Could condensing tumble dryer cause damp in room?

Debicj

Hi, I wondered if anyone could help with a problem that we have with damp.

The damp is along the bottom of an external wall in a bedroom. It rises up in the corner of the room near the window and black mould has grown where the damp is.

There is a leaking gutter outside so the wall is rather damp most of the time. However, this is the ground floor flat and as far as I know the upstairs flat doesn't have any problems with damp.

I suspect that the dryer being used in the room could be causing the damp or making the problem worse. It's a condensing dryer, standing on carpeted floor. The room is approx. 3m x 4m and is the same temperature as the rest of the flat.

I know condensing dryers are not supposed to release moisture into the air, but I can't think of anything else that could be causing the problem.

Any ideas on this?

Thanks.

Deb

latecomer

Fix the gutter?

Debicj

Unfortunately it's not that easy. The flat is ex council and the council still own the rest of the block. As it's leasehold, we are not allowed to touch the outside of the building. We have been told that if we attempt any repairs, etc. it will be classed as vandalism. I have tried getting the council to carry out the repairs but they just say it is on the list and will be done eventually. Getting them to move quickly is impossible.

dander

If the council's lack of maintenance is causing damage to your property, then it is their responsibility to pay for repairs to your flat. You need to press home to the council that there is physical damage and that the longer they leave the repairs, the bigger the final bill will be to them.

I think you should be entitled to ask them to come in and inspect the damage. Certainly when I had a similar problem in a council flat, they were quick to send someone in to assess the damage and ascertain the cause - and ultimately sort it out.

Airwolf1

Contact the council and speak with a manager. Advise them that due to the length of time taken to fix the gutter, damp has got into your property and you are now asking for this to be seen to by them too.

As above poster says, sounds like lack of maintenance on the side of the council.

jd87

Sounds like the gutter is the main problem here, but on the point about the dryer - condensing dryers don't condense 100% of the moisture, there is still some released moisture into the air, so it could still cause some damp.

thescouselander

Condensing dryers definately do release moisture into the air. Ours is in the conservatory and the windows can steam up when it's on.

Debicj

Thanks for the replies.

I have tried for a year to get the council to do something. They don't want to know because we own the property. I guess they realise it will take a long and costly court battle to 'force' them to do something and they don't think that will happen.

Moving the dryer and tackling the damp from the inside are the only options we have.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

thescouselander wrote: »

Condensing dryers definately do release moisture into the air. Ours is in the conservatory and the windows can steam up when it's on.

I always thought the moisture went down the drain with a condensor,our's does.I must admit to never having any steam problems with our dryer whilst working,only steam is when we open the door to get washing out.
In a conservatory the heat would be enough to steam the windows up but it should'nt affect other rooms this way.Certainly not to cause damp.

thescouselander

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

I always thought the moisture went down the drain with a condensor,our's does.I must admit to never having any steam problems with our dryer whilst working,only steam is when we open the door to get washing out.
In a conservatory the heat would be enough to steam the windows up but it should'nt affect other rooms this way.Certainly not to cause damp.

Most of it does but the condenser is not 100% efficient. You probably wouldn't notice in a normal room but in out case the conservatory windows are very cold at this time of year and the moisture condenses on the windows.

catkins

Debicj wrote: »

Unfortunately it's not that easy. The flat is ex council and the council still own the rest of the block. As it's leasehold, we are not allowed to touch the outside of the building. We have been told that if we attempt any repairs, etc. it will be classed as vandalism. I have tried getting the council to carry out the repairs but they just say it is on the list and will be done eventually. Getting them to move quickly is impossible.

Contact Enviromental Health. They will help as the damp can cause Mould which is a health hazard.