I have a victorian back to back terrace with a small cellar (2m x 4m). Until about four weeks ago the cellar had been damp pretty much all the time but recently (clean) water has been coming in at the rate of about 8 - 10 buckets full a day. It hasn't been coming in every day but intermittently and not necessarily on the same days that it has rained. The water is slowly seeping in under the flagstones at the front of the cellar. The water board have dye tested the drains and they don't think it is mains water so it seems to be ground water coming in. Nearby neighbours have had similar problems from time to time. What would be the most effective fix? I was thinking of putting down some kind of waterproof membrane and I presume I would have to lift the flagstones and put it underneath? Even then I am concerned the water would find some other way in or would just get diverted to my next door neighbour. Any advice greatly appreciated.
Water in cellar
- Thread starter DavJM
- Start date
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You can't prevent ground water entering with a membrane, tanking is one very expensive option, cheaper to dig a sump and put in a sump pump.
I was called out to a customer recently where they had the same problem, it turned out that the neighbours had a leaking incoming water main in there cellar.
Andy
Andy
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You could try an Insurance Claim? the insurer should send someone out to have a look, the insurer will probably tell you that it is Ground Water and as such not covered, your retort could be that it may be from the drains [despite the dye test] or from a fractured water main.
In any event there are methods that the insurer can instruct to a specialist company that will test the water and tell you what irs composition is fairly accurately. this is a bette way of defining where the water has come from, the Water board will say it is from the drains and the local Authority will say is is not drains but mains water.
given that this event has only recently occurred then it would indicate that something is broke somewhere.
One point you may not have what is called "Trace and Access" in the Policy, that would allow the insurer to proceed and locate the source of the water. But never the less the insurer should assist.
If you need the name of the Specialist [they ain't cheap] I will send my e mail address over?
In any event there are methods that the insurer can instruct to a specialist company that will test the water and tell you what irs composition is fairly accurately. this is a bette way of defining where the water has come from, the Water board will say it is from the drains and the local Authority will say is is not drains but mains water.
given that this event has only recently occurred then it would indicate that something is broke somewhere.
One point you may not have what is called "Trace and Access" in the Policy, that would allow the insurer to proceed and locate the source of the water. But never the less the insurer should assist.
If you need the name of the Specialist [they ain't cheap] I will send my e mail address over?
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