Rising Damp Solutions

What rising damp is and how to manage it

Ground and surface water accumulate naturally at the lowest point, mainly due to inefficient drainage. In this post you will learn more about rising damp solutions and how to utilize them.

The presence of unwanted dampness can be located in building foundations and walls, either from outside intrusion or from indoor condensation. Rising dampness may also result from flooding from a defective plumbing leakage or unaddressed drainage problem.

Moisture moves upwards from the ground to lower areas of any building wall, either your home or your office presenting rising damp problems. Whether it is moving slowly over time or instantly over a season, the dampness moves up the wall through a network of “capillary action”.

Yes, many buildings in the country prior to 1970’s would have some form of rising damp. It comes from a combination of factors such as rising ground water levels, inadequate subsoil drainage system or what the building is made of, particularly concrete building materials and masonry, or if the damp proof course has been compromised.

The Moisture

moves from the ground, into and up through porous building materials, and then when the rising damp stops or evaporates, it will leave behind salt deposits, such as nitrates and sulphates according to Heritage Council of NSW (2008) within the walls and a “tide mark” reminder of its activity, presenting a cosmetic problem to the building part involved.

The Salt

gets into pores of bricks in your home, it expands and may cause cracking. Salt efflorescence is a phenomenon forming crystals within the porous areas of your built environment that look similar to flowers indicating to where the level was reached or a more serious structural problem.

The Dampness

may also affect organic materials such as wood causing decay and encourage organism growth. Dry rotting or wet rotting may occur, providing a habitat for weevils and wood worm, causing further wood damage.

The Mould

Dampness adversely triggers mould, conducive to damp, dark areas. Whenever this happens, you may need to go through a process of finding the source, and if it continues to occur after structural remedial action has been taken, it is best to consult a mould remediator.

The mould can spread to other areas of your home that is not porous, so once it begins taking hold on the places where rising damp has occurred, it may spread further into your home.

Adverse Health Effects

This can cause adverse health affects to the inhabitants in your home or office. A 2009 World Health Organization report stated that excess moisture leads – on almost all indoor materials – to growth of microbes such as moulds, fungi and bacteria, which subsequently emit spores, cells, fragments and volatile organic compounds into the indoor air. Moreover, dampness initiates chemical and / or biological degradation of materials, which also causes pollution of the indoor air. Exposure to microbial contaminants is potentially associated with respiratory symptoms, allergies, asthma and immunological reactions. Dampness has been suggested to be a strong and consistent indicator of risk for asthma and respiratory symptoms such as cough and wheeze.

Indoor air Contamination

According to WHO (2013), indoor air pollution from biological agents related to damp and mould increases the risk of respiratory disease in children and adults where children are particularly susceptible including respiratory disorders such as irritation of the respiratory tract, allergies and exacerbation of asthma.

Dampness is often associated with poor indoor air quality and inadequate housing hygiene, which includes factors such as overcrowding, low air exchange rate, low indoor temperature and poor insulation.

How to address rising damp or rising salt?

• Check for plumbing issues such as damaged pipes and faulty guttering.
• Check if damp proof courses have been compromised such as the plastic sheeting between the pylons or the concrete slab.
• Take a sample of affected carpet or wallpaper to be analyzed in a lab for nitrate or other salt content as suggested by Bijlsma (2010).
• Check for flooding or poor drainage immediately in, around or under the house that could be contributing to dampness.
• Increase cross ventilation under the house by keeping crawl space and sub floor vents in exterior walls unobstructed and clear of debris.
• Avoid building on reclaimed land that was swamp or flood plain.
• Keep piles of soil, compost or leaf mulch away from the building.
• Keep bins, sheds, pet bedding, water tanks away from the house, providing air flow.
• Inside, ventilate, ventilate, ventilate. Open windows and doors to provide air flow.
• Air bedding, carpet, rugs and furniture in the sun and fresh air.
• Use dehumidifiers for the home to dry moisture and lower uncomfortable humidity. Hire a dehumidifier from us when you need it most.