Rera Karnataka tries to deliver speedy justice by taking details online

Under flak, RERA-K hopes to deliver speedy justice

Even as the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA-K) tries to keep up with the times and take details of its cases online, the delay in getting justice is putting off homebuyers, who are desperate after investing huge amounts of money into properties.

The inability to bring erring realtors to book is an oft-repeated complaint against the authority by buyers. Presenting statistics on the backlog up to November 6, Forum for RERA Collective Efforts General Secretary M S Shankar said, “Out of the 4,450 complains that have been filed with the authority, 2,310 have been heard and judgment delivered.

Around 90 per cent of the cases filed pertain to compensation to be paid by developers for delay in construction of projects.” RERA officials said they were trying to provide speedy justice. An order issued by RERA-K on November 3 says the Deputy Commissioner would be involved in recovering the penalty to be paid by builders, along with interest for delays in completion, or for not adhering to promises made to the buyer.

“The regulatory authority will send a notice to both the builder and homebuyers 60 days after its award seeking a compliance report. If it exceeds the time period, RERA-K will take suo moto action and issue a Revenue Recovery Certificate to the revenue authorities,” it said. RERA-K Secretary K S Latha Kumari told TNIE, “If you assess the cases, we have nearly 2,500 pending with the RERA court. More than 60 per cent have been resolved, which is a good figure.” This was an association set up just three years ago, she pointed out, adding,

“We are going all out to make everything online. Details of every complaint will be made online in future.”To speed up resolution of cases, four additional benches are being set up in addition to the existing three-member authority through a recent notification, the secretary said. “Cases to be earmarked to each bench too would be displayed online to avoid any complaint of bias,” she added.

However, Shankar questioned the rationality behind the move. “There is no provision under the RERA Act to constitute such benches at all. Validity of the benches itself is under question. This decision itself is illegal as they are functioning beyond their powers,” he said.

Source: https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2020/nov/18/under-flak-rera-k-hopes-to-deliver-speedy-justice-2224753.html

RO waste water uses - 6 simple ways to utilize it

RO waste water uses – 6 Simple Ways

1. Use the RO Waste Water for watering your plants
2. Use it for household chores
3. Toilet flushing and Cleaning
4. Sewage Pipe Cleaning
5. Utilize it for Car wash
6. Bathing Pets

For every Litre of potable water produced, the RO purifier generates ~ 3 litres of waste water.

Most Indians are concerned about the quality of water supplied through municipal and borewell water systems. These concerns are related to the increasing levels of pollutants and microorganisms in borewell systems and the diseases that they cause.

Most of us are switching to water purifiers for a clean & purified supply. One of the most commonly used methods, for this reason, is Reverse Osmosis (RO)1.

Every invention has its own advantages and drawbacks. RO water purifiers are one of the best examples as these machines give you pure and clean water, but also generate a substantial amount of waste water. For every litre of potable water produced, the RO purifier will generate around 3 litres of waste water. If you pass 4 litres of water through an RO purifier2, it would produce only 1 litre of drinking water. Since the purification process is gradual, we don’t even realize that a good amount of rejected water is seeping out from the waste pipe.

We all know, water is the most important & precious resource you have on this earth without which you cannot expect your life running smoothly. It is the basic necessity required in almost all daily routine which you follow and so it is your sole responsibility that you must not waste this useful resource. You cannot avoid using water purifiers considering the quality of tap water. The installation personnel generally suggests installing RO units over sinks so that the rejected water gets drained out. But you can re-use this rejected water, which is high in TDS (totally dissolved solids) and inorganic salts, for different household purposes (other than drinking and cooking purposes3) to make it useful.

How to store RO waste water for usage?

How to Save RO Waste Water and Store it

The simplest way of saving this waste water would be to drop the reject water pipe in a storage object. Suppose your daily requirement of drinking water is 20 litres, then on average your purifier would generate around 60 litres of waste water. You can use a 20 litre water can with tape and close lid option. Make a hole in the lid and connect the RO waste water pipe to lid. It is better to connect a pipe in tape towards down to prevent spilling of water from height.

