Showerdome

[oldrider]

I wondered about them too - like does the condensation form on the lid of the dome then drip cold water on you while you are drying yourself after you turn the water off? That would really not be fun!

I have been trying to visualise the situation that you describe but my contact lenses keep fogging up, damn!!

Do they make lens domes? John.

[Grumpy Gnomb]

My brother in law installs them so if you give me your details I could pass them onto him for you

[Beemer]

Thanks Grumpy, I'd already emailed the guy in Otaki (closest to us) for a quote and he's just called and he's coming tomorrow to fit one. About $390 fitted and including travel, etc, which sounds good to me.

I won't bother getting one for the spare bathroom as that only gets used when we have visitors, but if we find this one is really good, I would consider it for the future.

[Beemer]

I have been trying to visualise the situation that you describe but my contact lenses keep fogging up, damn!!

Do they make lens domes? John.

Watch out John or we'll have to rename you 'Dirty Old Rider'!

For anyone who is considering getting a Showerdome installed, they actually have a special offer on right now, it was advertised in the Essentially Food magazine for August/September.

"Get a Showerdome installed from $395 and receive a bath towel set worth $50 absolutely free. There are Showerdome agents all over the country, but to get this speciali offer, phone 09-835-9797."

I had already arranged for the local guy to install ours, but the guy I spoke to said all he had to do was forward our contact details once the dome was installed and we would still get the towels.

[Beemer]

Well, we had the Showerdome installed yesterday afternoon - took about 90 minutes in total. For a start, it's really unobtrusive - they look quite noticeable in the ads but once it's fitted, you can hardly see it.

We had our first showers using it this morning and I have to say I'm very impressed. Andy put the ventilation fan on when he used it, but I decided to try it without the fan. There was some condensation on the windows but it was quite warm inside last night and today it's quite foggy and wet outside so that's pretty typical. But the mirror didn't steam up and the walls and ceiling remained dry. Our bathroom was renovated recently but prior to that it had been wallpapered with ordinary wallpaper, not even vinyl, and it had gone mouldy. The previous owners didn't even have extractor fans, so we fitted one but the damage had already been done. If these had been around then, the problem would have been solved.

The noise level in the ensuite is a lot lower, although of course it's a little noisier in the shower itself. It does stay nice and warm in there and I found my towel didn't get all cold and clammy feeling while drying myself. The bathroom felt cold when I stepped out of the shower, but within a minute or so I had adjusted to the temperature and it was fine. Previously the room was warm because of all the steam, but as soon as the steam vapour cools, it makes it even colder. We're hoping it will make a difference in the bedroom too, as the steam from the ensuite tends to migrate there when you open the bathroom door.

They say you will save money because you don't need your water as hot but having tank water makes a difference I think. Our cold water is REALLY cold in the mornings so I didn't find I needed to turn the mixer down at all.

They also say your towels dry faster but as we are the kind of people who could NEVER reuse a towel, this is something I won't be testing!

All in all, we're very pleased with the Showerdome and would be happy to recommend them to anyone. We aren't going to bother getting one for the main bathroom shower as it only gets used by visitors, and also it has a curved front with lots of areas where steam could escape and I've been told they are not as effective in those circumstances.

Ours cost $396 all-up, including the Showerdome, travel expenses and fitting.

[oldrider]

Thanks for the warning Beemer. (lol)

Hey that is a good report on the shower dome, we will probably get them installed too.

Problem is too many outgoings at the moment, with her indoors turning 65 our health insurance has just rocketed up astronomically! ($6,000 bucks a year)

Anyone with health insurance better try not to grow old or they will price you out of it just in case you make a claim! Cheers John.

[WRT]

We had our showerdome installed yesterday. Took 90 mins and cost $395 all up. As Beemer said, the showerdome doesn't look intrusive and you only really notice it if you actually look for it. The installation is realitively tidy and the dome itself appears well made and free from blemishes.

Our main reason for installing the dome was not due to moisture build up (although our mirrors do get steamed up despite having an extractor fan), but instead we wanted to be able to block off the vent for our fan. We get a cool draft coming in through the vent, and it means the bathroom is very cold all the time. As the door to the bathroom is at the top of the stairs, the cold spreads throughout the house if you happen to leave it open.

So, last night I blocked off the vent, and even last night the bathroom felt warmer than usual. We leave the door to the bathroom open after we go to bed so that it gets warmed when the heat pump kicks in just before we get up in the morning. This morning, for the first time ever, the bathroom was actually warmer than the bedroom. Normally, there is a noticible drop in temp going from the bedroom to the bathroom, even with the heat pump going. Now we have a noticible increase in temp instead.

Another benefit of the dome is that it makes the shower much quieter. Ours now can't be heard from the bedroom, but when you are inside the shower there is a kind of echo which reminds you that you are in an enclosed space. Might be an issue for those that sing in the shower . . . but probably a blessing for their partners.

I was nervous as well that it might feel a little claustrophobic with the dome fitted, but while it feels a bit closed in when the dome mists up for the first time, you soon get used to it and pretty much forget the dome is fitted.

The steam really does only form inside the shower, I had to keep wiping the condensation off the glass just to reassure myself none had escaped to the room, but none did. Initially I had the water temperature set to the same level I normally do, but had to turn it down a little after a minute or so as the air inside the shower warmed up. Certainly it did get warm in there, its much more pleasant than being surrounded by cold air that keeps you huddled under the nozzle to keep warm.

When I got out of the shower, I expected to see a burst of steam and was told that I would be "steaming like an All Black prop". This wasn't the case, possibly due to how warm the air in the bathroom was. I didn't have any steam at all, and the mirror was crystal clear.

All in all, we are very pleased with the showerdome, and highly recommend them. Especially if you are able to block off your extractor fan.

The funny thing is that we installed the fan to get rid of the steam in the first place. Not only did it not cure the steam problem, but it makes the whole house cold if your not carefull and it also cost more than the showerdome did. If only we knew then what we know now . . . isn't it funny how hindsight is always 20/20?

[Mully]

I thought this thread was about the Mad Max movie.

Gutted.

[Skunk]

Thanks for the feedback. Looking at getting one now as our bathroom is not on an outside wall of the house. Hate to think how much heat we have lost.

[Marmoot]

but it makes the whole house cold if your not carefull and it also cost more than the showerdome did.

Somehow it is a bit contrary to logic. Your house should be drier and easier to heat up, especially the next morning? No?

[Hitcher]

Bodacious cowboys, such as your friend
Will never be welcome here
High in the Showerdome...

[WRT]

Somehow it is a bit contrary to logic. Your house should be drier and easier to heat up, especially the next morning? No?

Not sure if the right message got across there.

My comment was referring to our extractor fan, which failed to clear the steam (so house remained damp). It also provided an outlet for the heat to escape and a place for the wind to blow cold air in from outside, hence the house was colder.

I have nothing but thumbs up for the shower dome though. The house is both warmer and drier since fitting it.

[Marmoot]

The funny thing is that we installed the fan to get rid of the steam in the first place.

You are right. I might need glasses, or eyedomes.
Didn't notice you were talking about the fan instead of the dome.

My bad.

[Dak]

work well, however, NEVER EVER fart in the shower!

[Beemer]

I just spoke to Ross in Auckland as we still hadn't received our towels, and I asked what it was like in summer. He said it didn't get hotter because of course you normally have your water temperature turned down anyway.

We're really pleased with it and are very glad we got it installed. Best money we ever spent and the bathroom and bedroom have been much warmer as a result.

Once the steam inside the shower has cooled and condensed, I open the windows and the shower door and let it evaporate. But if it's a cold day, I don't bother and it usually clears overnight.