Why does condensation appear on the toilet bowl and how to get rid of it

One of the annoying surprises in the toilet and in the combined bathroom can be the appearance of condensation on the toilet bowl. You must admit that this is not just a minor nuisance - this is a real problem that not only lowers the level of comfort, but also can negatively affect the health of all family members.

Yes, and any repairs made by the highest quality materials will fail in the fight against the consequences that arose after prolonged exposure to condensate.

Everyone knows that preventing a problem is much easier than fighting it later. And you can do this on your own, without resorting to the services of specialists. To do this, you need to understand why condensation appears on the toilet bowl, and how to eliminate the root cause of its formation.

We will help you determine the conditions for “rainfall” on plumbing, as well as describe possible solutions to the problem. We supplemented the material with videos and photo instructions that clearly demonstrate how you can independently get rid of this unpleasant phenomenon.

Why does condensation appear on the tank?

Condensation that appears on the tank belongs to the category of domestic problems. To learn how to deal effectively with him, you have to figure out the reasons for his appearance in a particular room.

Only after that it will be possible to choose the best option for dealing with it.

The nature of condensation

First of all, you need to understand the nature of the occurrence of "precipitation" on the drain tank. Condensate is a drop of water falling from the air. They are formed from a sharp temperature drop and protrude on the surface of objects.

Condensation after taking a shower is a fairly common phenomenon that disappears in a matter of minutes. But the constant trickles flowing down the toilet bowl and through the cold water pipes can bring a lot of problems

Condensate on the drain tank is water generated from exposure to cold water at a temperature of 7-15 ° C on the inner walls of a faience bowl and warm air at a temperature of 25-32 ° C, acting on the outside.

Drops of water protrude from the sharp drop on the outer walls of the tank, like dew

Causes of condensation on the tank

The appearance of condensate on the drain tank indicates the presence of one of the problems that remains to be identified and measures taken to eliminate it.

To understand who is to blame, it is necessary to pay attention to the following factors:

• cold water consumption;
• ventilation work in the bathroom;
• condition of tank fittings;
• humidity level.

With frequent filling of the drain tank, a large amount of condensate forms - cold water does not have time to warm up to room temperature.

Condensation can also be a symptom of a second problem - an idle ventilation system. Especially if the ventilation hole is removed in the room with the toilet, there is a door sill and the doors fit snugly.

This is quite dangerous for users of combined bathrooms - without proper ventilation, you can simply suffocate.

No matter how beautiful the interior of the combined bathroom is, but you have to think about security first of all by making ventilation holes

Another reason for the drain tank getting wet is the failure of the shutoff valves. When gaskets leak or float out of order, then increased water consumption and, as a result, excessive condensation on the outer wall of the earthenware container cannot be avoided.

Even the most expensive monolithic drain tank is not safe from breakdowns of the internal filling, when on the floor you can see puddles of condensate, which simply should not be there

An increased level of humidity in the bathroom may be due to the circulation of excessively humid air entering this room from other rooms of the house / apartment.

Or due to the fact that the hostess of a small apartment is constantly drying clothes in the bathroom combined with the toilet. The same problem is observed if wet linen is hanging in the kitchen bordering the bathroom.

Whatever the reason for the formation of condensate on the drain tank, it must be clearly defined and only then proceed with the elimination. After successfully solving the identified problem, the condensate will also go away.

Condensate must not be removed.

It is up to the bathroom owner to decide where exactly to put the comma in this sentence. It all depends on the specific situation and the attitude of all household members to it.

First option. The toilet tank is fogging up a bit, but, in between visits to the bathroom / toilet, everything manages to dry out. Here you can do without radical methods to solve the issue of condensate removal.

Slight fogging of the surfaces is not able to lead to irreparable consequences and somehow seriously damage the exterior of the room

The second option.If the drain tank is constantly wet, trickles of condensate drain down to the floor and do not have time to dry out. Here the solution is unequivocal - you need to fix the problem.

Drops flowing down the outer surface of the earthenware container form puddles that need to be wiped every now and then. Sometimes the situation is very deplorable - a whole lake is formed in the bathroom in a day. This not only causes inconvenience when visiting the premises, but also makes people nervous.

Depending on the volume of protruding condensate, prudent owners use methods to eliminate this problem. Some put a towel, while others substitute all kinds of jars and saucers

The constant condensate precipitation on the drain tank not only causes trouble at the current time, but also threatens even greater problems in the coming years.

