How to Prevent the Toilet Cistern From Sweating
Along with all the fun in the sun and the long evening sunshine, summer also means sweat. Of course, sweating isn’t limited to June, July and August, but as temperatures rise, there is also a tendency to turn into a sweaty mess.
And just because it’s natural, it doesn’t make it any less awkward. When people see excessive sweating, they may wonder if there are any underlying problems that may later manifest themselves as more serious problems. Besides, being constantly wet is not interesting. We are, of course, talking about toilet cisterns. Here’s what to do if yours sweats a lot.
Why do toilets sweat?
Before moving on to solutions, let’s talk about what causes condensation to form on the outside of the toilet cistern in the first place. Here’s how Merle Henkenius explains it in an article for ThisOldHouse.com :
When the weather gets hot and humid, there is a lot of moisture in the air. At the same time, the water entering the toilet cistern is relatively cold – between 50 and 60 ° F. When warm, moist air hits the cool porcelain surfaces of the toilet, the air condenses, turns into water and soon drips to the floor.
Although the toilet only sweats on warm, humid days, a surprisingly large amount of water can spill out of the toilet in a very short time.
Some manufacturers make toilet seat insulators that they claim eliminate sweaty toilets, but most don’t work very well.
How to stop toilet perspiration
There are two possible solutions to the toilet bowl perspiration problem, Henkenius said.
Keep your bathroom dry and cool
Before spending time and energy on an entire plumbing project, Henkenius says , you can start by trying to control the humidity and temperature in your bathroom with a dehumidifier and air conditioner. But not everyone has these appliances, and even if they do, it can be costly to use them all summer long.
Install a sweat-proof valve
For a more reliable and sustainable solution, Henkenius suggests installing a perspiration safety valve on the water supply line to the toilet. And what will it do? Per Henekenius :
The sweat-proof valve adds some hot water to the toilet water line, which raises the temperature of the water in the toilet just enough to heat the cistern and bowl. That’s all it takes to prevent condensation from forming, even in the hottest weather.
Installation can be a bit of a process, so if you decide to do it yourself, Henkenius will walk you through every step here.