Diagnose damp problems in your home06/01/2012
If you believe your home is suffering from damp or condensation problems (but you’re unsure of whether it’s condensation, rising damp or penetrating damp) it’s incredibly important that the problem in your home is diagnosed correctly in order to ensure a precise treatment.
So, which of the three types of damp is your home undergoing?
Rising damp is one of the most common problems in the home to be wrongly diagnosed. The Building Research Advisory Service stated, “The diagnosis of rising damp needs careful and systematic thought because it can easily be confused with penetrating dampness and condensation. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has suggested that only 10% of the dampness problems it investigates are attributable to rising damp.”
The best way to diagnose your problem area is to take note of the symptoms and causes of both the damp in your home and decide which type of damp can relate to the problem you are currently experiencing. However, an investigation into the type of dampness is advised in order to avoid misdiagnosis. This should also be done as soon as possible in order to prevent the problem from getting worse.
So, what are the symptoms of damp?
- If your problem area consists of decayed skirting boards, crumbling plaster, peeling paint or peeling wallpaper then it may be due to rising damp. The most obvious indication as to whether the problem really is rising damp is whether the water in the structure of the walls appears to have advanced in an upward movement and left a ‘tide mark’. It may also leave the occasional musty smell.
- If your home is suffering from damp patches on the floor, ceiling or walls then this may be subject to penetrating damp. Long terms effects include damage to decoration, decay to timber and plaster and possible mould growth as well. These problems occur as a result of water soaking through into the perimeter wall, floors and ceilings, usually from defective guttering, cracked rendering or faulty window joints.
- If streaming windows and walls, deterioration in decoration or the growth of black mould is apparent in your home then your home may be suffering from condensation. Condensation is usually caused by everyday activities such as bathing, washing, cooking and even breathing. Affecting 1 in 5 homes in the UK, condensation is the most common form of dampness but can be easily resolved with the help of EnviroVent.
If you’re experiencing condensation problems then turn to EnviroVent’s energy efficient ventilation solutions. EnviroVent have a whole range of ventilation products that are designed to minimise the amount of moisture in the home. Positive Input Ventilation (PIV), a concept designed to filter fresh air throughout the home, can completely diminish your humidity-based problems.