Firstly, condensation droplets may remain in shallow gaps and in areas that are difficult to reach.Over time, the water stagnates and starts to smell unpleasant.

Secondly, constant condensation increases the level of humidity in the bathroom. Especially if it is combined. Such a situation will certainly provoke the growth and active reproduction of mold and fungus.

Mold spoils the appearance of any room. It adversely affects the body of people who constantly use the bathroom, provoking allergic reactions, headaches and other health problems.

Thirdly, the outer surface of the drain tank, under the constant influence of water droplets, will not last long - already in the next 2-3 years a network of small cracks will appear, in which mold and fungus will also begin to form.

Fourth, due to increased humidity, all wooden interior items in the toilet room or in the combined bathroom will begin to rot. Especially if it is a wooden floor, parquet board from solid oak / beech or other wood species.

Fifthly, metal furniture, water pipes and other items will begin to suffer from corrosion. Even a mirror can suffer - a whole colony of black mold will grow on its inside.

The mold settled on the mirror makes it impossible to use it further. You will need to buy a new one, and this is an additional expense item

As a result, the constant appearance of condensate will result in not only a deterioration in the microclimate in the bathroom, but also a loss of working condition and a loss of appearance in many interior items. After 5-6 years, overhaul of the combined bathroom or toilet may be required.

Condensate disposal methods

The condensate found on the toilet bowl does not please - the owners of the apartment / house immediately try to get rid of it by all possible methods. Towels, jars, saucers and other objects that do not belong next to the toilet are used. However, the formation of “dew” on the tank is much easier to prevent than to constantly collect and clean.

In the fight against drops settling on the tank, the following methods are used:

Method # 1. Tank upgrade

After removing puddles under the drain tank and identifying the cause of condensation, you can begin to eliminate it by choosing the appropriate option depending on the type of problem.

If you plan to install a hidden tank, then you need to choose an option from a well-known manufacturer with protection against condensation

Most often, the problem of condensation is solved by conducting various manipulations with the toilet bowl:

1. Repair of valves located inside the drain tank.
2. Insulation of the inner walls of the earthenware container.
3. Installation inside a plastic liner.
4. Replacing the toilet bowl new, more expensive option with anti-condensation function.

Damage to the fittings can lead to the endless flow of cold water into the tank and its arbitrary leakage. As a result, the water in the tank does not have time to warm up and a sharp contrast with the air temperature causes an endless condensation.

If a breakdown occurs, turn off the water supply, disassemble the drain tank and remove the fittings, replace the broken part, or buy a new mechanism and carefully install it in place, not forgetting to put all the gaskets.

During installation, you should adhere to the recommendations specified by the manufacturer in the instructions in the section on equipment installation.

Additional information on eliminating water leaks in the toilet and repairing fittings is provided in this article.

The second option is to insulate the walls of the tank from the inside. For these purposes, use tepofol, foamed polyethylene, polystyrene and other types of insulation. Depending on the type of material chosen, more adhesive and sealant may be needed.

If self-adhesive material is selected, then glue will not come in handy. On the reverse side of the insulator a layer is applied that can reliably adhere to the surface of the drain tank

Using a heat insulator is a very effective option for eliminating condensate on the tank. The main thing is to take material up to 1 cm thick, otherwise the internal volume of the container will significantly decrease.

Carefully gluing the insulation on the entire inner side of the container on prefabricated blanks, it is necessary to process the joints with a sealant. Then wait until the applied composition hardens and cut holes for mounting the fittings and mounting the tank on the toilet shelf.

Even after a time after warming the drain tank, a high-quality heat insulator looks decent and does not lose its performance

Also, as an insulator, some home craftsmen use mounting foam. Moreover, it is recommended to be applied in 3-4 stages, so that the layer is uniform. After application, you will have to wait until the mounting mass has completely hardened and only then carefully cut the excess inside and out using a knife.

It is important to leave a layer inside, the thickness of which is not more than 1 cm. After that, set back and adjust armature drain tank. Upon completion of the work, you can resume the flow of water.

Polyurethane foam as a heater protects against condensation, but does not look very presentable

Another option for processing the inner surface of the tank is a mixture of sealant and glass microspheres, sold in departments with parts for tuning cars.

Such a mixture should be applied with a layer of 0.3 cm and left to dry completely, the time of which depends on the brand of sealant and is indicated on its packaging.

