Rising damp is the moisture that comes from subsoil water and is transmitted upwards through the pores of building materials,
thanks to the physical property of capillarity.
Humidity by capillarity is maximum at ground level and decreases with height;
can be seen on both the exterior and interior walls of a building, normally leaving white dust on the surface,
which corresponds to the salts of the building materials that the water has dissolved in its ascension.
This type of humidity mainly appears in low floors at the bottom of walls, both inside
and outside, between floor tiles, and in basement walls.In the world, more than 75%
of buildings have rising damp, resulting in a progressive deterioration of the walls
and soils with serious consequences for health and the economy.
The rising damp is a physical phenomenon in which groundwater present in the area
on which the building is settled gradually rises until it reaches a height of about a meter.
Depending on the porosity and the diameter of these pores, more or less height is reached and more or less water is absorbed.
Along with water, materials in contact with it are dissolved, as is the case of hygroscopic salts (sulfates, minerals and chlorides),
containing the building materials.
When water evaporates through the surface of the walls or between the floor tiles, white spots are left,
which are the salts that dissolved the water.
Capillarity is a property of liquids that allows them to reach a certain height in small
diameter ducts (pores). This problem, in turn, results in other health and durability
issues in construction elements, such as bulges in the paint, shedding of the plaster, and structural damage.
For the water to ascend through the capillaries of the walls, the existence of water in the subsoil is necessary.
How is rising damp produced?
As explained in the video in a schematic way, the causes of rising damp are:
Existence of water in the subsoil or next to the building.
Water is in contact with a porous material such as cement, concrete, bricks, concrete blocks etc.
In order for water to rise through capillary ducts and pores of materials, all water molecules must be oriented with the negative pole upwards.
The water will rise higher if the hydrostatic pressure of the subsoil water is higher and the pores thinner.
Symptoms of rising damp: How to detect it?
Symptoms for rising damp are easily noticeable:
Moisture appears in the lower part of the walls on the ground floor or basement
If there is soil on the outer side of the wall, moisture stains appear on various areas of its inner surface.
Saltpeter spots are visible in the upper part where moisture arrives.
The paint skips and chipping and peeling of paint on the walls due to moisture coming from the subsoil.
A strong smell of damp is noticed and mold appears on the walls if there is no ventilation.
Electrical breakdowns occur in wall sockets.
A cold environment is present despite spending a lot on heating.
All these symptoms get worse over time, deteriorating the walls.
Difference of rising damp with other types of moisture
Rising damp is distinguished from other types of humidity by the following characteristics:
Rising damponly ascends through the walls in ground floors and basements, and if it is very exaggerated it can ascend up to the first floor.
This humidity also can rise between the floor tiles and deteriorate the wooden parquet.
Moisture stains appear in the lower part of the walls, and spread irregularly along them.
In basements, dampness by capillarity can appear at any height, since capillarity in that case, acts from top to bottom and also laterally.
In walls with earth behind them, as in houses built on slopes, humidity can also affect laterally,
appearing wet spots anywhere on its surface.
Special attention should be paid to these cases of false humidity caused by capillarity:
If moisture is concentrated in a small area of the wall and spreads from there, there is likely to be a leakage in a pipe or plumber fixture.
Alternatively, the sink, toilet, bathroom or shower may not be properly sealed against the wall,causing water to spill on it when in use.
If the humidity is in the roof, or if it is due to filtration, or a leaky drain.
If humidity is in the corners or angles of the walls, or near exterior windows or doors, or in corners with little ventilation, then
the problem is related to condensation humidity.
If its walls are plastered and this plaster is deteriorated due to humidity, it becomes a material that absorbs the ambient moisture.
The HS-221 has dried the inside of the wall, but the plaster surface remains wet.
The wall should be cleaned during the rehabilitation process and repaired using lime mortar and silicate paints.
Consequences of the rising damp
The rising damp has pernicious consequences,
both for health and for the economy:
Increased maintenance costs in the home and appliances.
Respiratory diseases, asthma, rheumatism and allergies.
Bad smells and rot.
Deterioration of walls, inside as well as outside.
Cracks and chips on the floor and walls.
Significant increase in heating expenditure (30%).
Devaluation of the value of your home.
Appearance of mold on walls, furniture, clothing, accessories and footwear.
Favors the proliferation of cockroaches and insects.
Solution to remove the rising damp
The best system to eliminate the rising damp is undoubtedly the Electro-Physical system HS-221,
a solution that requires no construction works and is characterized by its guarantee,
efficiency, speed, and affordability.
This is not the traditional approach to dealing with
rising damp, which merely conceals the problem without solving it.
The HS-221 system is based on the principles of molecular physics, using electromagnetic waves of very low frequency,
which are certified as safe for health. These waves effectively redirect water to the subsoil, requiring no maintenance and
consuming only 0.7W of power.
The HS-221 system provides a non-invasive solution for rising damp and can be installed in less than 3 minutes.
The damp is rising on the walls
Install the HS-221 in less than 3 minutes
The undeniable advantages of the Humitat-Stop HS-221 system are:
Efficiency: It typically reduces more than 60% of humidity in just 1 month, in walls and floors.
Easy installation: You can install it, without any construction works, similar to hanging a picture on the wall.
Electricity consumption is only 10USD per year.
Fix an HS-221 on a wall, and it will dry all walls and floors of the house even if they are in other rooms.
Low cost: It cost less than 80% of the classic solutions used, which only hide moisture and do not remove it.
Healthy: It helps avoid diseases caused by humidity: asthma, rheumatism and respiratory allergies.
Safe: Approved by ICNIRP as not harmful to the health of people, animals and plants.
Ecological: An environmentally-friendly solution for moisture by capillarity, without injecting pollutants into aquifers.
Saves money: It eliminates many maintenance costs caused by humidity, and reduces heating expenses.
Take care of your economy:Avoid depreciation of your house's value due to humidity issues.
Humitat-Stop, specialists in rising damp
At Humitat-Stop we are specialists in solving the rising damp.
The scientific basis and industrial experience in the manufacture of electronic
systems have led Humitat-Stop to develop the innovative HS-221 system, which is
microprocessor-controlled and emits very low-frequency waves that reject the water
molecules back into the subsoil.
This electronic system, developed in Spain, has proven to be more effective than all previous methods, including resin injections
in the walls.
Our HS-221 system is being successfully exported to all continents since 2014,
increasing exports by more than 50% year after year, having proven to be the most efficient, fast and economical system
in removing moisture by capillarity.
Humitat-Stop with its system HS-221 has successfully addressed moisture issues in multiple municipalities and
representative buildings, which are showcased on our website in the COMPANY section.
You can explain your specific case of capillary moisture by contacting us for a free
humidity diagnosis. We'll be in touch in less than 24 hours.
