Learning to walk before I run

Baileys_Babe

Another vote here a dehumidifier.

Suffolk_lass

3 probabilities (in my view) for the mould - 

1. Because it is in one place only, and a recent thing, I think the most likely cause is compromise in the wall where it is evident and likely to be the seal around the window. Not necessarily under the window, more likely the top seal as this is exposed to the elements (so moisture gets in and runs down inside the window frame before seeping out along the lowest point.
2. It could be a crack as suggested, especially if it is there, under the window. However, water coming down the wall from compromised gutter, cracked or split down-pipe or (worse) soil stack, that puddles on a ridge and the low point is under the window is possible, water flushing down a wall normally affects the whole wall, not just under the window
3. Rising from something adjacent or below - could be a pipe from the adjacent kitchen (unlikely, in a modern house, which I think yours is) - very likely if any kitchen extension moved the water supply further back or away such as in a Victorian house where sculleries and outdoor toilets were the original design - or outside, the damp course could be compromised - spreading roots, planters against the wall, or if membrane was used it could be seeping to that point.

Less likely is internal condensation from drying clothes, steaming pots or whatever from your kitchen, as that would be more likely in there, and also evident on the ceiling.  If your bathroom is above though, it could be a leaking plumbing situation. Seeping down and causing the damp above the damp-proof (membrane) course under the window. You could do a simple test for this - Tape a square of aluminium foil to the wall and leave it there for a day. Then if the side facing away from the wall is wet, you have an issue with condensation. If the inside of the foil is wet, you have penetrating or rising damp.

Last month, the newly (well last year) repaired ceiling in DS's kitchen came down. The plumber identified that the toilet had shifted and had been leaking for ages (many years!), as the ceiling timbers were starting to rot. The other leak (that was repaired last year) was the pipework to and from the boiler, on the opposite wall of the kitchen. With the insurers now as the plumber had to pull large sections of plasterboard down.

If you are going outside to look, look at levels and potential for accumulation there, as well as evidence of water on and around that wall of the house. We bought a damp-meter like estate agents use - you hold it against the wall to check the degree of damp - cheap enough, we keep ours for the campervan as it is over 20 years old. We use an outdoor quality silicone sealant Sikaflex 522, which has UV protection, and is flexible and suitable internally and externally

I hope this is helpful

edinburgher

Thank you all for the dehumidifier thoughts, and particularly to @Suffolk_lass for the detailed ideas.

I think we will purchase a dehumidifier, as most windows have slight traces of black mould and condensation is a persistent issue for us. Unfortunately the brand recommended by all family members is £££

I'll also be trying out SL's idea with the square of foil today. All of our gutters and downpipes were replaced a few years ago, so I doubt any of them are blocked. There's no visible evidence of this either (water bubbling out of the bottom of the pipe, or flying off the front edge of the gutter, as we see with one of our neighbours). We will, however, ask the window cleaner to clean the gutters when he starts up again for the year. The only soil pipe is at the other side of the house, so we can rule that out (phew)! In terms of window seals, definitely a possibility in the living room. It's a very large multi-pane window and at least one of the panes has moisture behind it. We have a local 'Cloudy to Clear' type franchise that is kept busy, so that's a relatively affordable option to check this possible issue.

Quiet day planned. Quick trip to McDonald's with the kids, pick up some sketchbooks for DD1, play with kids, rugby later? More spending than saving but that's ok, weekends exist.

£5 bonus from Prolific (technically yesterday but I'm counting for today), $1.50 from Connect, 4p cashback from Chase. Nous sommes riches! YNAB up to 30 days

 

edinburgher

21p cashback from Chase, YNAB now up to 32 days.

I have always maintained that our financial plans were pretty solid. We've been beset by cost of living challenges (like almost everyone else over the last few years) and we're also really, really unlucky  

Could our luck be changing? MIL has told Mrs E that is is her intention to give her and SIL £10,000 each from FIL's estate. Probate is still ongoing, so we're not counting it as money in the bank, but it seems entirely likely that it will happen. When it does, our monthly cash flow could look very different (it would be an instant 2-month EF). That is the extent of our exciting plans for the money, save it for emergencies and perhaps start putting aside a monthly amount for the girls again There have been a few hints that this would happen at some point, but MIL has never put a value to it before (and we were too polite to ask). 

Can't quite believe it. This one generous act would (almost) put us back into the same sort of position we were before mortgage rates shot up. Couple that with childcare costs dropping in August and eventual remortgage at (fingers crossed) lower rate and we might actually consider ourselves getting ahead again after a 2-3 year gap

KajiKita

That sounds like potentially wonderful news 👏😊🤞
Remember, you’ve done the work to become fiscally responsible and aware, so that lump of money pulls up thoughts of an instant EF and financial stability not a new car, jewellery, clothes or holidays … 😉

If it comes to pass … will it also ease the situation for you work wise as well, a little?

KK

edinburgher

I'm honestly not sure re. Work. Mrs E is getting promoted in April, no idea what pay rise that will lead to, suspect I'll be the higher earner still. Would definitely make me feel generally less stressed, so a blessing in that respect 

beanielou

That would be fantastic. 

Suffolk_lass

Oh how fabulous for you - do you know (well of course you don't!), my Mum did the same thing with my Dad's estate, back in 1994 (also in Scotland). I think it is called a deed of variation. My sister paid a lump off their mortgage with hers, and we used ours to move to a much nicer house. On reflection, I should have had a bigger EF with part of it but all good in the end. I am sure the sensation of being a swan (all apparently calm while working like mad behind the scenes to maintain/improve things) is hard for you. I think you have alluded to some affluent neighbours/friends previously, for whom budgeting is a foreign language. 

One other element to ours - we had kept the mortgage payment at the same level when interest rates fell (after black Wednesday in 1991) and were shocked to find we had paid off around £8000 of our (originally endowment) mortgage when we did move. We had converted it to repayment in order to avoid the endowment not being enough

Alchemilla

This one for £25 works a treat in a small space

Pro Breeze® 1500ml Premium Dehumidifier

edinburgher

Alchemilla said:

This one for £25 works a treat in a small space

Pro Breeze® 1500ml Premium Dehumidifier

My friend uses that one