What To Do When You See Damp Patches In Your Home *

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There are some home maintenance or repair issues that you might spot and think that you can delay treating them immediately. Damp spots and patches in your walls or ceiling are not one of them. These are typically signs of active problems with moisture or water, and there are a few potential sources. As such, here, we’re going to look at what you should start doing as soon as you see them.

Is It Coming From The Roof?

First and foremost, you should know where the issue is coming from. If the damp patch is on a ceiling or an upper wall, then think about where that’s connected to. Unless there are rooms directly above, it’s likely to be connected to a roofing problem. Broken tiles, damaged flashing, or blocked gutters can allow water to seep into your home during rainfall. Inspect your roof from the ground if possible, or hire a professional for a safer and more thorough assessment. The more it rains, the worse the problem can get.

Know When You Need A Plumber

If it’s not likely to be connected to a roofing issue, then it’s probably your pipes that are the issue. In this case, calling a plumber sooner rather than later is vital, as plumbing issues can get worse very quickly. First of all, you can stop the issue at hand by locating and turning off the water mains to the home. Then, the plumber can use specialist tools to detect where the leaks are, precisely, without unnecessary disruption, allowing them to suggest solutions. DIY plumbing is always relatively risky, and can affect your home insurance, so it’s best to leave it to the pros.

Improving Ventilation

Sometimes, issues with damp are not caused by leaks, but by condensation, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, or other especially poorly ventilated spaces. Warm air meeting cold surfaces can create moisture that builds up over time. To combat this, you can improve the airflow in rooms by opening the windows regularly, using extractor fans, or even installing ventilation systems. You should also be mindful of habits that can increase interior moisture and humidity, like drying clothes over your radiators. If the damp isn’t dealt with after this, there’s probably a deeper issue at hand.

Replace And Repair The Affected Materials

After you’ve dealt with the source of the damp, you want to make sure that you repair the damage left behind. Damp can affect the materials, weakening plaster, staining wood, and damaging wood or the installation. To prevent this from compromising the home more broadly, remove the affected sections carefully and dry out the area before replastering or patching it up. Mould-resistant paint and other anti-moisture treatments can help keep the problem from recurring, while improving airflow can help freshen up the home again if you’re worried about lingering damp scents. 

Damp patches are a serious problem, but they are a solvable one. However, the sooner you get on top of it, the better your chances of preventing the costs from spiralling, so don’t delay.