Damp is a nuisance which has the power to ruin your sweet home if you fail to treat it on time. You’ll have to pay the price if you allow damp to do whatever it wants to your home. But in order to make a decision regarding the kind of damp treatment your home needs first you have to identify which version is trying to wreck your home. You need to initially make correct diagnose regards to the type of damp prior to looking for the right treatment. Once you have done a correct diagnosis you can easily choose a treatment that’s apt for managing the damp successfully.pa
In this post I have made an attempt to show you the varied damp types alongside the signs that identify each variety. Have a look to make informed decisions.
Rising Damp
This version of damp is brought about when the water that collects under the ground slowly begins to travel upwards across the walls of your home. This natural phenomenon takes place because of many reasons. One reason is if you haven’t installed damp proof course when you constructed your home, and the second and most common reason is break down of DPC.
How to detect rising damp?
Here are a few typical signs:
- Cracked skirting boards
- White salt deposits on the plaster surface
- Break down of plaster
- Paint coming off
It’s imperative to start rising damp treatment immediately after you have detected it.
Condensation
This is a very common type of damp and most damp problems occur due to it. The typical places where you will find it are cold walls and floors.
Here are a couple of tell-tale signs:
- Mould growth
- Rotting window frames
Penetrating Damp
Many people call it rain penetration. Faulty roof tiles, blockage in the weep holes, and broken seals gives water the chance to easily penetrate walls, roofs, windows, etc. It’s different from rising damp, it moves horizontally.
How to identify penetrating damp?
- Blistering plaster
- Rotting skirting boards
- Musty smell
- Formation of mould
Following are some preventive measures that can help in getting rid of damp:
- Raising the temperature of your home a little bit. Means heat treatment.
- Letting air to circulate. You can do it by leaving doors open.
- Letting fresh air enter home by opening windows of each room for a while.
- Putting on the fan while cooking.
Give the treatment ample time.
Rising damp treatment or penetrating damp treatment can take weeks or months to produce results, so give it the needed time. After you have repaired the leaks in your home, it will need heating constantly for many weeks. Means the damp will take time to dry out. So be prepared to continue the heating and ventilating treatment for some time.
Health problems can arise.
Infections of the respiratory tract are common in a home hit by damp. Moreover, mould can spawn allergic reactions which can give rise to serious health problems. Skin rash can develop if you accidentally touch mould. And if the mould fumes enter your nose it can trigger sneezing which is hard to control. Asthmatic conditions can also develop if you inhale mould.
So, get rid from damp as soon as possible if you want to live a healthy and safe life.