Easy Ways to Re-use RO Waste Water

Utilize RO waste water for watering your plants.

1. Use the RO Waste Water for watering your plants

Waste RO water can be used for watering plants. But as this is usually high in TDS, it is better to dilute it with normal tap water and then use it. Because high TDS water can reduce the fertility of soil in the long term. To be on the safer side, you can start with a few plants. Use the RO waste water for 15-20 days and check its effect on the plant’s growth. Each plant will respond to this change in a different way, which will give you an understanding of which plants are responding better to RO waste water.

Use of RO reject water for Floor mopping and soaking utensils will save lots of clean water.

2. Use it for Household Chores

Using the RO waste water for mopping the floor is easy and will save litres of clean water every day. Mix the RO waste water with fresh water, and use it for mopping floors. Make sure to dilute it properly because TDS content may lead to some salt deposition on the floor. You can also reuse the RO waste water for your used utensils after every meal. You can certainly use the water to soak the used utensils so that the food stuck on the surface won’t dry up and can easily be removed during washing. But, washing of utensils should only be done with fresh water.

You can also use it for daily use clothes, but do keep in mind that delicate fabrics may not react well to the TDS content and other materials in the water.

Make use of RO waste water for toilet flushing & cleaning toilets.

3. Toilet flushing and cleaning

While it cannot be used for bathing, you can use the filter waste for toilet flushing and cleaning. Flushing takes up nearly 6 to 7 liters of water which directly goes down the drain. It is a massive amount considering the number of times we flush daily. You can limit this normal tap water wastage by using the waste water for flushing. Pour it down the cistern of the toilet to utilize it efficiently.

Additionally, It can be diluted with regular freshwater to clean porcelain tiles, bathroom fixtures, faucets and the toilet seat. This is done to avoid discoloration, or deposition of salt on the fixtures or others. You must though, always monitor for any signs. To avoid damage, we suggest using this method for periodical clean-ups only.

4. Sewage pipe cleaning

The waste RO water can be used to clean sewage pipes at home or in the kitchen, as it has a high saline content.

Wash and clean your car with RO waste water.

5. Utilize it for Car wash

This is probably the best use of the reject water from the RO machine. Washing up a car requires a substantial amount of water. And using your RO waste water for this purpose makes sense. You can mix the waste water with fresh water to give your car a good wash. Hence, you can not only clean your car but also end up saving a lot of water.

Make use of RO reject water for bathing your pet.

6. Bathing pets

Rejected RO water can also be used to bath your pet. But always dilute it with the same amount of normal tap water before doing this. You should also dry your pet after bathing.

Apart from above-mentioned points, you can use the waste water to refill your room cooler as well during the summer.

Conclusion

Using these simple tips, we can end up saving a lot of water. These little ideas will conserve water that can make a world of difference if everyone adopts them. Since we all know that there is a severe shortage of water throughout the world, we all must develop these practices in our routine to conserve water. Remember that every drop counts and is precious!

Reference links used:
1. https://www.freshwatersystems.com/blogs/blog/what-is-reverse-osmosis
2. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Reverse-osmosis-Need-or-waste/articleshow/46648223.cms
3. https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_best_solution_for_RO_reject_water

RERA-K to ensure online allocation of cases

Amidst allegations from sections of homebuyers of weak implementation of the RERA Act, the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, Karnataka (RERA-K) is preparing to put in place an online system of allocation of cases, which, it says, will result in impartial allotment of cases.

RERA-K Secretary K.S. Latha Kumari told The Hindu, “Some people raise questions about the Chairman allotting cases manually. Now we are developing a software where case allocation will be done online and on rotational basis to benches without any human intervention. This will be allotted as and when cases come to the available benches. This will mean impartial allotment. It has already been developed, but it has to be clubbed with our existing complaint model. It should be put in place in another two to three weeks.”

The authority put out a notification in November about the constitution of four benches, in addition to the existing three-member authority. “Considering the number of pendency of complaints, a decision has been taken to create additional benches under Section 81 to delegate powers of the authority under the RERA Act on the chairman and members separately by creating the benches,” the notification signed by Ms. Latha Kumari said.

