If your bathroom smells musty, your towels stay damp for hours, or you’ve noticed black spots creeping across the ceiling, your ventilation might be failing you. Even if your bathroom looks clean, invisible moisture could be hiding in the walls, ceilings and corners, causing damage that’s hard to see. And even harder to fix.

Without proper ventilation, steam from your shower or bath has nowhere to go. It clings to cold surfaces, soaks into paint and grout, and creates the perfect breeding ground for mould and mildew. Over time, this can lead to damaged plasterboard, stained walls, and even rot behind the tiles. In older homes especially, where insulation and airflow are often lacking, moisture can build up fast and linger long after the room feels dry.

The health impact can be just as serious. Mould spores and excess moisture in the air can trigger asthma and allergies, particularly in children or elderly family members. If the issue goes unchecked, mould can spread beyond the bathroom into wardrobes, hallways and bedrooms. This can affect your entire home.

The key is not just having a fan, but having the right one. A good extractor fan will remove moist air and vent it outside, not into the roof cavity. It needs to be powerful enough for the size of the room, positioned near the main source of steam, and run long enough after use to fully clear the air. Timer switches can help take the guesswork out of this. They keep the fan running after you’ve finished your shower.

If you’re planning to renovate your bathroom, our Renovating Your Bathroom Guides are packed with practical advice, planning tips and expert insights to help you get it right. Whether you’re staying put in your home, buying or selling, Join MyTrends to unlock a full library of guides designed to support you at each stage of your property journey.