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Bathroom Advice: Tackling Damp

Damp, a problem we have all experienced, is something that occurs most frequently in older houses. Unquestionably a common problem for home renovators, it’s important to know how to eliminate the issue and work to keep your house damp free. The most common occurrence of damp comes in the form of condensation, easily identifiable when you find water running down windows.

In some cases, water can be found running down walls creating dark mould spots, ranging from small speckles to big patches on ceilings and walls. Getting rid of this mould is vital, as not only does it look unsightly, it can release spores which individuals with respiratory problems can seriously be affected by.

So what causes this damp to occur? In short, the amount of water that is carried in the air varies dependent on the temperature of the environment. Hot air can carry more water than cold air, and with our homes being fairly warm during winter, the air contains plenty of vapour.

Condensation occurs when the warm air comes in contact with cold surfaces such as windows or walls, where the water can no longer be supported. The vapour condenses back to a liquid and remains on the surface. The main causes come down to poor cavity insulation, or insufficient ventilation.

Treating this type of damp is fairly straightforward providing you stick to certain control methods. Better ventilation is a good starting block therefore environments that create plenty of vapour or steam such as the shower room, require an automated ventilation system. Upgrading your insulation on outside walls will also create less cold surfaces for vapour to settle on.

How Much Time do You Spend in the Bathroom?

How much time do we actually spend in the bathroom?  It’s not the type  of thing one usually thinks about, but when one calculates the time the average person spends in the bathroom, it is quite an eye opener.  Not only does it show the importance of having an inviting bathroom but it also illuminates the truth that a little time here and there really does add up to a significant amount of time.  The following are statistics of the average time a person spends in the bathroom per day:

Let’s say the average is;

·         15 minutes per day for cleaning.

·         15 minutes per day for the facilities.

That’s equal to:

·         210 minutes per week, or 10,920 minutes per year, or 182 hours per year, or 7.58 days per year.

If this pattern of bathroom use is consistent and generally accurate, a person who lives to the age of 75 years old would spend a total of:

·         819,000 minutes, or 13,650 hours, or 568.75 days, or approximately 1 year 7 month.

If you are one of those who likes to spend a little more time in the bathroom, let’s say:

·         20 minutes per day for cleaning.

·         20 minutes per day for the facilities.

That’s equal to:

·         280 minutes per week, or 14,600 minutes per year, or 243 hours per year, or 10.14 days per year.

Again, with this pattern of bathroom use, a person who lives to the age of 75 years old would spend a total of:

·         1,095,000 minutes (1 million and 95,000 minutes!), or 18,225 hours, or 760.5 days, or approximately 2 year 1 month in the bathroom.

This only goes to illustrate how a seemingly insignificant amount of time adds up, and how much time we actually spend in the bathroom.  If we’re spending this amount of time in the bathroom, it makes sense to create it into a nice place to spend your time!  Consider making it your goal this year to improve your bathroom.

Choosing a Shower

In this months February issue of Homebuilding & Renovating Di Vapor featured in the magazines article: All About Choosing Showers.  A modern, drenching shower experience is the perfect way to start off the day while adding desirability and value to your home.  Here are a few pointers to get you started.

The first consideration when choosing a new shower is understanding your existing water system as this will dictate the kind pressure you can get in your home:

Older homes often utilise a gravity fed system with a cold water tank typically located in the loft and a hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard.  The larger the vertical distance between the tank in the loft and the shower head, the greater the water pressure received.  If you still get a lower pressure in your shower a water pump can be added to this system.

Combination (Combi) Boiler Systems will heat hot water on demand from a pressurised cold water supply.  This leads to an unlimited supply of hot water as long as the combi-boiler can cope with the demand.  Typically, a boiler that can output between 12-15 litres per minute is ideal.  With a combi-boiler system a thermostatic valve is beneficial to help maintain a constant hot water supply to the shower .

Finally, a mains pressure system, pressurised, unvented or sealed system uses the pressure in the mains water supply to drive the hot and cold water pressure to your shower.  A pressure reducing valve may be necessary .  Water can be heated using a combi-boiler, thermal store or using a cylinder that can store hot water under pressure – a common example being the Megaflo system.  It is unlikely that a pump or thermostatic valve would be required for this system.

Choosing a tray – You should pay careful attention to the strength, durability and reinforcement of the tray.  Equally important is understanding  how easily the shower tray waste can be accessed for maintenance.

Size of Shower head – Options include an overhead shower, handheld shower on slide rail, fixed or ceiling mounted, along with body jets.  This comes down to your water system (as discussed above) along with your personal preferences.  Many steam showers come with an overhead rainfall shower, handheld shower and body jets giving the best of all worlds in one pre-fabricated cabin.

Shower Floor Size – Although many bathrooms are limited in space a small shower can feel claustrophobic, cramped and the walls may feel like they are on top of you.  Therefore, you are advised not to fit an enclosure smaller than 900mm x 900mm.