There are over 2,000 pending cases with the authority, she said, and disposal of cases under the old arrangement was time-consuming. Creation of additional benches will ensure speedy disposal of cases, she added.

Meanwhile, the Forum for People’s Collective Efforts, an NGO formerly known as the ‘Fight for RERA’ movement, has written to the Chief Secretary of the Karnataka government requesting a meeting to discuss the functioning of RERA-K. In the letter, they have alleged that RERA Act implementation has not been tracked or reviewed since 2017, when it was first implemented.

“The functioning of RERA-K has reached new lows and differences have cropped up among members of the authority, impacting the very purpose of the Act,” they have alleged, adding that there is “no protection for homebuyers.”

However, the RERA-K Secretary has denied all allegations. Ms. Latha Kumari said the authority is functioning as per rules and regulations. “Administratively, RERA-K is one of the best in the country,” she added.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/rera-k-to-ensure-online-allocation-of-cases/article33060534.ece

Inspect before Renovate: How & Why

  • Essential things that need to be checked prior to Renovation work
    1. Leaky Pipes & Faulty Plumbing
    2. Signs of Moisture
    3. Presence of Cracks
    4. Broken or Damaged Tiles
    5. Waterproofing of the Terrace
    6. Pest / Termite Infestation
    7. Sealing all Gaps in Home
    8. Electrical & Safety Checkup
  • Why You Should Get a Home Inspection Before Renovation?

Many homeowners choose to renovate their home or office to give it a whole new look or simply to give more value to their property by enhancing its interior. To improve the home’s value, fix a safety issue, adding a room for fulfilling requirements are other few reasons to renovate home. Depending on an individual homeowner, the reasons may vary.

While a renovation1 may be the best solution for your household, this does not mean it is a task you should take on lightly. Renovating your home can provide your family with the space you need and the beautiful home you want, but it requires careful planning and organization. Before renovating your home or beginning any work which will alter the structure/element, there are some important things which you must consider.

Before deciding the time and budget to renovate your house, a thorough inspection of all the areas of your home is a must. It would be better to evaluate or understand the existing conditions before renovation. Without knowing it, making changes can create problem and will add an extra cost if any mistakes happen.

Here the essential elements you will need to inspect before you start the exciting part of renovating your home.

Essential things that need to be Checked or Inspected prior to Renovation work

1. Leaky Pipes & Faulty Plumbing

Leaky pipes not only cause damage to your home, but can prove expensive as well in the long run. Faulty plumbing includes loose fittings or improper installation which also will cause leakage problems. You will need to inspect leaky pipes and check plumbing issues before going through the process of renovating your home, otherwise you may have to stop renovation or redo them in order to access the pipes. This can lead to wastage of time & money.

2. Signs of Moisture

For a homeowner, moisture is one of the most common and annoying problems you can face. Moisture / Dampness in buildings is a major factor that contributes to mould growth, unhealthy buildings, and poor indoor air quality. It is one of the most important agents of building deterioration. It is crucial to check out signs of moisture early and also repair them before renovation. Dark patches, peeling off or other paint deterioration, damp and musty odour, visible water stains or discolouration are few signs of moisture for home.

3. Presence of Cracks

Presence of Crack on external or internal wall surfaces may be a sign that there is some problem. An occurrence of the building cracks is often a subject of concern as it can cause further problems like moisture intrusion and weakening the structural integrity of your home if left unnoticed.

4. Broken or Damaged Tiles

Over time, the tiles can become chipped, cracked, broken, or loose. This not only affects the aesthetics of the room but allows moisture to accumulate behind them that will affect the associated areas and add a repair cost.

5. Waterproofing of the Terrace

No matter where you live – in an apartment, a single or multi-storey home, water can cause extensive damage to your home, especially areas that are below the roof in case of damaged waterproofing.

6. Pest / Termite Infestation

If your area already has pests, such as rats, ants or termites etc, then conducting an inspection to find the source before your renovation would be a wise decision. This is because it will uncover any areas of your home that are damaged, prevent further infestation, and stop the spread of it. This is beneficial to check before renovation because you can replace or repair any areas of your home that is causing an infestation.

