Why Is My Bathroom So Cold?

Bathrooms tend to be the chilliest rooms in our homes. This is because they are designed primarily to be waterproof – and most waterproof materials like porcelain and ceramic don’t regulate temperature very well. 

That said, you shouldn’t have to put up with a bathroom that feels like a walk-in fridge. There are improvements you can make that can make your bathroom warmer and cozier. This could make those early morning showers in winter less traumatic. Below are just a few examples of ways to make your bathroom warmer.

Invest in double-pane windows.

If you have a single pane window in your bathroom, this could be helping heat to escape. Double-pane windows can help to trap heat in a room by reducing heat loss by 64%.

The impact could be particularly noticeable if you have a large window in your bathroom. A window replacement company will be able to fit a double-pane window in for you. While upgrading your window, there could be other improvements worth considering, including frosted glass to maintain privacy or improved locks to improve security. 

Install underfloor heating

Stepping out of the shower onto a cold bathroom floor is never fun. Installing underfloor heating could help keep your feet warm, help evaporate water on the floor, and improve the overall warmth of the room.

There are two main types of underfloor heating: electric and warm water. Electric underfloor heating involves installing heating mats under the flooring – it’s relatively cheap to install but can be expensive to run. Warm water underfloor heating involves running pipes under the flooring – it’s more expensive to install but can be cheaper to run. Both types of heating can be linked up to a central heating system or operated independently. 

Install a heated towel rail.

It’s a great feeling being able to finish your bath and huddle yourself in a warm towel. With a heated towel rail, you can quickly dry off wet towels and keep them warm for when you need to use them. These rails can also act as radiators, keeping the entire room warm while turned on.

As with underfloor heating, heated towel rails can run off electricity or heated water with the same pros and cons – electric heated towel rails are cheaper to install, while hot water heated towel rails are cheaper to run. 

Lay down a bathroom rug.

Can’t afford underfloor heating? Another simple way to keep your bathroom floor warm could be to lay down a bathroom rug. This is essentially a giant bath mat – it’s designed to stay warm while also being waterproof. You can buy bathroom rugs in various sizes depending on the size of your bathroom.

This could include rugs that can cover most of the bathroom floor so that they act like waterproof carpets. Of course, bathroom rugs will need to be regularly washed to keep them hygienic, and larger rugs may not be possible to put in an average washing machine. Therefore, you need to be careful about how big you are.

Opt for a shower cubicle.

Shower cubicles are a popular solution for small bathrooms where a bathtub usually won’t fit. On top of saving space, these enclosed showers have the benefit of trapping in hot air while showering – helping to make your shower more pleasant. Shower curtains are less likely to trap heat in than glass doors, but it depends on the material of the shower curtain.

Opt for a steel bathtub.

Some bathtubs are built from steel, which are then typically coated in white enamel. The steel core helps these baths to stay warmer longer, which allows you to bathe for longer without the water getting cold. Steel bathtubs do have some caveats, of course – they are more expensive, heavier to move in, and can feel colder than regular baths when no hot water is in them. However, for those who like long baths and are tired of the water going cold quickly, they are worthwhile.

Install a heated mirror.

Finally, it’s worth discussing bathroom mirrors. In a cold bathroom, mirrors are more likely to fog up quickly when exposed to hot moisture. A heated mirror can be a solution to this. It causes condensation to evaporate, allowing you to still use your mirror after having a bath or shower without having to constantly wipe it. These typically have electric panels behind, which can be run off the mains. When wiring up a mirror, it also makes sense to buy a mirror with in-built lighting.