Electric DPC

[pertinky]

We've been informed by the former vendors of our new house that part of the property (dating back to 1900) has an electric DPC.

Firstly, until now I had never heard of it. It would have been installed 2000/2001.

I viewed the house several times and did not notice any damp patches on the wall prior to completion. Literally the day after we move in these small rising damp patches appear on interior of the dining room just above the skirting board. 4 in total, decreasing in size from left to right equally spaced apart. Only this one wall so far, even though its two cottages knocked into one I havent seen anything in the adjacent room which is of the same construction.

The walls are solid 9inch brick.

What I have noticed, is that the small frontage which has some shrubs, the substrate is above the blue engineering bricks (again I was surprised for a property of that age) so that does need digging out a bit, but it doesnt really explain the uniform nature of the damp and I would expect if it was a long-term issue to have more damning evidence on the walls.

There is a plug, thats on, and apparently thats all that is needed by me thinks part of the "system" is not working.

Anyone with any clue about this?

 

[conny]

Sounds like it may be some sort of osmosis system, which I think drives any moisture downwards, but I'm not really sure.

 

[flameport]

so that does need digging out a bit

Dig that out first, to at least 6 inches below the blue bricks.
Electric efforts are not required and never were.

the uniform nature of the damp

Perhaps from persons drilling holes in the walls to inject DPC gunk / insert electrodes / other snake oil efforts.

me thinks part of the "system" is not working.

It's not working now, and it never was.

100% of damp problems in buildings are caused by readily identifiable things - such as the exterior ground level being too high.
Other common causes include shubs/plants growing against the exterior walls, leaking downpipes/gutters, blocked drains, defective or failed pointing on the outer brickwork. The rest is generally internal condensation caused by improper actions by those living there.

They are all easily resolved without the use of injecting chemicals, electric efforts or similar things only sold by 'damp expert' companies.

 

[John D v2.0]

Yes as above dig it all out at least 1 brick (preferably 2 especially where the rain can splash up,) below the top of the dpc.
Without that you're just wasting money on false fixes.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Perhaps from persons drilling holes in the walls to inject DPC gunk / insert electrodes / other snake oil efforts.

You'd hope that snake oil would have some waterproofing properties...

 

[Taylortwocities]

Yes it's one of the Electo Osmosis systems. A friend mine had one in his old cottage. Solid walks. It never worked.
In the end he physically sawed round the house perimeter (yes hand saw) poking in a DPC as he went.

There's an interest article here
https://www.heritage-house.org/damp...damp-proofing-systems-an-expensive-fraud.html

 

[stillp]

You'd hope that snake oil would have some waterproofing properties...

Are snakes waterproof?

 

[conny]

Sea snakes are.

 

[pertinky]

Cheers guys, I'll do the obvious thing (dig the soil down 6 inches) and if that doesnt work look at a more permanent solution!