Water damage

[Crapstone]

A pipe leading to an exterior tap had been leaking for about 12 months and it wasn't visible until the floorboards were completely saturated. Lloyds are supposed to be dealing with the claim and have paid some money out.

 

It's been 3 weeks since I've had a de-humidifier installed by them and now it's 2 weeks of having a fan (a large blue whistle shaped thing) put in where they have removed a floorboard.

 

The noise is horrendous. The de-humidifier sounds like an industrial tumble drier and the fan vibrates all the floors and walls. If we were in a factory unit ear plugs would be essential but we are expected to run these 24/7. I don't think this is safe as the fan gets hot and is touching the dry surface of the floor, so I turn it off when leaving the house and turn it off at night because it's so loud. Using the kitchen is impossible as we have to move the equipment and turn it off and then have to watch where we step because of the open floorboard and a 4ft drop below it in front of the oven and washing machine.

 

We called the insurance company and they said as long as the oven worked and the fridge then we have a kitchen and the noise isn't their problem.

[freakyleaky]

If the fan heater is vibrating so badly then there is a problem with it. Modern industrial fan heaters are quiet and shouldn't be a problem.

I don't know why they have used a fan as a decent de-humidifier will do the job on it's own.

 

I am not sure but I would have thought the health and safety issues with leaving a hole in the kitchen floor would render the house uninhabitable.

I will dig around for some information and get back to you.

[freakyleaky]

The first thing you should do is to contact the insurance company and let them know how dangerous the situation is and let them know that the level of disruption due the the fan and the hole in the floor renders the house uninhabitable.

If you get no joy then contact the company who did the work and voice your concerns.

If they wont rectify the problem then you must contact the health and safety executive and explain the situation to them who will advise you on your next step.

Telephone for the hse is 0845 345 0055.

[Crapstone]

Thanks freakyleaky,

 

The de-humidifier has dried some of the top surface out but because the joists are wet they put a fan in but I don't think the air circulation would be adequate as there doesn't seem to be any vents below the floor boards and we've been told to keep the doors and windows shut.

 

The fan unit is a DRI-EAZ F263EU and is resting up-ended on the hole in the floorboards so the motor is causing the floor to shake.

 

The insurance company aren't bothered but the company who installed it are coming around in the morning to have a look at it. I'm going to have to dig my heels in as the de-humidifier makes it so hot and airless in there plus the noise and the fan makes it like living in an engineering works. The neighbours must think we are running an illegal laundry!

 

It must be loud as you can hear it on the street some 30ft away with all the doors and windows shut.