Can Blocked Drains Cause Damp?

Have you noticed mysterious damp patches appearing on the walls in your property? Or maybe you’ve been smelling something musty that just won’t go away no matter how much you ventilate your living spaces? You’ve looked around your property, inspecting everywhere but found nothing.

At this point, most homeowners might be quick to blame condensation, because there’s a misconception that blocked drains will only cause backflow of water. However, the real culprit could actually be lurking beneath their feet as blocked drains. In this article we’ll look at how to know if you have rising damp or if your problems are being caused by blocked drains.

Can a Blocked Drain Cause Damp?

Yes, blocked drains can cause damp, and it’s more common than you might think. Now the problem with the question ‘can a blocked drain cause damp’ is that the answer doesn’t help homeowners understand the real cause of damp. Blocked drains don’t directly cause damp. The reason your property develops damp is what happens to water that is logged in your pipes.

When the drains are blocked, everything starts backing up. That blockage, whether it’s from years of waste and debris or sudden obstruction, forces water in your pipes to find alternative routes. Unfortunately, these alternative paths often lead straight into your property’s foundations or walls. Drain unblocking is essential to prevent this issue from escalating.

What started as a simple blocked drain, will escalate and evolve into a serious damp problem. As the volume of trapped water continues to grow, it seeps into the surrounding soil and gradually saturates the ground around your property. Our team from Watermains & Drains have seen moisture build up cause devastating effects from water penetrating through the smallest cracks and it always starts with damp patches.

Can Blocked Drains Cause Rising Damp?

Since we’ve answered the question ‘can blocked drains cause damp’, let’s look at differentiating rising damp from drain-related damp. Rising damp occurs when groundwater rises through your walls thanks to capillary action. Damp caused by blocked pipes, however, makes existing damp problems worse or creates conditions that look similar to rising damp symptoms by leaking water from pipes into the ground around your property.

Here’s what happens when your drains are blocked:

• The surrounding soil becomes saturated with excess water
• This creates constant moisture around your property’s foundations
• Water can find its way through tiny cracks and weaknesses
• Moisture can travel up your walls, appearing similar to rising damp
• The problem often gets worse during heavy rainfall

So, can blocked drains cause rising damp? No, but they can create signs that present similar to rising damp. That’s why correctly identifying the cause is so important. You could potentially spend thousands on rising damp treatments and not only see no improvement; you might even notice an increase in damage to your property because the real issue hasn’t been cleared.

That’s why it’s crucial to properly identify the source of your problems before attempting any solutions. While the best option is always to get a professional opinion, here are some warning signs to help you decide when to call in for help:

• Damp patches appearing on ground floor walls
• Musty odours, especially after rainfall
• Water pooling around external walls
• Slow-draining sinks or toilets
• Gurgling sounds in your pipes
• Green patches in your garden where grass grows unusually well

Once you notice these warning signs popping up around your home, it’s probably a good idea to call a professional. Remember, getting the problem fixed when damage is still minor could potentially save you thousands in repair costs in the future.

Concerned about damp in your property? Seeing signs and wondering can blocked drains cause damp? Reach out to our professional team for a free inspection. If you need drain unblocking in Manchester, we provide expert services to check and clear your drains efficiently. Get your drains professionally checked and take the first step to solving the problem.