Best to let leak dry itself, or use heater?

dekaspace

In past 6 weeks have had 3 large leaks lasting 2/3 days a time (actually 2 weeks gap between them every time)

What I did each time when the leak slowed down to a point it was a few drips a minute rather than constant was leave heater on in bathroom overnight to help dry things and normally by morning the majority of wall was dry to touch and mostly white in colour (bar any black dots/streaks) and it never got much better even days later.

The current leak started Sunday night, was worse Monday and Tuesday night when it poured with rain (which makes me wonder why it leaked more when it rained) then by this morning its gone to a slow drip, and by now drips a few times a minute maximum rather than a constant drip which by past experience means its close to stopping.

So is it better to leave it or use heater?

Doozergirl

It's better to fix the leak!

anselld

The source of the leak needs to be repaired. Heater or not is irrelevant.

dekaspace

Its not a leak in my property its the flat above and the landlord who owns it is denying responsibility as he says theres no way there can be a leak in his property.

And my landlord can't do much else either.

anselld

dekaspace wrote: »

Its not a leak in my property its the flat above and the landlord who owns it is denying responsibility as he says theres no way there can be a leak in his property.

And my landlord can't do much else either.

That makes life more difficult but it does not change the answer. Constant ingress of water over time is one of the most destructive forces a property will suffer, in this Country anyway. The only solution is to get at the root cause.

[Deleted User]

I'm afraid when this happened to me, the leak just got worse and worse each time until finally it was gushing in when it rained. Then the ceiling fell in.

Once it was all repaired I found mould that had formed in the ceiling 2 metres away (was told it was my fault for not airing the bathroom even though I did and it was strangely tile shaped i.e. rectangular) went away and never came back. It was caused by a leaking roof. But until the ceiling fell in I could get nothing done. Turned out there were two layers of damp roofing above my head.

dekaspace

anselld wrote: »

That makes life more difficult but it does not change the answer. Constant ingress of water over time is one of the most destructive forces a property will suffer, in this Country anyway. The only solution is to get at the root cause.

Can't really get at the root cause when even though I can get access to the property above no water seems to be leaking from their property (that being said the toilet has wood around it so have to remove that to see if the toilet is leaking.

My guesses in the past were overflow as a previous tenant upstiars before I moved in flooded my property and told me when I moved in their landlord never repaired the leak just put a overflow on and that overflow is right above where the water is coming through for my property I mean literally above it and I notice it leaks more at nighttime or when it rains.

It couldn't be that the tiles/bricks under the overflow have become damaged by it and the water is soaking back into my walls? As that doesn't make sense to me but also sticks in mind.

The reasoning for me using heating when it appears to be improving is to cut down the risk of long term damage as the longer the walls are wet the more black marks/mould will come through.

anselld

dekaspace wrote: »

The reasoning for me using heating when it appears to be improving is to cut down the risk of long term damage as the longer the walls are wet the more black marks/mould will come through.

That reasoning is incorrect.
Third time and then I am out: Fix the leak or you will suffer damage in the long term.

dekaspace

anselld wrote: »

That reasoning is incorrect.
Third time and then I am out: Fix the leak or you will suffer damage in the long term.

What do you expect me to say? I can't fix the leak myself and contact my landlord daily for updates.

To say fix the leak isn't helpful as do you think I didn't know that before posting? It feels like you think I am stupid not knowing the basics.

dirty_magic

If yours isn't the top floor flat and there are no leaks in the flat above I can't see how it can be the roof. Send a written letter to your landlord asking him to fix the leak. He really needs to speak to the flat above and get this sorted! If your heaters are electric it's going to cost a fortune running them 24/7 to dry the walls!

csgohan4

Make sure you get evidence of the leak as the LL might come round and say it was damage caused by you and take your deposit and to court