Over the past few months we have been noticing a bad smell in the house from under the stairs. I moved all paper from there thinking it was damp paper etc. The smell remained.
Today I lfted a floor board from under the stairs and saw 6 inches + of water in the subfloor which looks to have been there decades.
I put a glass into it to check the colour and it had lots of suspended organic material in it which coated the glass but no sewerage.
About 6 months ago I had the wall under the stair treated for damp and did not have the plaster replaced which left a gap between the floor boards and the wall which is allowing the smell to penetrate much easier than between the T&G floor boards alone hence not noticing the smell sooner.
I have ordered a pump and will pump it out as soon as it arrives. I live in a 1942 semi detached and I am assuming this water is under next door too.
I have been told the houses in which I live are on a high water table but I am not so sure.
If I had not had the plaster hacked off allowing the smell out I would be non the wiser, but now I know the water is there I need it gone. I rang my insurance but they said they needed to know where it came from like a burst pipe etc. bfore they would act.
Has anyone else had this issue?
My plan of attack is this and if you have any suggestions please let me know.
1. Pump it out
2. monitor the situation over the next few week/months during heavy rain or hose pipe around the house.
3. depending on what happens above in 2 and I cant find a reason get an expert in.
Today I lfted a floor board from under the stairs and saw 6 inches + of water in the subfloor which looks to have been there decades.
I put a glass into it to check the colour and it had lots of suspended organic material in it which coated the glass but no sewerage.
About 6 months ago I had the wall under the stair treated for damp and did not have the plaster replaced which left a gap between the floor boards and the wall which is allowing the smell to penetrate much easier than between the T&G floor boards alone hence not noticing the smell sooner.
I have ordered a pump and will pump it out as soon as it arrives. I live in a 1942 semi detached and I am assuming this water is under next door too.
I have been told the houses in which I live are on a high water table but I am not so sure.
If I had not had the plaster hacked off allowing the smell out I would be non the wiser, but now I know the water is there I need it gone. I rang my insurance but they said they needed to know where it came from like a burst pipe etc. bfore they would act.
Has anyone else had this issue?
My plan of attack is this and if you have any suggestions please let me know.
1. Pump it out
2. monitor the situation over the next few week/months during heavy rain or hose pipe around the house.
3. depending on what happens above in 2 and I cant find a reason get an expert in.