We have a damp/mould smell in one area and cannot find the source.
Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 3.26 PM
We moves into our house about 6 months ago and have ever since had an overwhelming smell of damp in one of the bedrooms and occasionally the master bedroom. We've looked everywhere, including checking all pipework in the loft, checking radiator valves etc but can't find any leaks. There was a small amount of mould on the window recess which we treated when we had the windows replaced. Is it possible that this is still drying? We have one of those small. Dehumidifier pots in there and it is definitely collection moisture more than anywhere else. If we wanted to have someone to look at the house and find if there's moisture getting in which trade would we need?
Many thanks.
Are you a tradesperson and able to answer this question?
Without looking I couldn't be certain but it sounds like lateral damp (condensation)... Window reveals are cold spots and excess moisture (steam from cooking/shower/bath and clothes on radiators) will collect here, in which case I would look at ventilation and insulation issues. If it was moisture getting in through the old windows (penetrating damp) then brickwork can take approximately 1 month per inch to dry out (18 inch wall = 18 months).
Just renovated a house with a similar problem where around most of the windows there was mold.
We removed the plaster boards at the return / reveal to the windows and found there was no insulation in the cavity ( just a bit right at the bottom. so this was a 60mm cold strip up and over and down the other side and under the window cill. There was a galv steel lintel above the window that was damp to touch. A thermal bridge - any moisture sticks to the coldest item in the room even with 13mm of plaster board covering it up.
We removed plaster boards and made a pocket of breather able membrane then fitted some PIR board 50mm x 100mm strips and then filled any gaps with expanding foam which held it all it place sawed off any foam sticking out then covered up with foil tape, new plaster board and made good then refitted window cill. This has stopped all the mold now for 2 years A surveyor with a thermal camera can check all this out for you or just drill some key holes to make sure there insulation around the window.
humans cannot smell damp, we can only smell air born fungus and mould .
Get a digital thermal hygrometer off the internet for about £12.
If the humidity is above 64% you will have mould growth .
Ventilation is the only cure but it’s as easy as opening a window on opposite sides of the property simultaneously for 20 minutes each day .
The smell in cupboards and corners is very difficult to remove but one can mask it with scents .
Damp and mould usually get confused .if visually there are wet patches or decor is flaking then damp would seem to be the issue . if there’s mould then it’s usually airflow /ventilation issues you can put a moisture meter into a mould patch and it gives no readings . Also little dehumidifiers will always collect some moisture from a property .
Look at ways of increasing ventilation if it’s just mould . Also there are various positive air ventilation units on the market that we have used that have cleared rooms/properties with rooms covered floor to ceiling in mould .
