Humidity and damp smell problems desperately need help

Mardle

Do you have any extractor fans?

agylk

I have my loft above. No damp there. Humidity is 10% lower up there (and a PIV pushing air from up there would prob help indoors).

I don't have extractor fans. I open the window or after long showers I use the dehum. In the kitchen I have an extractor hood and I open the window and shut the door when cooking.

It's really hard for me to just rip things off. What then, I will be left living with wall liner hanging off or holes in the plaster...? There is no sign of damp on the walls. If there was mould, surely it would show through the liner no? And what good would be taking plaster off if i have no cavity so nowhere for mould to hide?

Nothing under the sink. Nothing under the bath. I checked

I have mould within the sealant around all windows but that's from condensation isn't it?

I have had yet another person come in last Saturday and he cannot see any source of damp either. That's about five people I've had looking for damp in my flat... they measured the walls for damp in the past and found none (apart form the kitchen wall which was subsequently fixed)

Btw, how much would retro fitting trickle vents cost? Are they really that important to have? I might as well just leave a tiny gap in the windows, no?

ST1991

Not sure if this helps, but i was renting a flat around 10 years ago (first floor) and it suffered with awful damp. The floor was spongey in one corner and everything felt wet (if i left a piece of paper out overnight it would feel damp in the morning). The furniture was ruined, and loads of my possessions had to be thrown away.

We argued the toss over it and agreed with the estate agents to move out/cancel our tenancy early because of the problems. It was then inhabitable for 1 year whilst works underwent, and it turns out that the house next door had a gutter which was blocked/broken/leaking directly down one of our walls. That wall it was leaking on was not actually wet itself, and i would have had no idea it was getting in from there. Nonetheless, that was the huge cause of all the issues.

Could it be that the gutters are blocked, and water is travelling/getting in somewhere without it being obvious?

Mistral001

Remember providing insulation will not make the air less humid. With insulated walls, the water that would have condensed on the walls when they were not insulated will be increasing the humidity in the flat when they are insulated and could cause problems away from the walls such as in cupboards, wardrobes and carpets.

I would concentrate on ventilation and heating.

RelievedSheff

Is the roof watertight?

Are the gutters unblocked and free draining?

Have you lifted floor boards to check for leaks on your fresh water and waste water drainage?

Mardle

Our house was built in 1908 and has solid walls.

We have a trickle extractor in the downstairs wet-room. It runs constantly and boosts up when the shower is used.

In the kitchen we have a humidistat extractor which only comes on if the humidity is above a certain level.

We keep our heating on 24/7 and control it by the temperature of the water in the system. Our radiators are always warm rather than cycling between hot and cold.

MoneyEM

I'm suffering much of the same problems as you, having a flat with 3 external solid walls. I was drying clothes indoors in a downstairs toilet with a dehumidifer on "laundry mode" but it was still causing the paint on my walls to bubble up and peel off and the clothes took ages to dry. I decided to buy a condenser tumble dryer for £189 which is in my bedroom as I don't really have the space for one, but this has really helped to keep the moisture out of the walls and it heats my bedroom when in use (only problem is i now have nothing left to wash or dry!!) It won't fix your problem but it will help.

agylk

OOOH a humidistat extractor. This sounds interesting. is it expensive and difficult to install?

agylk

The management company said they have just sorted the gutters recently.... I haven't lifted anything... I don't know what I'll do if I rip the carpet off and then be stuck like that...? I don't have anyone to put things back. Carpet doesn't smell damp tho...

agylk

ST1991 wrote: »

We argued the toss over it and agreed with the estate agents to move out/cancel our tenancy early because of the problems. It was then inhabitable for 1 year whilst works underwent, and it turns out that the house next door had a gutter which was blocked/broken/leaking directly down one of our walls. That wall it was leaking on was not actually wet itself, and i would have had no idea it was getting in from there. Nonetheless, that was the huge cause of all the issues.

Could it be that the gutters are blocked, and water is travelling/getting in somewhere without it being obvious?

So how did the water get in if the wall wasn't wet? How did you find it? I truly cannot identify one, single place. The whole flat is too humid. I don't know what to look out for outside esp as I've had surveyors inspect and not find anything.