Damp in rented house

timberflake

On Sunday, I noticed what looks like damp in the dining room of the house we've been renting for around 18 months. The damp is next to the chimney.

About a year ago we stuffed some insulation up the chimney as it was freezing downstairs due to the chimney being open at the top and letting cold air in.

Question is, could putting the insulation up the chimney have caused, or contributed to the damp? If so, it looks as though we'll be liable to repair the damp which I'm guessing could be an expensive job!!?

BitterAndTwisted

Yes, chimneys provide a means of air circulation and the blocked chimney could very well cause damp. Try to avoid a hefty bill asap

timberflake

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Yes, chimneys provide a means of air circulation and the blocked chimney could very well cause damp. Try to avoid a hefty bill asap

What's the best way to cover the chimney up then? I can't say in words just how cold it gots downstairs when the insulation wasn't there, we simply can't go through winter with an open fireplace.

timberflake

Would a chimney balloon do the job??

BitterAndTwisted

Well, you've got an open fire-place so what do you think you could use it for in the winter-time?

smcqis

light the fire, even if its from branches and stuff you can easily collect if its fallen down

timberflake

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Well, you've got an open fire-place so what do you think you could use it for in the winter-time?

That would be a great idea, if was an actual finished fireplace. there's just a hole in the chimney, no actual fireplace.

timberflake

I think I'll go with the chimney balloon idea!

BitterAndTwisted

How large is the space and what is at floor-level?

If you are certain that you can't use it, I suggest you block it up but allow enough space to allow air up there. When people block up fire-places they generally stick an air-brick in there. That's the amount of space you should allow.

tyllwyd

If the insulation in the chimney is causing the damp, if you can sort that out, the damp should cure itself so it shouldn't be worse than possible redecoration. (I don't see why a chimney balloon would be different to using insulation?)

I agree that if you block a chimney up, you should allow for some ventilation. Where is the damp - is it on the chimney breast itself? How about placing a screen in front of the chimney, to block off the main draft but still allowing ventilation to the sides. Also, have you checked the state of the chimney stack itself - I wonder if water is getting into the chimney, then collecting on top of your insulation and causing the damp?