Worrying Damp Patch
ARWadsworth
about 6 inches by six inches in size.
Now I have no CH pipes under this concrete floor and the closest two things
with water to this damp patch are the beer fridge (it may have iced up and
defrosted, it is not your normal fridge) and the dish washer. The carpet
feels very slightly damp under the dishwasher but nowhere near as damp as
the wet patch 2 feet away. The carpet feels very dry under the fridge.
My main concern is that it could be the incoming water supply to my house.
If it is the incoming supply then who is responsible for it's repair? The
stoptap in the street feeds four houses. Is it like drains where everyone
shares the cost?
I assume that my buildings contents insurance will cover any major repairs
if needed.
Cheers
Adam
Phil L
Have you peeled the carpet back to inspect the floor underneath?
Are you sure no one has dropped a drink there?
If it is the water main, then it's up to you to get it repaired - your
household insurance may pay, but they may not.
It's nothing to do with any of your neighbours, or the water board - you are
responsible for it one it's inside the boundary of your house and/or garden,
luckily it's not an expensive job to undertake.
You need to dig a hole in the floor and find the pipe and the leak, turn the
water off outside, cut either side of the leak and fit a piece of blue
plastic watermain with the correct fittings, there are different ones for
different diameters of lead, and also different diameters of plastic pipes,
so you need to find out which type it is before you buy the fittings - any
good plumbers merchants will stock all the different types and it will set
you back about �30ish for the lot.
Then fill the hole back in and concrete over, not forgetting to put in some
plastic DPM.
This is assuming the insurance company won't pay, if they will, just get
someone in, but that's the process they'll employ.
--
Phil L
RSRL Tipster Of The Year 2008
Grimly Curmudgeon
drugs began to take hold. I remember "ARWadsworth"
<adamwa...@blueyonder.co.uk> saying something like:
>I have just spotted a very damp/wet patch in the dining room carpet. It is
>about 6 inches by six inches in size.
Put a pillow under her.
Jules
> I have just spotted a very damp/wet patch in the dining room carpet. It is
> about 6 inches by six inches in size.
Hmm, try drying it. If it doesn't go away, roll the carpet up - it
wouldn't surprise me if there isn't a stain on the backing so you can tell
exactly where it originated from, and if it is coming up through the
concrete it'll probably be obvious...
No chance it's from above? We had a leak during a bad rain storm last year
and the water travelled quite a few feet from the actual source (promptly
fixed once found!)
ARWadsworth
"Phil L" <neverc...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:xJp0n.21885$Ym4....@text.news.virginmedia.com...
> ARWadsworth wrote:
>> I have just spotted a very damp/wet patch in the dining room carpet.
>> It is about 6 inches by six inches in size.
>>
>> Now I have no CH pipes under this concrete floor and the closest two
>> things with water to this damp patch are the beer fridge (it may have
>> iced up and defrosted, it is not your normal fridge) and the dish
>> washer. The carpet feels very slightly damp under the dishwasher but
>> nowhere near as damp as the wet patch 2 feet away. The carpet feels
>> very dry under the fridge.
>> My main concern is that it could be the incoming water supply to my
>> house. If it is the incoming supply then who is responsible for it's
>> repair? The stoptap in the street feeds four houses. Is it like
>> drains where everyone shares the cost?
>>
>> I assume that my buildings contents insurance will cover any major
>> repairs if needed.
>
> Have you peeled the carpet back to inspect the floor underneath?
Not until Wednesday. I do know that the concrete floor is covered in a
bitumin type covering and I will also need to remove a lot of stuff to allow
me to lift the carpet.
The girlfriend will empty and pack up the cupboards tommorrow and I will
lift the carpet on Wednesday when I have no work on.
> Are you sure no one has dropped a drink there?
Yes, and the cats have not used it as a toilet.
> If it is the water main, then it's up to you to get it repaired - your
> household insurance may pay, but they may not.
> It's nothing to do with any of your neighbours, or the water board - you
> are responsible for it one it's inside the boundary of your house and/or
> garden, luckily it's not an expensive job to undertake.
Even if the neighbours supply is under my floor?
