Bathroom

Older bathrooms that are in a good condition and are well maintained do not replacing, but bathrooms older than 30 years can often show signs of disrepair that make it harder to keep clean, stop leaks or lead to mould growth.

Replacing tiles, taps and ensuring pipe work is not leaking can be a more cost-effective way of updating an old bathroom than a full replacement. Focussing on damaged areas that may lead to leaks or harbour germs can be a more cost-effective way to keep an older bathroom a healthy and safe environment.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Cleaning, Repairs and Gardening to find out more about maintaining your home, including repair works in rented accommodation.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Paying for works and finding Trusted Tradespeople if you are considering replacing or updating your bathroom.

Look out!

Water damage in the bathroom can be a sign of faulty plumbing, damage or blocked pipes and drains. Leaks in the bathroom can also increase the risk of slips and falls. Excess water in the bathroom can also lead to damp and mould growth. You will need to identify the source of the leak to be able to deal with the problem.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Plumbing to find out more about what do to do if you find water coming into your home and how to find a heating or plumbing engineer.

Look out!

Black mould can spread on to furniture, curtains and clothing, and left untreated can produces allergens, irritants and sometimes, toxic substances. Inhaling or touching mould spores can cause allergic reactions such as sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes, and a skin rash, or lead to longer-term health problems such as:

fatigue
weakened immune systems
loss of cognitive function and headaches
upper respiratory tract infections

Black mould can increase your risk of developing respiratory (breathing) problems and can make asthma worse, particularly for the elderly, young babies or those with weakened immune systems, including those having chemotherapy.

Black mould is a fungus that can be found in homes where there is excess moisture. Mould thrives in areas that are warm and moist such as kitchens and bathrooms. It can appear in areas where there is condensation such as cold walls or around windows. Poor ventilation may also contribute to black mould developing.

If you notice the signs of damp and mould growth in your home, act immediately to try and resolve it.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Common hazards to find out more about how to manage damp and mould in your home.

You may be able to improve the heating and energy efficiency of your home.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Heating and Energy to find out more about different types of heating systems and options to improve or upgrade the energy efficiency of your home.

Electrical Safety First

Electrical Safety First provides information and guidance for using different types of independent heat sources. Visit www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk for more information about Portable Heaters and how to use them safely.

Broken tiles can lead to water damage, injury and make it harder to keep your bathroom free from damp and mould. Often a broken tile can be easily replaced, but if the damage is significant the tiles may need removing to make sure there is no more serious damage hidden behind the tiles.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Paying for works and finding Trusted Tradespeople to find out more.

If you rent your home, check out the Good Home Lincs information on Cleaning, Repairs and Gardening to find out more about repairs in rented accommodation and social housing.

You may be able to improve the heating and energy efficiency of your home.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Heating and Energy to find out more about different types of heating systems and options to improve or upgrade the energy efficiency of your home.

Look out for Damp & Mould!

Damp and mould growing in your home can be a risk to anyone, but children and young people under 14 years of age and older people can be particularly vulnerable. If you notice the signs of damp and mould growth in your home act immediately to try and resolve it.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Common hazards to find out more about how to manage damp and mould in your home.

Extractor fans are an important part of keeping your home ventilated, reducing condensation and minimising damp and mould growth. If your extractor fan is broken or not working, always ventilate or open a window when using the kitchen or the bathroom and close the doors to prevent moisture in the air from spreading to other parts of the house until you can get it repaired or replaced.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Heating and Energy to find out more about good home insulation and ventilation.

Look out for Damp & Mould!

Damp and mould growing in your home can be a risk to anyone, but children and young people under 14 years of age and older people can be particularly vulnerable. If you notice the signs of damp and mould growth in your home act immediately to try and resolve it.

If you do not have an extractor fan, always ventilate or open a window when using the kitchen or the bathroom and close the doors to prevent moisture in the air from spreading to other parts of the house.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Common hazards to find out more about how to manage damp and mould in your home.

Look out!

If your toilet is not working, or you do not have access to a working toilet in your home you will need to identify the cause so that it can be repaired or replaced. All homes should have access to a flushing toilet to ensure healthy and clean sanitation, broken toilets or toilets that do not work should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Plumbing to find a plumber.

If you live in rented accommodation, check out the Good Home Lincs information on Cleaning, Repairs and Gardening to find out more about repairs in rented accommodation.

Look out!

If your toilet is not working, or you do not have access to a working toilet in your home you will need to identify the cause so that it can be repaired or replaced. All homes should have access to a flushing toilet to ensure healthy and clean sanitation, broken toilets or toilets that do not work should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Plumbing to find a plumber.

If you live in rented accommodation, check out the Good Home Lincs information on Cleaning, Repairs and Gardening to find out more about repairs in rented accommodation.

Simple adaptations to your home may enable easier access into and around your bathroom.

Adaptations, equipment and aids can help you to stay safe by reducing the likelihood of falls and accidents around the home, and enabling easier access.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Access and Adaptations to find out more about the options and solutions available to help.

Connect to Support Lincolnshire provides information and advice about services and support to help people stay independent in their home. Check out the Connect to Support information on Housing and Independence at Home to find out more about staying safe at home.

Simple adaptations to your home may enable easier access into and around your bathroom.

Adaptations, equipment and aids can help you to stay safe by reducing the likelihood of falls and accidents around the home, and enabling easier access.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Access and Adaptations to find out more about the options and solutions available to help.

Connect to Support Lincolnshire provides information and advice about services and support to help people stay independent in their home. Check out the Connect to Support information on Housing and Independence at Home to find out more about staying safe at home.

Look out!

Leaks in the bathroom can be a sign of faulty plumbing, damage or blocked pipes and drains. Leaks in the bathroom can also increase the risk of slips and falls. Excess water in the bathroom can also lead to damp and mould growth. You will need to identify the source of the leak to be able to deal with the problem.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Plumbing to find out more about what do to do if you find water coming into your home and how to find a heating or plumbing engineer.

Look out!

Living without hot water can be harmful to your health and make it harder to keep your home clean. If you have no hot water, you will need to take different action depending on the cause.

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Heating and Energy to find out more about what to do if you do not have access to hot water.

Look out!

Hot water should be stored at least at 60°C and distributed so that it reaches a temperature of 50°C within one minute at the outlets. This range helps to prevent scalding, inhibit the growth of Legionella bacteria, and minimise energy consumption, especially when hot water is stored in a tank.

If your water is too hot you will need to adjust your hot water system to the right temperature. Different systems will need to be adjusted in different ways.

If you are unsure how to adjust your water temperature, check out the Good Home Lincs Information on Plumbing to find a heating and plumbing engineer who will be able to advise you.

Can you see any of these potential problems in your bathroom?

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