giving you a cosy, comfortable showering experience.
● Because you’re warmer, you don’t need to have the water quite so piping, resulting in energy savings from using less hot water.
● Showerdomes remove the need for an extractor fan, further reducing your energy usage.
● Showerdomes can prevent mould, fungus, and mildew from forming around the bathroom and improve air quality by avoiding excess moisture.
● The bathroom floor doesn’t become damp and slippery, reducing the chance of nasty slips and falls.
● With less water in the air, wooden surfaces and other materials aren’t at risk of moisture damage. This means less maintenance and more longevity for your bathroom fittings.
Cons
● Showerdomes trap moisture inside your shower cubicle, encouraging bacteria to form mould in your silicone, grout, and any nooks and crannies that are difficult to clean. You’ll still need to take measures to protect the interior of your shower from mould and mildew.
● After you exit the shower, moisture will remain inside the cubicle. Even if you dry off the walls and shower glass, watermarks may still form.
● Your shower cubicle is not intended to be used as a steam box, which is what happens when you add a Showerdome. This may void any warranty you have on the cubicle or its installation.
Is A Showerdome The Solution To Your Bathroom Mould?
Consumer NZ tested out a Showerdome and were impressed with the results. They noted a significant reduction in bathroom humidity after installation. Walls were moisture-free, and the mirror was crystal clear. They reported that after a couple of months living with the Showerdome, “the musty odour is gone, and we find towels on the rail remain dry even if the shower’s already been used that morning.”
If you have a cubicle-style shower, there is likely to be a Showerdome shower top to fit - as long as you have at least 150mm of space between the top of your shower and the roof.
Shower tops come in a range of shapes and sizes to suit most new and existing showers, and each model can be trimmed during installation to ensure a perfect fit.
Our Bathroom Genies are registered Showerdome installers. We can help you choose and install the right Showerdome for your house, so you can say goodbye to misty mirrors, slippery floors, wet walls, and hazardous mould. Call us today to find out more.
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