What Causes Rising Damp?

There are lots of options on the market for treating rising damp, and it can be hard to know which is the best for your needs. To start with, not all moisture in the home is caused by rising damp. There may be different underlying causes and it is important to eliminate rising damp at its source, rather than only tackling the symptoms.

To help, the damp specialists at Moisture Stop have compiled this explanation of what causes rising damp, what the symptoms may look like on various internal walls and surfaces, and what you should do to treat rising damp when it arises.

For ongoing, reliable and cost-effective solutions to rising damp problems, without any construction or inconvenience, speak to Moisture Stop UK's expert team for advice.

What causes rising damp issues?

Rising damp occurs when moisture rises through walls and other surfaces due to capillary action. Capillary action, or capillarity, describes the process by which water can travel up a tube or surface against the force of gravity. It is caused by a combination of water's natural adhesion to surfaces, and its surface tension.

A rising damp issue can pose a significant risk to any home, business or building. If not treated effectively, it can lead to more than just unsightly damp patches on internal walls or a musty smell. In serious situations, rising damp can result in structural damage, even if it is not left untreated for very long.

However, it is important to understand the cause of rising damp before you attempt to resolve it. Otherwise, there is a risk that you will only address the symptoms, and you may pay for multiple courses of ineffective treatment before you discover that the underlying cause is still a problem.

Water infiltration can come from a number of sources. Sources of damp problems (or risk factors that could make the issue more likely) include:

Groundwater ingress
The humidity of the climate
Inefficient removal of internal water vapour
Underground streams near inclined dwellings
Proximity of your home to coastal areas or bodies of water

Several of the most common solutions provide remedial treatment for the symptoms of rising damp - the musty smell, damp patches and mould growth that are often associated with the problem - without fully resolving the problem.

Consequences of moisture

The consequences of having moisture in the household are consistently serious, as they can result in significant health problems, compromise the integrity of the home, and impact the household finances.

Primary risks associated with household moisture include:

Gradual degradation of walls, floors, and ceilings, potentially leading to their eventual destruction.
Increased perception of coldness and higher heating expenses due to moisture.
Hidden dampness, even beneath wooden panels or plasterboard, can foster mold growth on walls, posing health hazards like asthma, allergies, and rheumatism.
Degradation of electrical wiring and household appliances, leading to increased maintenance requirements.
Rising damp on walls can harm paints and plaster, necessitating frequent restoration.
A moisture-affected residence depreciates in value and becomes difficult to lease or sell

Where does rising damp commonly occur?

To help you identify the common signs of rising damp, we have identified some of the areas where it is more frequently a problem. If any of these symptoms are familiar to you, you may be dealing with a rising damp issue.

Moisture in walls

In most cases, moisture can most easily be seen in the walls of your home. It can cause paint and wallpaper to deteriorate or discolour, and may result in salt contamination as salt deposits in the water rise to the surface. It can damage internal plaster and skirting boards in a way that may affect the structural integrity of your wall - a much more serious problem than peeling wallpaper.

In the right circumstances, rising damp can also lead to mould growth, which is typically one of the most visible symptoms. As well as the aesthetic concerns of these visible symptoms, there may also be serious effects on your health and welfare from the proliferation of mould in your home or office building.

Moisture in floors

Depending on the nature of your flooring and the materials used, it may be possible to detect moisture in your floor. Moisture can seep up from concrete foundations and into flooring tiles, which can lead to pale patches of discolouration and surface chipping even when water-resistant materials have been used, or a waterproof coating has been applied. This is a particular problem in ground-level homes and buildings, especially those with terraces or roofs that are prone to leaks.

Moisture in storage rooms, garages and basements

Moisture often accumulates in garages, storage rooms and basements, due to factors like a lack of climate control in these unoccupied spaces or their position below ground. The combination of elevated moisture levels and more extreme temperatures or changes in temperature can foster the growth of bacteria, insects and mould. Moisture may leak in from cracks in walls or the joints between different materials, and leaks from drains or water pipes are a common risk in these spaces.

A big aspect of this problem is that signs of rising damp are harder to detect in spaces that are rarely occupied, or where the walls are covered or piled up with boxes and other items. Unfortunately, there is a risk from rising damp even if waterproof seals or a damp proof course have been put into place. If not addressed, the issue can cause any items stored in these spaces to deteriorate and, if the area is used frequently, may lead to health problems like allergies, asthma, bronchitis and rheumatism.

What happens if you don't treat rising damp effectively?

Choosing the right rising damp treatment is vital because not every approach will address the problem at its source. Some types of rising damp treatment - such as damp proof courses - can be very elaborate and time-consuming to install, take a long time to work, and may still prove ineffective. If this proves to be the case and your rising damp problem is not treated effectively, there can be serious consequences.

Damaged paint, wallpaper or plaster
Structural degradation of walls, floors and ceilings
Mould growth, including in hidden areas behind plasterboard or under floors
Colder temperatures, which can lead to higher heating costs
Problems with electrical wiring and household appliances
Challenges in selling or leasing the property, or a reduction in its value

If you are concerned about these ongoing problems, learn more about the HS-221 system from Moisture Stop. This revolutionary approach to treating rising damp uses low-frequency waves to push water molecules back down into the ground, and fixes the issue at its source. The HS-221 can dry out internal walls in as little as three months, and is more cost-effective than a new damp proof course or waterproof injections.

Visit our HS-221 page to learn more, or get in touch with our team for help in finding the best solution.

What if the problem is not caused by rising damp?

Rising damp occurs when water from underground sources travels upwards through tiny channels inside construction materials. It is caused by the capillary action of the water, which means it is most apparent at ground level. Generally, signs of rising damp will be seen less frequently in higher parts of the building. It may extract the salt from building materials and, when the water evaporates, leave behind white salt deposits on internal or external walls.

However, this is not the only type of excess moisture that can lead to problems. Similar symptoms may be caused by condensation or other moisture ingress.

Condensation

Condensation arises when warm, moist air interacts with cold surfaces. The sudden cooling that then occurs causes the moisture in the air to condense and form into droplets of water. You will likely see this frequently in areas of your home where there is high humidity or frequent changes in temperature, such as utility rooms and bathrooms. Condensation can form on walls and cause similar problems to rising damp, but it can usually be resolved more simply. For example, opening the window of a warm room can level out the temperature or allow moisture to escape before it can settle.

If you have persistent problems with condensation, Moisture Stop UK's HS-221 technology can help. By disrupting the capillary action of water molecules, it can prevent them from rising or settling on internal walls and protect them from the damage caused by damp.

Moisture by filtration

Filtration moisture often happens due to cracks in seals or waterproofing. Any such fissures or openings in joints, walls, floors, ceilings or pipes can lead water to penetrate into these surfaces and rise. Moisture Stop UK's HS-221 system disrupts the capillary action of any water molecules that enter via this route and forces them downwards, towards groundwater sources. This effectively resolves the problem and its symptoms in the same way that the system treats rising damp.

Get In Touch Today!

To learn more about Moisture Stop’s revolutionary rising damp solution, or to buy your device and start treating the problem, contact us today!