What is a demister pad?

A demister pad fits onto the back of your bathroom mirror and works by gently heating it, which stops the mirror from collecting excessive amounts of water vapour and becoming steamy and foggy. Some demister pads can be wired to turn on when you switch on the bathroom light, while others have a separate control.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution, a demisting mirror comes complete with a built-in demister, providing a simple and fuss-free way to keep your daily routine running smoothly.

How many demister pads?

Before you begin the demister mirror pad installation process, you’ll need to decide how many pads your bathroom mirror requires.

This depends on the size of your mirror. For most small or medium mirrors, one pad will suffice. For larger mirrors in family bathrooms, it may be necessary to use two or more pads in order to ensure that the entire surface area will be covered and kept free from steam.

It’s also important to check if your mirror is compatible with the demister pad you have in mind. If in doubt, stop by our showroom to speak with one of our experts, who will be able to advise on exactly what your bathroom needs.

Installing your demister mirror pad

Installing a demister mirror pad to your bathroom mirror requires some DIY skills and a degree of confidence when it comes to working with electrical wiring, as you will need to ensure that all wiring from the demister pads is hidden and inaccessible in order to ensure safe usage. 

Please note: The advice below is intended as guidance only, as the process for installing a demister pad can vary depending on the design. If ever in doubt, seek expert advice.

When installing your demister mirror pad, you may need an electric drill to help you cut a recess into the wall behind your mirror, in which the pad’s terminal moulding will sit. The process will vary depending on the size and shape of your mirror, but typically you will need to:

Cut a recess in your wall

First of all, you will need to cut a small recess in the wall behind the mirror. This is where the terminal moulding on the demister pad will sit so that the pad (and therefore the mirror) will be flush against the wall. This can usually be done using a hole saw connected to a drill, but it will depend on what material the wall is made out of.

Mark your mirror

Using a pencil, make a mark on the back of your bathroom mirror to signify where the demister pad will be fitted.

Peel and position your demister pad

Mirror demister pads usually come complete with protective release paper over the back surface. Carefully peel the protective paper off your demister pad and then place one edge of the pad onto the back of your bathroom mirror, while ensuring the opposite edge of the pad is pointing away from the surface of the back of the mirror.

During this process, make sure you check that your mirror is completely flat and resting on a level surface in order to avoid it cracking as you position the demister pad.

Apply pressure

Gently but firmly apply pressure equally over the surface of the mirror demister pad as you slowly lower it onto the back surface of the mirror. Do this until the demister pad is entirely flat on the back of your mirror and has no air bubbles in it.

Be careful while completing this process and handle the demister pad delicately, as any nicks or holes in the surface will damage the insulation and make the product unsafe for use.

Apply pressure as many times as necessary if you are installing more than one demister pad to a particularly large bathroom mirror. If you are using multiple pads, make sure they don’t overlap, in order to avoid damage to your mirror.

Attach your mirror to the wall

Reattach your mirror to the bathroom wall, positioning it so that its terminal moulding slips comfortably into the recess that you cut into the wall in step 1. If you are screwing your mirror to the wall, do not over tighten the screws and ensure that the mirror is flat against the surface of the wall.

If you are using an adhesive to bond the mirror to the bathroom wall, ensure that it is applied over the entire area of the mirror so that it will be securely fastened to the wall.

And voila! Your demister mirror pad is fully installed, leaving your bathroom mirror steam free and ready to use.