7. Sealing all Gaps in Home

It is important to check out and seal all unwanted gaps (window frame-wall joints, tile joints, kitchen / bathroom gratings, etc) in homes with proper sealant or grout depending on the requirement and condition. It is important to seal the gaps to avoid moisture intrusion which will result in further damage to the home/property.

8. Electrical & Safety Checkup

Another important point to consider when renovating the house is checking the electrical wirings: load balancing, wire gauge, uninsulated wires & other related parameter; switch boards; safety concerns due to improper location of electrical outlets etc. Ensuring electrical safety at home is significant before beginning renovation.

To inspect above-mentioned points, it is always better to opt for Home/Property inspection which will provide a report of the current condition of basic elements with related issues along with long term solutions. This will be quite helpful while planning renovation or remodeling work.

Many of us are not aware of the main reasons why Home inspection should be opted for, before renovation. Let’s learn about it:

Why You Should Get a Home Inspection Before Renovation?

A home inspection before the renovation is done to identify any issues before the restoration begins. Renovations are an exciting way to re-decorate your home, but it can also become very challenging which requires proper planning and expert’s advice. Here are some important reasons below:

  • Prevents you from Potential problems: Getting a professional home inspection done to look for potential issues and probably prevent it from happening during your renovation is vital. A Home inspection will reveal hidden hazards and issues like safety hazard, concealed leakage, etc. With help of an inspection report, you can prevent future problems and hassles. Without home inspection, you can end up losing time & money and property damage during the home renovation.
  • Better Plan for Renovation: When you know about the issues in your existing home, you can then fix and address those issues at the right time. And when you know to fix in the beginning, things get done better, faster, economically and easier. Thereby you can plan better and easily for renovation work.
  • Guide the Right way: Home inspection will tell you what needs to be corrected first in your home/property. This will ensure that your money is spent in the right place. After getting repair done, you can get your house renovated in the right way.
  • Improves the property value: If you are renovating to sell the house at a good amount, then a home inspection may give you a lot more information than just renovation-related. This will help maximize the value, as you will re-condition your house in a way that will please the potential buyers. A home inspection will improve value by giving buyers peace of mind that comes from knowing the fact that the home they are buying is a safe and healthy home.

Conclusion

A Home inspection Report allows you to get a thorough understanding of the current state of your property, how to proceed if there are faults discovered. Also, Home inspection professionals can guide you about what a renovation will need. It is important to assess the condition of your home with a professional home inspector to determine if there are significant underlying problems that must be addressed before or during your renovation work.

Reference links used:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renovation

Builders’ Association of India Chairman says RERA is a dedicated authority

The Builders’ Association of India (BAI) on the Supreme Court’s recent judgement allowing homebuyer for compensation uphelding the consumer court’s order stated that Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) is formed only to resolve real estate related matters. Anand Gupta, Chairperson of housing and RERA committee of BAI said, “RERA has been doing a great job. The RERA act was approved by the Parliament of India in 2016 and from 2017 it was implemented. After 70 years, such authority was formed where builders and homebuyers can seek justice.” RERA was established to expeditiously hear the real estate matters unlike other civil courts that listen to several other matters, he asserted.

Meanwhile, he also stated, “Of course, homebuyers will have an option to approach the various courts of law and with this judgment, now it is clear that consumer court can also pronounce on real estate projects where the possession has been delayed or homebuyer seeking a refund. Though the platform was open earlier too but this judgement now specifically cites that homebuyers can reach consumer forums with their complaints.

Instead of doing so, the SC in its judgement could have directed the parties to approach RERA and if not satisfied then further to appellate tribunal, HC among others, Gupta explained.

The matter is about a Housing Scheme “The ESFERA” in, Gurgaon, launched by the builder (Appellant) sometime in 2011, and all the original complainants — Anil Patni and others booked their respective apartments by paying the booking amounts and thereafter each of them executed Builder Buyer Agreement.

