How Electric Fog-Free Mirrors Work Just like that dripping wet glass of ice-cold lemonade on a one-hundred degree, ninety-percent humidity day a bathroom mirror is the same. To reverse that process, or rather, keep it from happening in the first place you need to make sure that a surface is the same (or higher) temperature as the dew point. Dew point as defined by Wikipedia: 'The dew point is the temperature to which air must be cooled to become saturated with water vapor. When further cooled, the airborne water vapor will condense to form liquid water (dew). When air cools to its dew point through contact with a surface that is colder than the air, water will condense on the surface. The measurement of the dew point is related to humidity. A higher dew point means there will be more moisture in the air.'* By definition, a mirror would have to be warmed to a temperature warmer than the dew point to promote evaporation vs. condensation (also Wikipedia): 'At temperatures below the dew point, the rate of condensation will be greater than that of evaporation, forming more liquid water. The condensed water is called dew when it forms on a solid surface, or frost if it freezes. The condensed water is called either fog or a cloud, depending on its altitude, when it forms in the air. If the temperature is below the dew point, the vapor is called supersaturated. This can happen if there are not enough particles in the air to act as condensation nuclei.'* Along comes a mirror heater, also commonly known as mirror defoggers. There are many brands to choose from and they are manufactured throughout the world, but they all operate and are installed in a similar practice. A mirror defogger will normally be very thin, less than 1/8" and be made by either wires or a printed circuit laminated between two non-conductive pieces of material like silicon rubber or polymer. Out of the end will be two leads, these leads are neither neutral nor positive (it doesn't matter which side of the power supply is connected to either lead). On one side of the mirror defogger is an adhesive coating like a PSA, covered with a contact sheet. You peel the sheet and press it firmly and evenly onto the back of the mirror. You then connect the leads to a new junction box (hidden behind the mirror) and push the mirror back into place. The mirror defogger is turned on and off with the bathroom light or the bathroom fan. When turned on, the mirror heater gently warms the mirror (usually to 100 degrees +/-). Relative humidity maximizes at 100%, and if the air temperature (not water temperature) is anything less than 100 degrees (temperature of the mirror) the RH will max out at that temperature. In other words, the air temperature will need to exceed the 100+ degrees of the mirror for the fog to form. Highly unlikely in a typical shower, no matter how many shower heads, or how hot the water is.

TWe make three kinds of mirror defoggers, and each ClearMirror comes in multiple sizes: The Original ClearMirror is a heating pad that is applied to the back side of the vanity mirror. The Shower ClearMirror is a fully assembled mirror and heating pad which is installed flush with a tile or stone shower surround -- great for shaving in the shower. The Shower ClearMirror is also available as a pad only for custom projects. The ShowerLite ClearMirror is a lighted, heated fog-free mirror. Similar to the Shower ClearMirror it installs flush with the tile.

We can also tell you what not to use! Never, never, ever (did we mention never?) use an aggressive adhesive such as silicone (silicon), or ammonium-based cleaners. Neither of these should come in contact with the edges or backs of mirrors.

From the Shower and ShowerLite Product Pages, download our: Read Before You Install Page.

Always use Palmer or Gunther Mirror Mastic (or other professionally approved mirror mastics that are 100% safe for the backs and edges of mirrors).

NOW JUST APPROVED: Kerdi-Fix by Schluter - ClearMirrors work well with Schulter shower system Kerdi-Board!!

Yes. We have tested adhering ClearMirrors to Kerdi wall systems with Kerdi-Fix adhesive and they work great! Our standard Shower or ShowerLite ClearMirrors (either 12"x12" or 12"x24") fit perfectly in their standard 12" inches.

No, the framing should not be impacted. A typical installation includes the removal of the backer board immediately behind the areas of the LED lights in order for the mirror to sit flush (with the tile) in the opening. Call or email us, we look forward to helping you.

Yes. We have done testing with Kerdi Board wall systems and we have tested using Kerdi Fix to adhere/waterproof Shower and ShowerLite ClearMirrors to the walls. The systems including the adhesive work fine with our mirrors and will not damage the silvering.

Electrical rough in depends on local codes. In most cases, the wires can be run through the wall, but you may need a junction box. We provide the extension, so you have approximately 28 ft. The transformer needs to be accessible and have some air flow. Do not store in the wall. Mirror can be mounted before or after tile. We recommend the mirror be on site to get accurate measurements. Additional Questions? Please Call 800-614-7411 or Email at support@usbathstore.com

Yes. All ClearMirror products are UL and C-UL approved and listed. The Shower ClearMirror and the ShowerLite are low-voltage and completely sealed to ensure safe operation. All electrical work must be completed to national and local electrical codes.

If both LEDs are not working, it is most likely that the wiring is not correct.

• The positive wires for the LEDs and the Transformer must all be together in the same connector and then all the negative wires in the other connector.
• See the image below. All positive wires have writing on them and are together in one connector.
• It makes no difference for the heater which is why the heater works and the LEDs do not.
• The mirror comes set up like this and each mirror is tested.
• The transformer wires are disconnected during installation and if the positive and negative leads are switched when reconnecting, the LEDs will not work… but the heater will.

   

  

ClearMirror products come with a 5-year warranty on materials. We do not warranty parts that we did not include with the original purchase, nor do we cover labor for replacement parts.