> You need to dig a hole in the floor and find the pipe and the leak, turn
> the water off outside, cut either side of the leak and fit a piece of blue
> plastic watermain with the correct fittings, there are different ones for
> different diameters of lead, and also different diameters of plastic
> pipes, so you need to find out which type it is before you buy the
> fittings - any good plumbers merchants will stock all the different types
> and it will set you back about �30ish for the lot.
Sorry. I forgot to metion that my incoming water supply is 15mm copper as
are the neighbours supplys (if that matters)
> Then fill the hole back in and concrete over, not forgetting to put in
> some plastic DPM.
The hole is the easy bit. I have a Kangoo 900X.
> This is assuming the insurance company won't pay, if they will, just get
> someone in, but that's the process they'll employ.
Can I DIY with an insurance company? (if it is worth the excess)
I would take a photograph but The Medway Handyman broke my digital camera.
Adam
Falco
Adam,
Before digging holes etc, check any pipes and radiators in all the rooms on
that floor. It's been know to have a rad leak in another room and the water
has 'tracked' under the floor screed to the lowest level and show up there
as a rather large 'wet patch' on the carpent - and in middle of the floor to
boot.
First one I ever saw like that took a fortnight to find the source (a rad
leak in the flaming kitchen) - and that was after digging up half the damn
ground floor (down to over two foot in the wet area) - I alway check the
odd-ball places first now before even lifting any carpets!
Falco
ARWadsworth
"Falco" <titan@runnny-honney......invalid.com> wrote in message
news:hhtdbj$7d5$1...@news.albasani.net...
Most certainly not CH water. I have a combi boiler and the pressure gauge
has not moved for two years from a 0.9bar setting.
Cheers
Adam
js.b1
wrote:
> I do know that the concrete floor is covered in a
> bitumin type covering
Pretty waterproof, very tough, brittle - which helps if you need to
get it up. Not particularly level, prone to humps & bumps - so the wet
patch may well be from above & tracking. Can suffer defects and be
patched so water if from below might be tracking.
> Even if the neighbours supply is under my floor?
Might be interesting, but probably mentioned in the deeds (like Loop-
In supplies :-)
> Sorry. I forgot to metion that my incoming water supply is
> 15mm copper as are the neighbours supplys (if that matters)
Ah, corroded copper in concrete - always a good one.
My mother currently has an odd wet patch not under a washing machine,
which appears to be a "fresh water spring" from the tiled wall beind.
Looks like a shitty 2010 already :-)
> The hole is the easy bit. I have a Kangoo 900X.
I knew electrician's were not safe... "just doing a backbox"...
> Can I DIY with an insurance company? (if it is worth the excess)
Yes, nearly always.
Many insurers have a free legal helpline so they can probably advise
re neighbouring supply.
Phil L
> "Phil L" <neverc...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
>>
>> Have you peeled the carpet back to inspect the floor underneath?
>
> Not until Wednesday. I do know that the concrete floor is covered in a
> bitumin type covering and I will also need to remove a lot of stuff
> to allow me to lift the carpet.
This is asphalt and it's usually about an inch thick, which complicates
matters a tad because the leak could be absolutely anywhere and the water
will find it's way through the weakest point, which is where you are seeing
the wet patch, but the actual leak could be six feet away IYSWIM
> The girlfriend will empty and pack up the cupboards tommorrow and I
> will lift the carpet on Wednesday when I have no work on.
>
>> Are you sure no one has dropped a drink there?
>
> Yes, and the cats have not used it as a toilet.
>
>> If it is the water main, then it's up to you to get it repaired -
>> your household insurance may pay, but they may not.
>> It's nothing to do with any of your neighbours, or the water board -
>> you are responsible for it one it's inside the boundary of your
>> house and/or garden, luckily it's not an expensive job to undertake.
>
> Even if the neighbours supply is under my floor?
I've never known this to be the case, the 'main' main usually runs parallel
to the properties with 'tails' coming off for each individual dwelling, but
often with only one stop tap between a few houses.....do you mean that
there's one main running under all the houses with a short tail to each
homes' stoptap? - like I said, I've never seen or heard of this, but
different areas had/have different bylaws so I suppose it's possible, but
even so, you are still responsible for any pipes that run through your
property, even if the leak is *after* your stoptap and obviously before
theirs.
