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Damp Proofing

Can a Victorian era, under house well overflow and cause damp?

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.35 PM

My house was built in 1894 and had a well underneath the york stone slabs. The old hand pump was removed from inside what is now a utility/wetroom. It has become a literal 'wet room' with water seeming to be soaking into the slabs and drawing up the new internal wall seem. I looked into the brick work in the elevated kitchen area and the water was above the membrane at that point in the wall join. Is it the well? Do they fill up and need emptying? My plumber says it is not water piping or central heating. Please help!!

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5 Answers

Damp Investigations

Rating: 5 out of 5
Southall
It’s called a well for good reason , it’s not a spring ! So, it cannot ‘fill up’ . Water on top of the DPM ? That’s either a leak or condensation. Seek out people that actually know what they’re talking about , so far that hasn’t happened.
Answered14 December 2020
2

Anonymous user

You are correct, it is a well. The well will need emptying as it fills up. Reinforcement on the slabs will be needed if possible
Answered13 December 2020
1

Anonymous user

Hi how’s you Yes it’s the well they need to be able to empty or drain you can fit a pipe below the floor level if the site allows it which would self drain when the well filled to the level of the pipe , if this can’t be done then you need to fit a pump with a float switch which will come on and pump the well empty as it fills to the level of the float switch Thanks Paul Apex building
Answered14 December 2020
1

Fine Fencing

Rating: 5 out of 5
Calstock
It does sound like it could be the old well, I would advise taking up a section of the floor to investigate, the best and cheapest option would be to fit a timed dirty water pump which would switch on when water reaches a certain level, there may be simpler or different option, without viewing the site I could not advise but it may be possible to divert the water to a soakaway
Answered14 December 2020
1

ADR Property Maintenance

Rating: 5 out of 5
Boston
yes a well will fill up if not emptied, depending on where the source of the water is coming from will depend on how often it fills up it could very well be fed by an under ground stream and unlike a central heating system you cant just turn of mother nature.
Answered13 December 2020
0