Condensation on the ceiling of the bath is due to temperature differences. If hot air enters a cool room, it turns into liquid and covers the surfaces of the steam room. Condensation becomes especially noticeable in winter - it forms if the bath is flooded after a week's break.
In the process of melting the stove, hot air rises up and remains on the ceiling. Therefore, in cold seasons, the bath is recommended to be heated for at least four hours - so that the room is thoroughly warmed up and the condensate evaporates.
If the steam room is heated every 7 days or less, then the procedure is as follows:
- You arrive at the dacha on Saturday morning and dry the bath all day;
- Make sure that the steam room is warmed up and that excess moisture is gone;
- You go to the bathhouse the next day - on Sunday.
During preliminary heating, condensation is primarily formed in two places: the ceiling and the upper logs. In winter, it is important to warm up the bath gradually, since large emissions of hot air are harmful to all structures. Therefore, the wood is added slowly and little by little during heating.
If drying the steam room does not help to cope with condensation, then the problem should be looked for in the floor insulation. Often the insulation is not laid with a thick enough layer, which leads to a lack of tightness. For a bath, the thickness of the insulation is at least 20 centimeters. Basalt fiber or mineral wool is used as a material.
A cold ceiling is also a consequence of neglecting the vapor barrier during construction. Normally, it fits before placing the insulation. Any insulation over time is saturated with moisture and ceases to cope with its tasks without vapor barrier.
Slow heating is characteristic of expanded clay. In baths, where expanded clay was used as insulation, the ceilings are always cold for two reasons:
- expanded clay is several times inferior to basalt fiber in its thermal insulation qualities. To maintain a stable temperature, the layer of this material must be thicker (up to 60 centimeters);
- expanded clay is characterized by "porosity". An increase in fractions leads to an increase in the gaps between adjacent pebbles. Therefore, expanded clay with minimal holes is used for insulation. (5-10 millimeters).
The constant formation of condensation accelerates the decay process of wood and destroys the structure. If it forms in the break room, then it is necessary to think over the ventilation technique. In the summer, it's easy to dry the room - just open all windows and doors and raise the floorboards.
In winter, it is recommended to dry the steam room both before the bath procedures and after - the next day. A well-thought-out artificial ventilation system will also help to cope with condensation.
The point of such a system is to install fans that speed up the movement of air and prevent it from stagnating.