Damp house

[WorrisomeHeart]

Our new house smells of damp - we know there are issues to be sorted, effectively the previous owners built a deck too high at the back and has covered the dpc and air bricks. Also there's no vent in one of the chimney breasts and there's issues at the top of it too (can't remember what but we got a specialist damp survey done). So we'll be cracking on to get those things fixed ASAP but what can we do about the smell in the meantime? I've got the dehumidifier running and windows and doors opened as much as possible. Am I missing something?

turn off the dehumidifier and open the doors, windows and loft hatch. If airbricks have been blocked, lift some ground-floor floorboards.

If you use a dehumidifier when the windows are open, it will try to dehumidify the world.

An ordinary domestic fan blowing into a wet alcove or void will dry it out faster.

heating will not help, it's fresh air you want. Like a washing line.

Ah good point re dehumidifier - maybe that's why London was so hot yesterday . Thanks Pigletjohn.

Check you don't have mildew on curtains or something in case that's the smell. Otherwise it's a ventilation problem you have more than a damp issue.