However, even after four years, there were no signs of the project getting completed. In the circumstances, the homebuyer approached the consumer commission that ordered the builder to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation. However, the builder approached SC wherein, it upheld the order to be paid by the appellant in respect of each of the consumer cases, over and above the amounts directed to be made over to the complainants and shall form part of the amount payable by the appellant to the complainants.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/builders-association-of-india-chairman-says-rera-is-a-dedicated-authority

7 Effective ways to have a Healthy Home

1. Make it Clean & Clutter-free
2. Keep it Dry and Moisture-free
3. Keep Pests away from Home
4. Ensure proper Ventilation
5. Take care of Air quality
6. Toxic-free & Safe Living
7. Opt for a Home Inspection

Most of us spend at least half of our lives in our homes without realizing there is a connection between our home and health.

A happy and healthy environment is essential for a healthy lifestyle. When it comes to improving our health, we tend to focus on nutrition and exercise, and we spend less time focusing on how our environment can affect our body. Our home is where we spend a lot of our time, so it is important that we figure out ways to make it healthy.

In order to create a healthy environment, we should start from our homes individually. Everyone’s living space is different, and there are some aspects you cannot control, but you can follow some tips that can help to improve the health of your home.

1. Make it Clean & Clutter-free

Having clutter and uncleanliness has proven to not only make your home dirty, but it can also affect your health. Excessive clutter can aggravate or worsen symptoms associated with various respiratory diseases (eg: asthma). Cluttered home invites rodents, cockroaches, insects and other pests. Pests in the home can cause respiratory illnesses and other health problems. Hence, Cleaning and de-cluttering your home enhances happy & healthy living.

2. Keep it Dry and Moisture-free

Moisture in homes can cause a variety of issues. From problems with personal health to damaging the home itself, water inside elements of building is an issue. Common human health hazards associated with dampness in homes include Upper respiratory issues, Asthma, Cough, Wheeze, Allergies, Skin Diseases, Migraine – Headaches & Depression. Structural integrity of your home gets weakened due to moisture intrusion. It is important that you stop leaks, control seepage, and maintain balanced humidity inside your house.

3. Keep Pests away from Home

Pests come to your home for 3 main reasons – food, water, and warmth. Seal cracks and openings (gap around window, door frame and pipes) throughout the home; keep kitchen and other areas of home clean, store food properly.

4. Ensure proper Ventilation

Home ventilation is an important factor related to the occupants’ health. Poor Ventilation increase the risk of airborne diseases, causes allergies, nausea and can also lead to serious health issues like eczema, nervous system damage, and cancer. Poor ventilation has been associated with “sick” homes for a long time, mainly referring to the damage caused by mould growth and other related problems to the building components. Therefore, ventilation is very important for your home.

5. Take care of Air quality

Common household cleaning products contain chemicals like alcohol, ammonia, chlorine and other solvents that must not be touched or inhaled. These have negative effects on our health that can cause irritable eyes, sore throats, and even headaches. These cleaning products release dangerous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that not only give you common health issues but also aggravate allergies, asthma, and chronic respiratory issues.

Although we depend much on these cleaning products, however, we must use organic products as a safe option to go by. Using organic cleaners around the house will help the air quality immensely. The more we use less toxic products to clean our homes and indoors, the better it is for our health.

6. Toxic-free & Safe living

Store pesticides and other chemicals like leftover paint & oil, disinfectants (if you are having) in locked cabinets out of children’s reach. Keep all chemicals in their original, labelled containers – do not put them into another bottle or container. It is always important to keep it out of reach of children and pets1.

7. Opt for a Home Inspection

Home inspection – Health & Safety Check-up ensures everything in the house is functioning properly; it identifies hidden issues & areas that need repair. Take care of minor repairs and issues at the right time before they become a large problem.

Cracks, seepage, clogged drains and blockage in pipes are some of the common household problems that we face in our houses with time. Inspection is a significant way to become aware of the areas of the house that can act as a hazard or create problems in the future and also suggest solutions for specific issues. Home inspection is an essential part that ensures a healthy home for your family.

Home inspection is an important part not only during the purchase of a property but also with time when your home starts ageing. Maintenance of a home is as significant as maintaining other essential assets in order to attain a healthy home.

Home inspection is a health and safety check-up of home. Watch the video to understand it better.

