Excesive moisture in old house

[JoceAndChris]

I have to stand on tip-toe to get my important bits in the sink . . . .

I am so surprised to read that, FF. :wink:

Well, let's not jump to any conclusions. It seems to me that there are two possible explanations for that.

One is that the sink is too high....

I just knew you'd be the one to notice that post! :lol:

 

[Schoolmarm]

How does it get from the tank into the house? And from the well into the house? Is it on an electric pump?

 

[JoceAndChris]

Yes, there's a submersible pump at the bottom of the well and another electric pump in the scullery for the rainwater tank. The water goes up to the attic - 2 different pipes and 3 different tanks, with a complicated set of valves so that you can rig up any water for anywhere. It was all set up as a DIY job by the previous owner, but it's been very nicely done.

 

[Schoolmarm]

In which case it shouldn't be too difficult to have a tank further away. Hmmmmm.

 

[AMc]

Rainwater harvesting systems are pretty common place and aren't in the 10-15K region for complete installed systems.

Sounds to me like a large storage tank at the bottom to deal with deluge and overflow and a smaller holding tank in the loft pumped from the main tank to maintain a reasonable higher pressure store is the way to go. I can't imagine that diverting the downpipe into a temporary tank would be too tricky - assuming you can get a suitable container(s) as you have all the pipe work and pump.

Cold water loft tanks come up on Freegle when people are replacing their systems with mains pressure hot water - try a WANTED ad on your local group. You could also put the word out to local plumbers that you'd like one if they're fitting a megaflow somewhere. I have our old tank in the garden which you'd be welcome to if you could get to Norfolk to collect it.

For the main tank this ebay listing for a £75 1500litre old orange juice containers looks promising esp. as your not drinking the water!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BLACK-WATER-STORAGE-TANKS-RAINWATER-HARVESTING-1500LTR-/320527177658?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item4aa0e897ba

Or £220 for a more permanent solution
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/700L-rainwater-butt-150-gallons-RAINWATER-HARVESTING-/360166233132?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Home_Garden_GardenEquipment_HandTools_SM&hash=item53db94942c#shId

Once you have the water diverted it would become easier to work out if your brick cistern is leaking into the house. You could then either reline it or bury the new tank nearby. Either route sounds better than a damp undercroft which sounds very uncomfortable

 

[Schoolmarm]

The 700l one would only do three baths and it would be empty.

I bet the 1500l one is still loads smaller than the vaulted tank they currently use. I have a 1000l tank dropped into our brick tank we used previously. I bet it is a third smaller than previously. This isn't a problem for us AT THE MOMENT as we have an electric pump on a timer down a well about 300 metres away down a steep hill. I can't imagine what we will do if the pipe gets blocked which goes from the well to the tank and is currently underground all the way.

 

[AMc]

Buy 3 of the cheaper one? Or three of the more expensive one even and you're still quids in on 10K for a mains connection + you might solve the damp problems in the house?

 

[JoceAndChris]

Many thanks for these very helpful posts AMc and 'Marm, much appreciated. A new tank or tanks really does seem to be the solution.

I can't imagine what we will do if the pipe gets blocked which goes from the well to the tank and is currently underground all the way.

Get training a little family of water voles!

Cold water loft tanks come up on Freegle when people are replacing their systems with mains pressure hot water - try a WANTED ad on your local group. You could also put the word out to local plumbers that you'd like one if they're fitting a megaflow somewhere. I have our old tank in the garden which you'd be welcome to if you could get to Norfolk to collect it.

Would it not be possible just to use the existing tanks in the attic?- but thanks for your kind offer anyway.

So, can I just ask (think the answer will be no) if there's any point lime plastering a wall through which water gently drips? The scullery is beyond depressing in its current state, but it seems like plumbing will have to come before plastering in this case.

I suppose I could just limewash onto stone for an instant pick-me-up? Even if the tanks are only around £500, and maybe £1000 for the plumber (???) and the filling in, we aren't going to be able to afford that this year unfortunately - but very conceivably next.

 

[AMc]

I should think the existing loft tanks would be fine, I misunderstood and assumed you pumped direct from the subterranean tank to the bathroom.

I'm no expert but anything that impedes the movement of water might harm the mortar and/or stone. I imagine the only thing more upsetting than a wet wall would be no wall.

I would have thought that a temporary bypass to the existing tank and reroute the pump up to the loft would be a DIY job - certainly £1000 is a lot of plumbing. I appreciate this may be beyond your means at the moment, but at least you're planning a solution.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Thanks. Chris has recently announced he doesn't want to do any more DIY, apart from the tree felling/ wood harvesting stuff. :shock: :shock: :shock:

I think a job of this nature is totally beyond my capabilities - somehow those pipes have got to be re-routed and buried. Going into the existing tank is impossible without breathing apparatus, or just smashing it up, so I don't quite know how that will be done. If we don't put a tank inside the existing one, a large hole will have to be dug for the new tank, necessitating the felling of a few trees and the removal of a concrete path. I can't! :lol:

As you say, at least we're planning a solution.

 

[Schoolmarm]

If you are considering ploppng a tank inside the existing you could make a nice doorway through from the room next to it to do all the pipework and maintenance. Also you may need a hole digging in the floor and a sump fitted just in case water gets into the built tank from anywhere else. Otherwise it will slowly fill around the plastic tank.

 

[AMc]

Thanks. Chris has recently announced he doesn't want to do any more DIY, apart from the tree felling/ wood harvesting stuff. :shock: :shock: :shock:

I feel his pain. Work on our place slowed to a crawl after Christmas, for every job done there seems to be 3 more new ones I've realised I need to do - I've had builders fatigue and I don't even have another proper job to fit in.

What I had in mind was more of a heath robinson bodge to get the tank empty and safe to explore/repair/reline but there's little point if you can't fund the rest of the work at the same time.

You could always try and tempt Chris with the opportunity to play with a JCB

 

[JoceAndChris]

If you are considering ploppng a tank inside the existing you could make a nice doorway through from the room next to it to do all the pipework and maintenance. Also you may need a hole digging in the floor and a sump fitted just in case water gets into the built tank from anywhere else. Otherwise it will slowly fill around the plastic tank.

Very smart thinking! Thanks 'Marm - a doorway would be very exciting.

Work on our place slowed to a crawl after Christmas, for every job done there seems to be 3 more new ones I've realised I need to do

Oh, I feel your pain too - where is the end to it all? I'm starting to find new builds VERY attractive. :?

builders fatigue

A useful term- this is why I need to spend so much time on the Internet!

What I had in mind was more of a heath robinson bodge to get the tank empty and safe to explore/repair/reline but there's little point if you can't fund the rest of the work at the same time.

I'm really longing to go in the tank and explore. According to the previous owner "that'll niver leak - painted it all with mastic in 1988 so job's a good un", or words to that effect. These pics were taken by leaning in with a camera when the water ran out last summer, it turns a corner so sort of forms two chambers- not seen in the photos.

 

[LadyArowana]

What an interesting place, I thought our vaults were spooky but that is much more scary, especially if it is usually full of water :shock: I hope Chris gets over not wanting to do any more DIY!

 

[JoceAndChris]

What an interesting place, I thought our vaults were spooky but that is much more scary, especially if it is usually full of water

Good for the disposal of one's enemies. :lol:

RE Chris going on strike, thanks for your good wishes Lady A but I can't say I really blame him. He's out the door at 7am, and back at 8pm or later. Saturdays he sleeps and does all the admin - which only leaves Sunday. On top of that he hasn't had a proper holiday since 2007, and being married to me he should have more holidays not less!

2 hols this year, we can't wait.