Guide to Using a Heater to Dry Bathroom Caulking

Using a Heater

• Set up a space heater about six feet away from the area of the bathroom that you've just caulked. Do not set the heater into water. Check for dampness by running your hand on the floor of the bathroom where the heater will sit. Set the temperature on the heater to 80 degrees.

Creating Airflow

• Open the door to the bathroom. If the bathroom has two doors, open both doors. Set a fan in the doorway of your bathroom. Set the fan to its lowest setting so that it is blowing at the heater. If you have an oscillating fan, set the fan to blow back and forth over the top of the heater.

Ideal Conditions

• The purpose of the heater is to warm the bathroom slightly and reduce humidity. Do not turn up the temperature on the heater above 80 degrees. Ideally, you will strive to create temperature conditions that are warm but not outside the normal range of temperatures for the bathroom. If the bathroom is much warmer than normal, you may cause stress on the caulk when the bathroom cools. This can occur if the joint the caulking is adhering to is affected by the increase in temperature.

Caution

• Keep the heater at least two feet away from flammable items. Do not leave the heater unattended. Do not open your bathroom window because outside conditions can be too unpredictable. Outside humidity or precipitation could ruin your new caulking job. If possible, eliminate family traffic from the bathroom during this time. If you have more than one bathroom, instruct family members to use the extra bathroom only.

Other Caulking Tips

• During installation, all surfaces being caulked should be completely dry. Use a hair dryer to speed the drying time if you've just used the bathroom. For a smoother application of caulk, cut the caulking tube as close as you can to the tip. Use a utility knife to cut the tube at a 45-degree angle. To smooth the caulk after it has been applied, wet your finger and run the pad of your finger along the caulk.