Final words

Home is one of the most valuable investment of our life where we spend our maximum time. So your home is a key asset for you. Everyone needs a healthy home. Making your home healthier and safer in preparation for your living has to be a great responsibility. A healthy home can help you & your family have a healthy body. We hope that these tips will make your home a healthy one!

Reference links used:
1. https://sanitizeyourplace.in/basics-of-handling-cleaner-sanitizer-disinfectant/

Know how dampness can affect wellbeing and home with its ultimate solution

Dampness in home not only spoil the look of your home but also affects the health of residents and structure. Learn through this detailed video about signs, reasons, effects on house & health hazards related to dampness and its ultimate solution.

Haryana RERA penalises several realtors for malpractices

Chandigarh

Acting tough, the Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority has penalised several colonisers for indulging in malpractices.

The RERA bench, headed by its Chairman K.K. Khandelwal and member S.C. Kush, on Tuesday took action against the promoters of various companies in the wake of complaints by allottees.

In proceedings against CHD Developers, Ireo Private Ltd, Landmark Apartments Private Ltd, Siddhartha Buildhome Private Ltd, Vatika Ltd, Tashee Land Developers Private Ltd and Tulsiani Constructions and Developers Private Ltd, it ordered attachment of the bank accounts to the extent of Rs 7 crore along with the movable properties of their directors.

An order has been given to issue a bailable warrant against the directors of Prime Time Infra Projects Private Ltd for not complying with the orders of the authority.

During the hearing pertaining to execution petitions, the authority observed that Clarion Properties Ltd has committed a gross violation of Section 3 of the Act by not registering its project with the authority.

It directed to issue a show-cause notice against the developer for non-registration of project under Section 59, which states that “the promoter shall be liable to a penalty up to 10 per cent of the estimated cost of the real estate project” and if the promoter continues to violate the provisions of Section 3, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term up to three years or with fine further up to 10 per cent of the estimated cost of real estate project, or with both.

Stringent action has been taken against the promoter in the complaints against Supertech Ltd, with the authority ordering it to pay Rs 5 crore to the allottee for delay in handing over of possession by the promoter.

A hefty cost of Rs 130,000 was imposed on Supertech Ltd for not filing reply within the stipulated time and the fine has been paid, which will be disbursed to the allottees.

Khandelwal, in a statement, said that such actions against the defaulting promoters would not only help providing an environment of growth and development of the real estate sector but would also assist the allottees in gaining and preserving their trust in the authority for quick redressal.

Source: https://realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/regulatory/haryana-rera-penalises-several-realtors-for-malpractices/78914563

8 Moisture Warning Signals in Your Home

Prevention is better than Cure

1. Dark Patches
2. Peeling off or other paint deterioration
3. Damp and Musty Odour
4. Visible water stains or Discolouration
5. Gatherings of Pests
6. Visual leaks
7. Condition of wooden furniture
8. Health Symptoms

Homes are supposed to protect us from the harmful things from outside like water, wind, and extreme temperatures. But sometimes, however, our homes fail to serve its purpose and moisture enters into our house.

As a homeowner, moisture is one of the most common and annoying problems you can face. Moisture / Dampness in buildings is a major factor that contributes to mould growth, unhealthy buildings, and poor indoor air quality. Moisture is one of the most important agents of building deterioration.

Moisture Intrusion is an often-unseen problem lurking in many homes. A little excess water in the wrong place can cause many other problems, such as mould growth, pest infestations, weakened building structures and unhealthy living conditions.

In many cases, moisture problems in houses or buildings are easy to get missed until they have progressed to the point of despair.

“Prevention is better than cure”. Early detection of these problems is significant for minimizing the extent and cost of the damage. But, how can you identify a moisture problem at the earliest?

Let us go through warning signs of moisture that homeowners should be on the lookout for:

1. Dark Patches in Home Elements

One of the most common signs of water-related problems in any structure is the appearance of dark patches in walls, ceilings, and other surfaces. As water seeps into building materials, it tends to cause them to look visibly dark.

Homeowners can often find these dark patches in ceilings after a heavy storm which indicates source of moisture can be in roof or sometimes due to floor / unit above if there is a leaky pipe there.

