Damp smell in kitchen

[educator16]

Dont know if this is a plumber issue, however, I am not sure which way to go next with it. I have a horrible damp/mouldy smell in my kitchen coming from one wall. It is a false wall and I have cut an inspection hole the smell is strong behind it. The wall covers the old kitchen wall. The floor here is the old wooden floorboards of the house. The smell has permeated into the larder, off the kitchen, which has a concrete floor, into the hallway and even into my sons bedroom upstairs above the wall. I have checked all the pipes I can find in the area for leaks etc... Not sure which way to turn next, dont really want to pull up the kitchen floor! Anyone got any ideas

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Any waste pipes running around the area ?

 

[educator16]

Hi, thanks for reply we do know that this area was once a kitchen and has been extended so I assume waste water would have moved somewhere under the floor also we wonder if the larder was the old downstairs toilet?

 

[Chuck]

There are several possible causes for 'damp'. Leaking pipes and drains are two possibilities, but penetrating damp is is more common. Extensions often have problems associated with the join between old and new. Also, they are often built on a budget and corners like ventilating voids get cut.

Your best bet, if diagnosing the cause is defeating you, is probably a chartered building surveyor.

Steer clear of firms advertising themselves as damp 'specialists'. They are often little better than snake-oil salesman and their 'solutions' can make a minor problem into a major one.

 

[educator16]

Cheers chuck thanks for advice

 

[sammathias]

Long shot but its happened to me before...are joined to another house? Does their kitchen back onto this wall. If so wouldnt suprise me if next door had a leaking sink.

 

[educator16]

hi thanks for the post good call, but We are detached