Possible damp issue/condenstation - help!

rilou81

Hey all

This possible problem has come to our attention and I have no idea where to start.

IVe done a little research which now suggests it could be a condensation problem we have created by drying our clothes indoors on radiators (no room for washing line) we do get back condensation on all windows everyday. Ive seen dehumidifier could help so will purchase one of these.

Problem is the damp smell is downstairs when you first walk in. Next door had a damp proof course last year and its single brick (terrace) so would have done ours too, so think its not rising damp. Our bedroom is above and does seem to have damp patches on the wall but no black and no smell, so confused. The windows do have some black patches. Thought it could possibly be coming from next doors chimny as its where the damp is and hubby said he thought they were taking it out.

Who do we contact? What is their job title, or could we sort this out ourselves?

Whats our best course of action? With the house up for sale its an urgent matter x

pararct

Is this just a smell or do you have visual evidence of damp (condensation) on the walls or ceilings? Visual evidence will be isolated damp spots with perhaps some black mould growing through. They will almost invariably be on outside walls.

PasturesNew

Get a small, portable dehumidifier and a clothes airer. Put the clothes on the clothes airer, plug the dehumidifier in and it'll dry your clothes really quickly without any moisture going into the fabric of the building.

For what you have already, simply run the dehumidifier for a couple of days in each room.

I'd rather have a dehumidifier than a tumble drier as it's dual-purpose, cheaper, portable and takes up hardly any room.

poppysarah

Look on the outside where the damp patches off.

traineepensioner

Hi Rilou81

Try putting a small circle of Blue tack on the wall where the damp is and push a small piece of glass on top, making a seal and leave it for a day or so. If there is moisture under the glass you know you have damp. If the moisture is on top of the glass you have condensation. There's not much point using a dehumidifier against rising or penetrating damp.

HTH

rilou81

Thanks, I will try the blue tack thing tonight where is looks like damp in the bedroom. We had a dehumidifier which we started using yesterday and are buying another one for downstairs too. Will not be drying the clothes on the radiators again either. We def have condensation either way as the windows get it all the time, if we have damp in the walls too thats another problem, fingers crossed its not!

Quick Q though if we have and its coming from next doors chimney, whos responsibility is it?