Electro osmotic DPC - being fed a line?

gdhgdh · Post by **gdhgdh** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:56 pm

Hullo :) Up here in Chirpy Chorley we've inherited an active E-O DPC installed by Total Damp Proofing - a local firm who are members of the Property Care Assoc.

After going through a bunch of fun with water leaking into our cellar, United Utilities proving it's not them and making a claim on our home insurance, the insurance surveyor has determined that there's damp everywhere (little two prong meter that went bright red up to about a meter from ground level)

Now, the documentation for the DPC says that damp meters aren't reliable because they could be picking up the electrical signal. (I only found this documentation after the surveyor had gone)

This sounds like a load of boll*x to me - what do you think? What can I tell the DPC company when they try and fob me off with that rubbish?

Cheers :)
Gavin,

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:34 pm

As far as I'm aware E-O-DPC is good for damp treatment, Not running water.

gdhgdh · Post by **gdhgdh** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:37 pm

Sorry, I was unclear.. the running water's not directly related to do with the E-O - I was trying to claim the rising damp was caused by the water in the cellar, and he's saying that they'll not pay for redecorating until there's a damp course installed...

Now, there /is/ (but I didn't know that until a couple of hours ago), but the installers say two-prong damp meters don't work when an E-O is installed - does that sound right?

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:46 pm

I wouldn't know, but it sounds reasonable.

Wait for one of the experts to get in from work.

Can you post a pic of the outside ground levels.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 4:59 pm

An electro osmosis DPC Is normally very effective and is normally guaranteed.

You should consult the guarantee.

Who is the surveyor?

Are you selling or is the survey for another reason?

gdhgdh · Post by **gdhgdh** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:11 pm

Yeh, they're claiming a 30 year guarantee and have previously done the 'drill a piece out and test the dampness' test (years ago, before we moved in) with less than 5% dampness - I just wanted to know if the bit about 2-prong damp meters being useless in E-O was rubbish or not because it just sounds like an easy get-out clause.

Not moving, this was just brought up by the home insurance assessor (dunno his name) :)

lamntile · Post by **lamntile** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 6:05 pm

Given that damp testing meters measure either electrical conductivity between two steel pins touched onto, or pressed into the plaster, masonry or timber, or they use a smooth contact head to measure electrical capacitance.

Since your EO DPC passes a small current into the wall it will provide an incurate reading i would say.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 6:17 pm

In that case I think someone is talking b0llox.

I have had electro osmosis installed in two properties now and before it was installed I tested the walls with a damp meter and the walls showed levels of dampness.

After the dpc was installed the damp meter showed no signs of dampness.

Deleted-user-3 · Post by **Deleted-user-3** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:40 pm

ive heard of electro osmosis but never had any dealings with it whatsoever so please forgive me if this is a stupid question...

cant you just turn it off and then test it?

gdhgdh · Post by **gdhgdh** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:59 pm

chris: yes - this unbelievably obvious truth just occurred to me about an hour ago - I've now ordered a shitty ebay tester just for indicative purposes.

thanks to all for their time :)