Spring has sprung, which means it's time to throw open the windows, adjust your thermostat and refresh your living spaces. While many areas of your house will easily take on the warmth and freshness of this season, one room in your home may still remain cold and uncomfortable: Your bathroom.
The bathroom is one of the most used spaces in your home, where you start and end your day. Creating a warm, comfortable bathroom environment is key to increasing the comfort of your whole home.
To create warmth, you have to address the main cause of a cold bathroom: Humidity. Humidity is a sneaky cause of bathroom chill, mold and mildew, and higher energy bills when not managed properly.
To help you understand why humidity makes your bathroom feel colder, even in warmer weather, and how you can create a comfortable and inviting bathroom, Amy van der Horst, National Sales Manager, Retail & E-Commerce, Panasonic, answers some common questions and offers simple tips to keep the cold at bay.
Why do bathrooms feel so cold?
If you have tiled bathroom floors, you're intimately familiar with the unpleasant jolt that shoots up your body when you step on freezing tile just after leaving your warm bed. That's because hard surfaces like tile and minimal insulation make bathrooms lose heat quickly. Combine that with the rapid shifts in temperature from cool mornings and warm afternoons, and the post-shower damp air, and you have a recipe for discomfort.
How does humidity affect my bathroom?
Humidity is a major culprit of an uncomfortable bathroom. When you step out of a hot shower or bath, the humid air sticks to your skin, conducting heat away from your body.
Excess moisture also creates the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. Not only can these fungi damage your home, but they also worsen your indoor air quality, triggering or exacerbating allergies and asthma.
High bathroom humidity can also strain your budget. Because the bathroom feels colder, you or your family may be tempted to raise the temperature of the whole house to compensate, increasing your energy use.
What are the easiest ways to make my bathroom warmer?
Creating a more inviting bathroom doesn't require an entire bathroom renovation. With just a few simple changes, you can turn a cold and wet room into a warm and comfortable retreat.
Start by finding and sealing drafts in your bathroom. Make sure to inspect your windows, doors and the area where the floor meets the wall and seal any drafts with caulk or weatherstripping.
Next, consider adding a few elements to elevate your bathroom's look and comfort. For example, place a decorative rug in front of the sink and a fluffy, absorbent bathmat by the shower or tub. A heated towel rack is another simple item that can bring more warmth to your bathing experience and add a touch of luxury to the space.
Finally, find a quiet, efficient fan like the Panasonic Whisper Cozy Heater/Fan Combo. When you turn it on, the fan can swiftly warm up the bathroom air, efficiently removing excess humidity and moisture. The warm, dry air can quickly heat your bathroom, creating a healthier environment and a warmer, more comfortable space. As the spring temperatures rise, you can easily switch off the warming function to maintain comfort all day.
Is upgrading my bathroom expensive?
All of these bathroom upgrades are affordable and DIY-friendly. The time, effort and money you put into these easy solutions can save you money in the long run by preventing damage to your home and improving energy efficiency. Most importantly, you'll have a better time when you do your morning and evening routines.
This spring, look forward to maximum comfort
Your home, including your bathroom, should welcome the warmth of spring. Consider taking a few simple steps to make your bathroom warmer and drier so you can enjoy a healthy bathroom all year long.
