Leak in brick wall

[DIYHacker]

Hi.. So back again with another topic.. We have a leak within a solid brick wall (1900's house). Initially we thought this might be due to blown render on the outside but have since had the outside of the house sorted out and still we have this issue.. There is an outdoor tap in the very near vicinity but I got the plumber in to replace the old tap at and the same time he replaced the pipe that goes through the wall.. Problem still there.. After each possible fix, we have used the dehumidifier to draw out all the moisture in the wall and over the next day or so it comes back again.. With a moisture meter I have pinpointed a rough area of about waist height (just above counter top in picture) where it starts and then over time it moves down the wall so have ruled out rising damp.. The boiler is in the cupboard right there but we have also had that recently replaced and the plumber said non of the pipes are running through the wall.. 

 

Speaking to a few companies that do leak detection, their costs are in the region of £600 -£1000 to detect the leak and then depending on who you speak to, the remedial works (at an additional cost) are very vague which is starting to become annoying.. My thought is, I know where the leak is within a 10cm square, do I really need these guys to pin point the same area with most of them being non committal on actually opening the wall up, repairing the leak and then closing back up again or do I just book a slot with my plumber to be onsite and I open the wall up myself and make good once he has fixed it or is there something else I need to think about?!

 

 

[Nickfromwales]

Does the flue exit on that wall or at 90^o to it? If the same wall, is it sealed up properly so no rainwater can penetrate and get into the mortar joints?

Is this evident when it rains/immediately after, or 24/7?

 

[DIYHacker]

Yes, the flue is on that wall but goes straight out at 90 degrees.. When the boiler was replaced that was replaced at the same time.. And no, its not damp just when it rains.. When we use the moisture meter further in the wall, it is dry. Its literally high readings within the 10cm square on wall you can see as well as behind that grey box.

[SteamyTea]

Any chance it is condensation?

[Mr Punter]

Just break out the wall over the suspect area so you can see what is going on.  Less than 1 hour with SDS, hammer and bolster.  It has been wet for a while as the plaster bead has rusted.

[DIYHacker]

21 hours ago, SteamyTea said:

Any chance it is condensation?

No, since installing a PIV unit 2 years back, we have no issue with condensation anymore

 

@Mr Punter Yea, I think that is the best route forward 👍

[Andehh]

How did you get on?