All-in-One Steam Cabins – These cabins offer a huge number of showering features (overhead, handheld and body jets) and often come with a built in radio or CD system – making it difficult to leave those added showering comforts.  With the added benefits of a steam shower and aromatherapy in your own bathroom you really will have a luxury home spa.

Di Vapor Helping You to Keep Your New Years Resolution

Taming the bulge and losing weight is at the top of many people’s New Year’s resolutions. After a Christmas season of snacking, eating and drinking you may feel like you need to lose a few pounds; and you’re probably right! The most effective ways to lose that weight is to eat sensibly sized portions of healthy foods and to exercise. Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts & seeds, grains, seafood, beans & legumes, spice & herbs, eggs & low fat dairy, poultry and lean meats. Integrating foods that have rich portions of necessary vitamins and minerals is important and should become part of a healthy diet. Please see the food pyramid below, recommended by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Even though the obvious ways to lose weight are to eat healthily and to exercise, some people may still find it hard to lose weight. This could potentially be because there are chemicals, toxins or heavy metals trapped in the fat cells in your body, which need to be excreted to continue with weight loss.

Even though the obvious ways to lose weight is to eat healthily and to exercise, some people may still find it hard to lose weight. This could potentially be because there are chemicals, toxins or heavy metals trapped in the fat cells in your body, which are actually hindering the boy’s natural weight loss process. These chemicals may need to be excreted to continue with weight loss.

Case Story: The following story has been shared by one of Di Vapor’s customers. A woman was severely overweight which was causing many health problems. As a result she went to the Doctor and subsequently the Doctor placed the woman on a weight loss plan. After a period of time the woman had lost a significant amount of fat and weight but she found her weight loss plateauing and found it very difficult to lose any further weight. She went back to the Doctor and shared the frustrating problem. The Doctor said the reason the woman was finding it difficult to lose any further weight was because there were chemicals, toxins and heavy metals inside her body which were hindering the natural weight loss process, and recommended the woman use an infrared sauna to rid her body of these free radicals.

It’s likely that the weight loss problem this woman had is also an undiagnosed problem of many other people who are trying to lose weight but can’t understand why they are finding it so difficult.

On top of the detoxification benefits, sitting in a Di Vapor Solare infrared sauna can burn up to 600 calories in 30 minutes. The heat inside the sauna causes the circulatory system to work harder, which burns calories.

Consider a Di Vapor infrared sauna to help aid in your weight loss and to keep you on track with your New Year’s resolutions.

Choosing the right shower head!

There are many different types of shower head available on the market, but depending on what your specific requirements are can determine which shower design will work best for you. Different shower heads include handheld, handheld on a slider rail, fixed, ceiling mounted and shower columns complete with a series of body jets.

Temperature and pressure are commonly controlled by a thermostatic valve, which will detect changes in water pressure and temperature and respond accordingly. Some thermostatic valves even allow you to preset the temperature so that when you turn the shower on it is exactly how you want it. More state of the art models come complete with digital control panels complete with remote control so the shower can even be started without even stepping in.

Handheld should be considered, even as a secondary shower head as they handy when rinsing off the the side of the bath or shower tray etc. They can also be fitted to a slider rail, which means that height can be adjusted easily. The most important factor to bare in mind when choosing a shower head is all in its design and features – Most are available with multiple spray options. Huge shower heads, often ceiling mounted, have also become popular, designed to totally drench the shower user in seconds. Multiple jet showers are another big trend, comprising not just one shower head, but a host of side jets sprays.

To see our full range of shower enclosures on offer from Di Vapor, please visit http://www.divapor.com

Blair turns up the heat!

The ex-prime minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie have decided to create their own home spa haven at their new country home in Bucks. They are planning to install a conventional sauna along with a steam room to add the finishing luxury touch to their £5.75 million pound mansion.

Blair, 56, whose anthem was ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ when he swept to power in 1997 – will start a New Labour of his own if the sports pavilion gets the go ahead. Plans have been submitted to Aylesbury Council and include two changing rooms, a shower, kitchenette and play area.

Recently, the Blairs received listed building approval to turn a derelict cottage on their estate into a two-bedroom guest house. It will be used on weekends by children Euan, 25, Nicky, 23, Kathryn, 21, and Leo, nine. Unfortunately, the submission of the plans landed them in hot water with some of their neighbours who opposed the idea. The Blairs bought South Pavilion, the former home of Sir John Gielgud, in 2007 and have five other properties around the county.

I think you’ll find the Blairs will agree, there’s no better way to de-stress than a good ol’ sauna session.

Time to warm up this winter!

As the height of winter draws ever closer and temperatures begin to drop, most of us need a good enough reason for braving the cold before stepping out. There is nothing better than staying indoors wrapped up tightly in the cosy comfort of your own home. Why not give yourself even more excuse to stay indoors, by installing your very own personal infrared sauna. No longer will you need to use the communal sauna at your local gym, instead enjoy your own private spa haven with no one around to disturb you!

