leak?

[yabububa]

Hello,

I'm new here and new to looking after my own flat and in need of advice - this might have to become a regular theme as things just keep going wrong!

I live in a basement flat and a few months after I moved in I noticed a damp patch slightly above a skirting board in the bathroom between the sink and the bathtub. The patch has since been growing in size and going higher up and getting darker. I took the skirting board off - which was very damp and there are cold and hot water supply pipes running behind it. Cold water one, which runs higher is solid green, whereas the other one is of coppery colour. I couldn't find an obvious leak or a section of the pipes which was wet, but wonder if there is a small leak somewhere causing the damp patch? Any advice will be much appreciated.

Katie

 

[Masood]

The green discolouration on the pipe is copper oxide, caused by exposure to moisture and oxygen. In short, a leak somewhere above the green bit. You'll need to cut away the wall higher up to find where exactly the leak is, then we can advise as to what you can do. It may be a compression fitting which just needs nipping up, or it may be a little more involved.

Once you've exposed the pipework a bit, a photo would be really helpful.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[yabububa]

Thank you

I'll take some photos later on and attach them here.

I don't think there are any pipes above the two and not sure if I can do anything with the wall above as it feels like there's just a thin layer of plaster on bricks.

I wonder why only one pipe is green?

Katie

 

[Destroyer2813]

Hum basement flat, may not be a leak maybe rising damp

 

[Masood]

Hum basement flat, may not be a leak maybe rising damp

Then both pipes would be green...

 

[Masood]

I don't think there are any pipes above the two and not sure if I can do anything with the wall above as it feels like there's just a thin layer of plaster on bricks.

I wonder why only one pipe is green?

Katie

Then possibly a leak along the pipe, water creeping along it.

 

[M G]

My best guess is that you haven't got a leak, and its more than likely condensation from the cold pipe.

 

[yabububa]

so if there is no leak but condensation causing the damp patch on the wall how can I stop it?

Katie

 

[Dotty]

If it is condensation the only real way of stopping it is by exposing and lagging the pipes.

Welcome to the madhouse Katie

 

[zzzjim]

When you say basement , is it more like cellar below ground level ?