What's happening to my wall? strange device on wall?

auto201477

Hi!

Firstly, thank you everyone for your replies.

Doozergirl and 27col, I bought the property not long ago, which would explain why I don't know much about these devices. I'm guessing the previous owners installed these devices. I would'nt be surprised if these are decades old. They are definitely not fan heaters, at first I suspected that they were.

A quick search on google images suggests that everyone here has got it right. It is some sort of mould and condensation could be a big factor in this.

Once again, thank you everyone! and i shall start applying everyones suggestions.

knightstyle

Have seen similar in lots of properties, always older and usually on the outside walls. This is caused by water in the air finding the coldest surface to condense on, ie this outside wall. So first try to get rid of the damp air, ventilate by making sure fans work and are clean, dirty fan blades reduce efficiency, open windows after showering etc. How do you dry your washing dryers, unless condenser, put water into the air as does hanging things on banister. So if you do this open a window. Long term think about insulating the wall it is forming on, there may be a grant to help. The products shown will help remove the mould but will not cure the problem.

TimBuckTeeth

The electric heaters look very old, I would get rid of them and fit some new ones if you do not have central heating.
I would also get your electrics checked, especially with a lot of moisture about, the wiring to the socket doesn't look in good condition and should be protected by trunking or buried in the wall.

Yorkshire_Bred

I noticed there is a ventilation pane on the wall already, so problem must be a longstanding one? Is the vent clear and open? some people because it creates a draft close them and defeats the whole purpose of having it installed.

I would......

1. check the pointing on the outside of the property and
2. check if all the gutters are clean and working properly in the affected area.

Until you get rid of the root of the problem the mould/mildew will just keep reoccurring

nick.simpson19

i have had a similar problem four years ago, I was living in a terrace house in city center and the back room was like an extension on the back so three of the walls were outside walls and it had its own roof!

What we did,

1. Stripped all wallpaper off
2. Knocked all plaster off the walls to the brick
3. Got a roofer out to check the roof he found a problem with a tiny tiny tiny little rip in the felt so he replaced it for £90.
4. Had a double glazed window fitted stops condensation build up compared to single glazed windows.
5. Once roof was repaired and double glazing was done we left a dehumidifer in the room for a couple of weeks
6. Then we had the room all plastered again and all the electrics sorted.
7. All decorated and never had a problem since and its been three years now if not longer since it was do

Hope this helps! Worth having your roof checked out but then again if its the main roof and there is a problem its going to cost lots of £££££

debbie42

Sorry to hijack this thread, but yesterday I found something very similar in a fitted wardrobe (it's on the inside of an outside corner of house) in my son's room. It is much wetter though, and has ruined some clothes I stored there. It must have only been there for a few months. Could it be caused by a loose roof tile? I had the gutters replaced a couple of years ago, and cleaned only a couple of months back.

I'll have a look outside, in, and roof next time it rains, for an obvious cause, but who should I bring in to sort it out: roofer, builder, damp specialist, or someone else?