The experience associated with infrared saunas in comparison to conventional saunas is very different. Apart from the fact that you can install an infrared sauna anywhere with a plug socket, the environment inside is a lot more comfortable and less stiffiling to breathe in. Operational costs are significantly lower than traditional sauna stoves, and there’s no lengthy warm up time. Turn the sauna on, leave it for 10 – 15 minutes and your ready to go. The main difference however, is how the technology works in warming your body right to the core. The infrared rays work to gently raise your core body temperature and start the perspiration process. Your guaranteed to never feel cold again!

Di Vapor supply a variety of different sizes and wood styles to suit all needs. For more information on the cabins themselves, simply visit http://www.divapor.com/infrared-sauna.php – There’s no better way to warm up this winter!

Keep healthy this Christmas!

It is a well known fact that more people are ill over the winter season than any other as “cold-related” illnesses run rampage throughout the population. It’s important to remember that keeping our bodies natural defences running at maximum is key in fighting through this festive time, whilst maintaining good physical and mental well-being. Here are our top tips this Christmas!

• Eat well, Rest Well - Make sure you are taking on board your 5 portions of fruit and veg each day, whilst getting a good nights sleep each day. This will keep vital vitamin supplies high for your immune system, especially vitamin C. A nice relaxing bath before bed, accompanied with aromatherapy will help you rest better.
• Wash your hands - Regular washing of your hands with soap and warm water will help against carrying infections. Lathering for at least 30 seconds will reduce the risk of spreading infections.
• Keep Warm - It is important, and often overlooked, to keep warm when the temperature starts falling. If your body is wasting vital energy maintaining your core temperature, your body can’t use energy fighting against germs. If you lucky enough to have access to a sauna, utilise it daily to sweat out any toxins your body may have taken on board.
• Vaccinate – The flu vaccine is free if your over 65 so it is recommended that is taking advantage of. Contact your local GP surgery for more information.
• Keep Hydrated -  As our homes get warmer over the cold periods, the air tends to be a lot dryer. It is important to take on board as many fluids as possible to ensure your body is well hydrated.
• Keep your distance! – When someone sneezes or coughs in your vacinity, germs tend to spread very quickly. It’s a good idea to keep a tissue handy to cover your nose and mouth whenever possible – catch it, bin it, kill it!

For more detailed information on keeping healthy this season, contact your local GP today. Remember stay healthy – stay happy!

Chocolate Saunas in Slovenia

A chocolate sauna?  This doesn’t make any sense if you’re thinking about a sauna that is made out of chocolate as many people do. When I first heard about chocolate saunas I envisioned a sauna made out of chocolate, full of an intoxicating chocolate aroma, with the inner walls melting slowly, caving in as the heat softened the delicious structure. In a perfect world a chocolate lover would have all saunas made out of chocolate, but you’ll just have to settle for second best: Covering your body in chocolate.  That’s right, sauna enthusiasts and novices alike have been experiencing the wonderful delight of covering their bodies in chocolate, and entering in and sitting back in a hot traditional sauna. The heat of the sauna starts to melt the chocolate which is coated on the body, which slowly drips off.

Simultaneously, the body sweats as it’s heated, allowing the invigorating benefits of the chocolate to penetrate the pores.

The Atlantis water park, which has 16 pools, slides, wave machines, underground caves, whirlpool, geysers, relaxation areas and 15 saunas say that the chocolate contains no sugar, is 70% cocoa and is full of nutrients which will make the body feel wonderful. The experience of a chocolate sauna would certainly be a memory that would stay with you forever, if not for it’s invigorating rush, then for its unique novelty.

So where can you find one? Chocolate saunas can be found at the Atlantis, which is in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. The chocolate sauna isn’t the only appeal of Ljubljana, which offers an array of wonderful sights and attractions, including a festive Christmas market in December.

If you like mud masks, body scrubs and luxurious spa treatments, maybe you should add this to your ‘To try’ list. What are you waiting for?

Free Vouchers for you this Christmas!

Well, it’s that time of of year once again and the end of 2009 draws ever closer. However, there is still time to get some more planning done on next years bathroom renovation project. If you haven’t started planning just yet, what better time to do so than now. Take advantage of some of the amazing offers suppliers are providing in the run up to Christmas, and your sure to end up with more money in your pocket long term.

This Christmas season, Di Vapor are giving away £50 worth of vouchers to spend at either John Lewis, Marks & Spencers or HMV, with every single order. All you need to do to qualify for this added bonus is book the unit you’ve decided on with a 10% deposit. That’s an extra £50 to buy you and the family something a little extra this season – Plus you avoid the unit that you want going out of stock!

For more information visit http://www.divapor.com today – bring on Christmas!