Hi

We have damp in our cellar - its been there since we brought the house but has got worse. Our builder thought it might be a crack in the soil pipe (which runs through the cellar and out onto the street) or a crack where the soil pipe meets the main sewer pipe under the street.

We just want to get the damp sorted and find out what is causing it. We're really not sure of the process or the people we need to contact/employ to deal with this problem - what should we do - do we employ a plumber to check the pipes? Ask a surveyor to look at it? Get the water company out? Speak to the insurance company?

Please help!

Thank you

The first thing you must determine is the source of the leak. A leak from a water pipe, a drainage line or a ground water leak due to bad weather. To check for a hidden pressure leak first shut down everything in the house, no flush, no drinks of water, and if you are on a meter go out and check the little pointer in the gage. It should not move or creep. If it does you have a leak. If you're on a pump then check the pressure gage after the pump builds up to pressure and shuts off. The gage should not fall and the pump come back on. If so then you have a leak under the cement.
If it hasn't rained lately we can eliminate ground water. That leaves drainage.

Our builder thought it might be a crack in the soil pipe (which runs through the cellar and out onto the street) or a crack where the soil pipe meets the main sewer pipe under the street. if the builder thought that "a crack where the soil pipe meets the main sewer pipe under the street" would make your basement floor damp just be glad he isn't your plumber. About the only thing to do is take up the cement and see first hand just exactly what the problem is. Good luck, Tom