Can a water leak cause rising damp? That’s an important question that our experts at Danford, Brewer & Ives are frequently asked.
The short answer is yes, a water leak can cause rising damp, leading to the growth of mould, rotten floorboards and potentially dangerous structural problems in your home.
Rising damp is a serious problem. In this article, we explain in more detail how water leaks can be troublesome, and when you need to call in the professionals.
What Can Cause Rising Damp?
Rising damp is a vertical movement of water from the ground, upwards. If left untreated, it can quickly spread through a home using capillary action.
Rising damp is a serious problem for homeowners, as it can be difficult to spot before it’s already started to cause damage. It’s most commonly caused by water seeping into the walls, bricks, timbers or masonry of a building, often from the outside.
Once water begins to seep through, it causes damp and mould and can decay timbers, cause crumbling masonry, and rapidly leave behind damage as it makes its way further inside your property.
The cause of rising damp is water, but there can be many different reasons as to why water is seeping into your home. The most common causes are:
- Broken pipes
- Overflowing drains
- Flooding
- Excess groundwater
- Leaks
- A broken damp proof course
Can a Water Leak Cause Rising Damp?
So can a water leak cause rising damp? While there could be many causes for a rising damp problem, it’s common for the main culprit to be a leak.
Leaking pipes or broken drains leaking water into the ground can cause groundwater levels to rise, resulting in rising damp. This can occur even if you have a damp proof course installed, as rising water levels may flow above the level of the waterproof damp proof course.
Leaks may also occur in bathrooms, kitchens, pantries or any other areas where there are taps or pipes. Large leaks caused by burst pipes or broken toilets will be noticed easily, but even small leaks can lead to rising damp. Over time, leaky bathtubs or sinks can result in damp patches forming on the floor, or broken seals on showers can lead to a build up of moisture that can seep into the walls.
If you’re concerned about rising damp, it’s important to call in a specialist quickly. Identifying the cause of a rising damp problem can be difficult, but if there is a leak, this needs to be fixed before it leads to more costly damages.
Contact Danford, Brewer & Ives to Find Out More About Rising Damp
For more information and advice on identifying the causes of a rising damp problem, please contact our friendly team on 01765 804050 or fill in our online contact form.
Our experienced rising damp specialists will be on hand and ready to offer expert advice tailored to resolve your problem.