>
>> You need to dig a hole in the floor and find the pipe and the leak,
>> turn the water off outside, cut either side of the leak and fit a
>> piece of blue plastic watermain with the correct fittings, there are
>> different ones for different diameters of lead, and also different
>> diameters of plastic pipes, so you need to find out which type it is
>> before you buy the fittings - any good plumbers merchants will stock
>> all the different types and it will set you back about �30ish for
>> the lot.
>
> Sorry. I forgot to metion that my incoming water supply is 15mm
> copper as are the neighbours supplys (if that matters)
>
It might make things slightly easier, but if this is the case then it also
looks highly likely that it is a watermain burst as underground copper is
notorious for bursting at this time of year
>> Then fill the hole back in and concrete over, not forgetting to put
>> in some plastic DPM.
>
> The hole is the easy bit. I have a Kangoo 900X.
>
>> This is assuming the insurance company won't pay, if they will, just
>> get someone in, but that's the process they'll employ.
>
> Can I DIY with an insurance company? (if it is worth the excess)
A plumber / builder would probably charge you for two days, say �250, plus
materials and expenses, so you wouldn't see much change from �350.
If your excess is �250ish, it would probably be better to DIY if you have
the time
ARWadsworth
"Grimly Curmudgeon" <grimly...@REMOVEgmail.com> wrote in message
news:a7b4k5t37524qrl11...@4ax.com...
I wish
This is not a Map of Tazi.
Adam
The Medway Handyman
> ARWadsworth wrote:
>> I have just spotted a very damp/wet patch in the dining room carpet.
>> It is about 6 inches by six inches in size.
>>
>> Now I have no CH pipes under this concrete floor and the closest two
>> things with water to this damp patch are the beer fridge (it may have
>> iced up and defrosted, it is not your normal fridge) and the dish
>> washer. The carpet feels very slightly damp under the dishwasher but
>> nowhere near as damp as the wet patch 2 feet away. The carpet feels
>> very dry under the fridge.
Put a level on the floor. Could well be the leak came from the fridge or
dishwasher & found its way to a lower level.
>> My main concern is that it could be the incoming water supply to my
>> house. If it is the incoming supply then who is responsible for it's
>> repair? The stoptap in the street feeds four houses. Is it like
>> drains where everyone shares the cost?
>>
>> I assume that my buildings contents insurance will cover any major
>> repairs if needed.
,
>
> Before digging holes etc, check any pipes and radiators in all the
> rooms on that floor. It's been know to have a rad leak in another
> room and the water has 'tracked' under the floor screed to the
> lowest level and show up there as a rather large 'wet patch' on the
> carpent - and in middle of the floor to boot.
I've found exactly that. Damp area in hall 6' away from a downstairs cloak.
Water had leaked behond some boxing in, gone under a partition wall and
materialised at the lowest point of the floor.
>
> First one I ever saw like that took a fortnight to find the source (a
> rad leak in the flaming kitchen) - and that was after digging up half
> the damn ground floor (down to over two foot in the wet area) - I
> alway check the odd-ball places first now before even lifting any
> carpets!
Same thing happens with leaks on the first floor. First thing you notice is
a leak coming through the ceiling - at the low point. Leak can be feet
away.
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
The Medway Handyman
Oi!
js.b1
wrote:
> First one I ever saw like that took a fortnight to find the source (a rad
> leak in the flaming kitchen) - and that was after digging up half the damn
> ground floor (down to over two foot in the wet area) - I alway check the
> odd-ball places first now before even lifting any carpets!
snakes n ladders :-)
You dig a hole, you find the wet patch comes from one side of the hole
so you follow it like a ladder, the snake comes where you think you
have found it, go deeper, but it's not the source merely somewhere the
water found attractive.
The deeds if available might shed some light on things re water pipe
routes.
ARWadsworth
"The Medway Handyman" <davi...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:q8r0n.21940$Ym4....@text.news.virginmedia.com...
Well I went to take a photo of my Brothers decking for you.
A really good example of why decking should be used on steep slopes.
I slipped on the last bit of lawn that my brother left after we fitted the
decking when I tried to take the photo and you broke my camera:-).
Some lawns are too steep, too slippery and NOT as good as decking.
Happy New Year Mate.
