I have a problem with a damp cellar in a property i rent out. It has previously filled with water up to 6 - 12 inches so to combat that I had a sump and pump fitted. My tennants that are currently moving out have complained that it's still damp although they have left a load of stuff down there rotting that got damp before i fitted the sump/pump which isn't going to help with the smell. I haven't had chance to get in to have a proper look yet, in theory I would have thought the pump would have worked and got rid of any moisture or should i be looking at better ventilation in there (there is currently one air brick). I don't have the funds for tanking and currently the damp is starting to rise. Anything else I can do?
Damp cellar
- Thread starter graememac
- Start date
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Increase ventilation, add a proviso within the TA that the cellar is damp and uninhabitable and is effectively excluded from of the property to be used and that you will not be liable for any loss or damage to property stored in it. Or put a padlock on the door.
I need a bigger air brick then! Obvioulsy the damp is rising into the house though causing problems so need to get that sorted
Well if ventilation isn't enough then tanking is necessary. Or maybe some further investigations in the local vicinity are required to establish if there is a leak underground or similar.
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Surely the pump should take away any moisture though. Any ideas who I speak to about leaks?? Local water authority?
As above. You have to establish the cause of the significant 6" to 12" flooding?
1. Where does your water mains enter the property? What material is the service pipe - lead, plastic, galvanised or copper?
2. Does moisture weep down the walls of the basement?
3. Is the basement floor concrete with a membrane?
4. Are there any gullies or drainage pipes outside at ground level?
5. Are you on a hillside?
6. Any history of flooding in the area?
7. Do neighbour's cellars flood?
1. Where does your water mains enter the property? What material is the service pipe - lead, plastic, galvanised or copper?
2. Does moisture weep down the walls of the basement?
3. Is the basement floor concrete with a membrane?
4. Are there any gullies or drainage pipes outside at ground level?
5. Are you on a hillside?
6. Any history of flooding in the area?
7. Do neighbour's cellars flood?
1. the mains often enters near the internal stop-tap.
2. Sounds like penetrating ground water.
3. The membrane is located under the slab to prevent rising moisture.
5. Thats significant and ties in with #2.
7. Seems like you have ground water coming down the hill and penetrating into your basement.
8. Could be an expensive proposition to do a proper job - work would be needed inside the cellar (tanking etc.), and a dig out and further work on the outside of the cellar walls.
If its an old property then often the brickwork is perished and will need replacing.
Please come back if you need any further suggestions.
2. Sounds like penetrating ground water.
3. The membrane is located under the slab to prevent rising moisture.
5. Thats significant and ties in with #2.
7. Seems like you have ground water coming down the hill and penetrating into your basement.
8. Could be an expensive proposition to do a proper job - work would be needed inside the cellar (tanking etc.), and a dig out and further work on the outside of the cellar walls.
If its an old property then often the brickwork is perished and will need replacing.
Please come back if you need any further suggestions.
Thanks for the replies although not exactly what I wanted to hear. Any idea how much tanking a small cellar is??
No. No idea.
Tanking and sump pumping alone might not work - depending on the ground water pressure, and the state of the brickwork below ground it might need outside "tanking" and drainage.
Tanking and sump pumping alone might not work - depending on the ground water pressure, and the state of the brickwork below ground it might need outside "tanking" and drainage.
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The sump pump is to remove water in the sump - not to remove moisture from the air.
For that you would need some big dehumidifiers (needing daily emptying or feed them into the sump so that that pump removes the water they output).
Add a fan to draw air through the cellar & out.
Get down there & remove the damp crap that the moisture & the mould will be clinging onto.
I too had a flood some year back, I now have a big dehumidifier down there & a vent - its a lot better.
For that you would need some big dehumidifiers (needing daily emptying or feed them into the sump so that that pump removes the water they output).
Add a fan to draw air through the cellar & out.
Get down there & remove the damp crap that the moisture & the mould will be clinging onto.
I too had a flood some year back, I now have a big dehumidifier down there & a vent - its a lot better.
A sump pump on it's own won't deal with basement damp. The walls and floor will be saturated too, so ventilation won't do a thing either.
You need it tanked, or a drained cavity system fitted.
Nothing else.
You need it tanked, or a drained cavity system fitted.
Nothing else.
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