An easier option for manipulating the tank is to buy a plastic container suitable for placement inside the earthenware. Moreover, between these two tanks inserted into each other, a gap of a couple of mm should remain. As a sealant, you must not forget to put rubber or silicone gaskets.

The most expensive option is to buy a new tank with a condensate protection function. Moreover, it is not sold separately, only together with the toilet. These are monolithic compact models with a double monolithic tank.

Monolithic tanks have a special design that provides protection against condensation. Plastic comes into contact with cold water, and faience located outside does not come into contact with plastic

A double tank is good for everyone - the installation is simple, does not require maintenance, replacement of valves, if necessary, is easy to do on their own. One significant drawback is the unmatched high cost.

You can install the double drain tank yourself, using the manufacturer's instructions. And at first the plastic insert is put, and then the faience cap is put on and fixed on top

Method # 2. Change in the microclimate of the room

Among the measures aimed at eliminating condensation in the toilet room or combined bathroom, use the option with a change in microclimate. This includes resuming the ventilation system and using a dehumidifier.

The problem with the influx of air into the bathroom will help to solve the ventilation grills, cut into the door. You can choose the right color and suitable shape

If there is a gap between the floor and the door to the combined bathroom or toilet, then you can not worry about the influx. Necessary check the operation of the ventilation ductdesigned to remove exhaust air masses. To check traction, you can use a lighter, a lighted candle, or a small piece of paper.

If there is no traction or it is very weak, you need clean the ventilation shaft. When this is not enough, the best solution is to install an exhaust fan.

The exhaust fan should be selected based on the area of ​​the room where it will work. If the bathroom is combined, then it is better to give preference to models with a high level of protection against moisture and splashes.

The owners of private houses at the stage of designing the premises must take care of the effective exhaust ventilation bathroom. The main attention is on the calculation of air ducts, their location and fan power.

Another measure to reduce the humidity level in the room is to install a special device called a dehumidifier. He is able to remove excess moisture by collecting it in a container designed for this.

A dehumidifier draws water from the air in the room until the desired humidity level is reached. The device focuses on the readings of a hygrometer installed inside.

A dehumidifier is selected for power, calculated on a specific room volume. This characteristic is indicated by the manufacturer in the accompanying documentation.

Method # 3. Tank fluid heating

To get rid of condensate in the drain tank, the idea of ​​heating the water entering the tank is often used. In general, everything is simple - if there is no sharp difference between the supplied water and the air temperature in the bathroom / toilet, then there is no condensation.

In practice, to implement this technique, you can use the following options:

• connect warm water instead of cold to supply to the drain tank;
• insulate pipes;
• to build a heat exchanger, using a riser for supplying heat to the apartment;
• put a boiler;
• set half flush so that part of the heated water from the tank is diluted with cold.

The first option is only suitable for consumers who do not have a meter for using hot water.

Some craftsmen put a tee on the water supply pipe in the drain tank and connect cold and hot water at the same time, adjusting their quantity by means of additionally cut-in ball valves

Insulation of the pipes allows you to heat the water at 2-3 ° C. Sometimes this is enough to get rid of the condensate.

To warm the pipes, you can use ordinary sheet insulation, wrapping them in the desired area and fixing it with tape. Or purchase a finished shell, or a heater in the form of hollow tubes of the desired diameter, which is much more convenient to install

The option with the construction of a heat exchanger is only suitable if the heating riser passes near the pipe supplying water to the toilet drain tank. For these purposes, use a copper tube, which is wrapped around a hot riser 5-6 times and cut it into a flexible pipe for supplying water to the tank.

On top of the copper coil is insulated with a layer of mineral wool or other insulation.

It is not difficult to set up a half flush, for this it is necessary to adjust the stop valves accordingly.

It is good to use fittings with a double button - for normal and half flushing

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The toilet tank can be insulated from the inside using heat-insulating material.This option in action can be seen in the video:

The video clip demonstrates how the simplest 10-mm insulation inside the toilet bowl behaves a year later:

On the effective disposal of condensate by supplying heated water to the toilet bowl in the video:

In addition to warming the drain tank, it will not be superfluous to take care of pipes supplying cold water to the apartment / house. About this in the video clip:

Having dealt with the cause of condensation on the drain tank, you can choose the most suitable option to get rid of it, based on specific conditions.

This may be a budget solution, which is easy to implement with your own hands, or the purchase of a modern model of a sanitary product with a tank having a condensate protection function.

Share with your readers your experience in removing condensation from the toilet bowl. Please leave comments on the article and ask your questions. The feedback form is located below.