Adam
The Medway Handyman
>>> I would take a photograph but The Medway Handyman broke my digital
>>> camera.
>>
>> Oi!
>
> Well I went to take a photo of my Brothers decking for you.
>
> A really good example of why decking should be used on steep slopes.
>
> I slipped on the last bit of lawn that my brother left after we
> fitted the decking when I tried to take the photo and you broke my
> camera:-).
OK, its a blond policeman.
TMC
"ARWadsworth" <adamwa...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Ojp0n.21875$Ym4....@text.news.virginmedia.com...
Last time I had this sort of problem it turned out to be a leaking stop tap
on the supply to the dishwasher
water ran to the lowest point
Always worth checking such things first as much easier than digging holes.
Tony
Dave
Some, lower down, suggest looking at appliances that use water, dish
washer, washing machine etc. Try and find some light blue tissue on a
roll, Kim Wipe is one propriety branded tissue, or visit your local
supermarket and see if they have any outside the store for wiping the
shopping trolley handles. Then use this to wipe any joint you can reach,
or wrap some round the tip of a garden cane and swipe the floor at the
back of the unit from the front, by going under to the back without
pulling the appliance out. Water will turn the colour a darker shade of
blue.
I lost a laminate floor in the kitchen due to the sink drain becoming
detached and some water got out onto the asphalt floor and crept all the
way under the whole flooring.
HTH
Dave
geoff
<adamwa...@blueyonder.co.uk> writes
for building insurance, read the small print, carefully
--
geoff
ARWadsworth
<m...@privacy.net> wrote in message news:50D499FF58%brian...@lycos.co.uk...
> On 4 Jan,
> "The Medway Handyman" <davi...@nospamblueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> Put a level on the floor. Could well be the leak came from the fridge or
>> dishwasher & found its way to a lower level.
>
> dishwasher
> in the kitchen. It turned out to be the washing machine in the utility
> room,
> and on the opposite wall too. It had got under the lino and along a
> groove
> in the T&G floor, under the partition wall, and 'sprung' in the middle of
> the
> kitchen. No sign at first of a leak in the utility room, but fortunately
> the
> fault in the washing machine became apparent before the dishwasher was
> dismantled. A slight slope in a floor can cause the leak to 'move'.
>
> --
> B Thumbs
Found it. I cancelled todays job because of the snow and decided to start
hunting for leaks.
It was the supply to the dishwasher which was leaking and the water had
tracked its way down a joint between two pieces of underlay. It is very odd
how the wet patch is so far away from the leak but the carpet feels dry in
the gap between the leak and damp patch.
My best guess is that I damaged the joint when I had to remove and refit the
dishwasher before Xmas after the bloody cat brought a budgie into the house
and released it under the washer.
Adam
chunkyoldcortina
>> I would take a photograph but The Medway Handyman broke my digital
>> camera.
>
> Oi!
Did you not warn him that taking your picture would break it? ;)
geraldthehamster
between the leak and damp patch.
>
> My best guess is that I damaged the joint when I had to remove and refit the
> dishwasher before Xmas after the bloody cat brought a budgie into the house
> and released it under the washer.
A budgie?
Cheers
Richard
Tim Lamb
ARWadsworth <adamwa...@blueyonder.co.uk> writes
>Found it. I cancelled todays job because of the snow and decided to
>start hunting for leaks.
>
>It was the supply to the dishwasher which was leaking and the water had
>tracked its way down a joint between two pieces of underlay. It is very
>odd how the wet patch is so far away from the leak but the carpet feels
>dry in the gap between the leak and damp patch.
>
>My best guess is that I damaged the joint when I had to remove and
>refit the dishwasher before Xmas after the bloody cat brought a budgie
>into the house and released it under the washer.
I think that calls for a very sincere vote of thanks to those who
contributed:-)
regards
>
--
Tim Lamb
ARWadsworth
"Tim Lamb" <t...@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:zgM6S7FE...@marfordfarm.demon.co.uk...
You can have one:-)
Thanks to everyone who replied.
The odd thing is your post only showed up about 10 minutes ago with about 72
other posts from yesterday
Adam
Jules
> The odd thing is your post only showed up about 10 minutes ago with about 72
> other posts from yesterday
snow on the line.
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