2. Peeling off or other paint deterioration on the surface finish

High humidity levels can cause wallpaper or paint finish to peel from the wall. Too much moisture behind the walls can eventually cause paint and wallpaper to start peeling or bubbling. If you see wallpaper or paint peeling or even protruding out like a bubble, it could indicate a moisture problem. Sometimes airborne moisture vapour gets behind the wallpaper and mixes with the glue, causing it to peel. Peeling off paint is mainly caused by moisture on the surface, poor surface preparation, using an incorrect painting method. Other paint deterioration like cracking or blistering paint on exterior or interior finishes can also happen due to these reasons.

3. Damp and Musty Odour

One of the most common signs of a moisture problem is the presence of strong, musty odour. This sign is a strong indicator that there is water damage somewhere nearby – possibly in the building materials hidden from your direct view. If you have a persistent, musty, damp smell in your bathroom, even after repeated cleanings, you may have moisture-related problem in the walls and subfloor. If a proper ventilation system does not help, you probably have a moisture build-up below the surface of walls or the floor. This odour is often caused by bacteria and mould growth that feeds on the excess moisture in a dark, cool space.

4. Visible Water Stains or Discolouration

A water stain will form a dark yellowish colour on your ceiling in a slightly deformed shape. This yellowish colour will soon turn into brown colour, and in fact, it may even start off sometimes as brown colour right at the beginning. It can be the symptom of a much larger problem and this is something that you should look into immediately. Some common causes of Water Stains on Ceilings are leaking pipes, leakage from roof and water seeping from upper unit / floor areas.

Stains or Discolouration can be prevented by reducing the accumulation of moisture in the wall / ceiling. Yellow, brown or black stains etc on your walls are signs of water damage from behind them.

5. Gatherings of Pests

Water is a necessity for life – and pests like ants, cockroaches, rodents, termites are no exception. As the humidity rises in your home, pests such as these will migrate inside your home, where they will begin to reproduce. A sudden increase in the presence of pests could be an indirect indication that there is a suitable source of water in your home. Of course, other nutrient sources, such as open food containers, exposed trash bins, and the like can also attract pests.

6. Visual leaks

Water is the enemy of every home. Being a homeowner, if you find unwanted water in your home, you should make every effort to find the root cause as quickly as possible. You need to do periodical visual checks of moisture / leakage / seepage in the home and get them repaired. Some leaks can be easily found by visual checking whereas, some leaks are concealed inside wall / structure.

7. Check the condition of wooden furniture

Damaged wood is a classic sign of elevated moisture levels. Because wood is porous, it absorbs moisture from the affected area as well as from the air as humidity levels change. This will cause the wood to swell and shrink with the changes. Check the integrity of wood by lightly pressing it. If it is soft, you know it has weakened from moisture damage.

8. Health Symptoms

One of the most annoying problems of moisture is its effect on our health. Common human health hazards associated with moisture / dampness in home include: respiratory (nasal and throat) symptoms, Asthma symptoms in sensitized persons with asthma, Cough, Wheeze, Allergies, Skin Diseases etc. People often ignore these important visual signs of moisture, but it can be harmful for your health.

Understanding and Detecting the Moisture Problem

If you have spotted one of the signs above, then it is important to understand about moisture problem and know the actual source of it. For that, you need professional help who will use moisture meter1 and advanced thermal imaging technology which can detect hidden / concealed leaks in the structure and give you long term – least destructive – low cost solutions.

If you feel your home has a moisture problem, you should take immediate action to solve it. Ignoring these signs will only make the problem progressively worse.

Apart from this, it is advisable to get a moisture / damp inspection before spending on costly waterproofing treatment or other related repair works.

Reference links used:
1. https://www.delmhorst.com/blog/moisture-meter-locate-leaks

Damp/ Seepage inspection of a premium restaurant done at midnight to suite customer requirement

Water dripping problem was occurring at a food court/ restaurant in one of luxurious mall in Kolkata. It was running from morning to late evening. As per requirement of Customer, we had done inspection at midnight. Watch the video to know our observation and solution to their problem.