problem with damp?

[stew-S160]

my house has some damp issues. mostly the downstairs bathroom area.
nothing we do stops it. leaving a heater on only just holds it at bay but then comes back full force when its switched off.
electric heating only so it's not an option to leave it on all the time unless someone wants to pay my bills.

what are my options? dehumidifier? pot of salt(does that even work)?

thanks

[TimJMS]

You've got to crack the cause not the symptoms. I would be examinining the integrity of the DPC as a first measure of action.

[stew-S160]

DPC?

it's a rented house anyway.

[V12Les]

Can you post pics of inside and out? A bit more info as regards to age, type of construction etc will help. Cant give appropriate advice otherwise.

[stew-S160]

V12Les said:

Can you post pics of inside and out? A bit more info as regards to age, type of construction etc will help. Cant give appropriate advice otherwise.

don't have any pics im afraid at the mo.
it's farmer owned, so it's in the middle of a field but surrounded by tall hedges. i'm not sure on age but i'd guess about 50 years old.

[Ozone]

Get a dehumidifier. As well as drying it out the dry air will increase the temperature in the house too.

It doesn't fix the cause but it will help in the meantime.

[V12Les]

Ok. Worth checking outside, see if the ground level is near the floor level, needs to be 6" below your damp proof course(DPC). Any down pipes near the problem area?

[Cafe Racer]

It could be that your DPC has been breeched, which is very common, OR simply that it doesn't have one.

However, with it being a bathroom, i'd suggest it doesn't have proper ventillation or extraction. Without more details i'm gussing here.

The best way to deal with damp without removing the course is to thoroughly ventillate.

[stew-S160]

V12Les said:

Ok. Worth checking outside, see if the ground level is near the floor level, needs to be 6" below your damp proof course(DPC). Any down pipes near the problem area?

well outside ground level is about 12inches below the floor height of the ground floor of the house.

[Firkin D]

Have you been outside and checked all Air bricks are free from obstructions?

Do you have a window or some sort of outside vent (Ventaxia fan) in the room to help?

I had a similar problem in my previous house and it was caused by not enough ventilation to the outside world. Once I got that sorted all was OK. But of course being rented it is more difficult for you.

[Sam_68]

stew-S160 said:

it's a rented house anyway.

There are lots of possible causes and solutions, but if it's a rented house, it boild down to two options:

1) Get your landlord to investigate and sort it.

2) Buy yourself a dehumidifier.

[stew-S160]

Firkin D said:

Have you been outside and checked all Air bricks are free from obstructions?

Do you have a window or some sort of outside vent (Ventaxia fan) in the room to help?

I had a similar problem in my previous house and it was caused by not enough ventilation to the outside world. Once I got that sorted all was OK. But of course being rented it is more difficult for you.

the room most affected has a vent for a tumble dryer. it's not blocked at all.

[V12Les]

It does seem to point to ventilation, or lack of.

[Geezer-20v]

If theres a shower or bath in there, then you will need an extractor fan of some sort to ensure condensation doesnt form.

[Pferdestarke]

Works for us!

[stormin]

ventilation, tumble dryer will cause condensation too.

[MrV]

stew-S160 said:

my house has some damp issues. mostly the downstairs bathroom area.
nothing we do stops it. leaving a heater on only just holds it at bay but then comes back full force when its switched off.
electric heating only so it's not an option to leave it on all the time unless someone wants to pay my bills.

what are my options? dehumidifier? pot of salt(does that even work)?

thanks

Does it already have an extractor fan fitted in the room ?

If it does you could change it to one that works on a humidity switch rather than just coming on when you turn the light on.

Your a bit tied to what you can do with it being a rental unfortunately unless the landlord doesn't mind putting his hand in his pocket

[tlracing]

Just to add my support to:

1) Check DPC

2) Make sure you have good ventilation

Dehumidifier will just take out moisture briefly, but that will just keep coming back if you have a systematic problem.

As you mention particular areas, it sounds like the damp is coming from inside rather than outside, ie. tumbledryer, etc.

Ventilation (especially during/after using dryer, etc.) is certainly the best option and has the benefit of being free!

Edited by tlracing on Saturday 27th December 13:15

[B17NNS]

Is the wall solid (ie 9" brick) or is there a cavity?

How high up the wall does the damp travel? ie is it just around the bottom to a certain height or all over?

A way to determine whether you have damp or condensation is to fix a piece of tinfoil to the wall in one of the problem areas. Damp cannot penetrate the foil so it should not get wet. If the foil has moisture on it, you have condensation.

As has beens said, check the outside of the offending wall to ensure nothing is breaching the DPC. Pile of soil/sand? Big shrub?

[mas99]

So this is a bathroom with a tumble dryer in it?

Almost certainly condensation.I would fit something like :

http://www.silavent.co.uk/products/heat_recovery/e...
or
http://www.kiltox.co.uk/products/hrv.htm
or
http://www.vent-axia.com/products/vacas/hr25.asp

screwfix sell the vent axia ones at a reasonable price