In a flat, how can you find out where damp on your wall and ceiling is coming from?

Question

Over the last few weeks, my kitchen wall has become totally damp, and marks are appearing on the ceiling too. I can't tell if it's coming from the apartment next door or upstairs. What sort of expert should I get round to discover the source of the problem? What should I be doing in the meantime? Thanks!!

Answer 1

Call the superintendant of your building immediately. Alert your upstairs neighbor and ask if they ahve been having any problems. Make sure a plumber takes a look at it.

Answer 2

get a damp specialist round who will have a damp meter and should be able to tell you where it is dampest, if it is rising damp and your flat is ground floor it will only rise to a metre high, if the damp is on the ceiling chances are it is coming from above but water can travel and the leak could actually be a way from the damp patch, you might have to speak to your upstairs neighbour.

Answer 3

The damp is due to a lack of ventilation, as the days get colder the moisture from your body and your cooking condence on the coldest parts of the room, open a window or put in an extractor, you can buy a humidifier but they are not cheap to run and need constant emptying

Answer 4

3 suggestions

ROOF
Plumbing
or Plumbing, as in a leak easier to determine:IE: not hidden in walls or floors,,, Dishwasher hoses, Refridgerator hoses ,,,door included ICE and drinking water lines, Sink hoses,,,especially sprayer attachments, leaking,, from your falt or adjoining ones.

LandLord Alert,,, IE,,, in the USA 911

The disheartening issue about water leaking is that water "follows its own path" chosen or not. IE: A roof may leak at a degraded shingle or tile, but the apparent stain or damage may be multiple feet from a direct verticle line from the actual leak point.

Not knowing your flexibility in liabilitiy issues, I suggest the Land Lord first, and ask adjoining 'tenants: if they are experiencing any leak issues.

Rev. Steven

Answer 5

if the dampness is on your ceiling, the water must be coming from upstairs. the upstairs kitchen is most likely over yours. go up and ask your neighbor to take a look under his sink. if nothing there, is the bathroom on a common (adjoining ) wall? it could be a leaking toilet.
if you have a building super he/she should be the one to look into this.
I hope it's not the toilet.

good luck!

Answer 6

If it is worse at the top corners of the window wall, it is condensation. Ventilation and bleach control is the only way.
You can call in a Damp Proofing Company, they are expensive.

Answer 7

Your problem ought to come from many sources, this is a leaking pipe interior a wall, it must be condensation, it must be interstitial condensation the place humidity types interior a hollow area (which comprise a chimney flue). this is not any stable speculating or asking the incorrect human beings to remark, you desire a industry ideal business enterprise with a stable popularity to accomplish a radical inspection and prognosis. you are able to organize this free of can charge by a respected national business enterprise by making use of way of the area under. you additionally can see photos and study descriptions of appropriate issues.

Answer 8

I'd ask both neighbors if they have noticed leaks as well. At the most, you are making them aware that there could be a problem in the building's structure.

Start there, they may have the solution at hand

Answer 9

call a timber preservation company (or get ur landlord to) in the meantime wash it down with warm water and vinegar on the mildew stains and keep the kitchen well ventialted

Answer 10

if it's on the same wall as your sink then the odds are that the sink above you has a leak. Knock on the door and check under their sink.