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How to identify source of water coming into house?

Recently repainted bedroom and added new built ins. When old carpet lifted to relay new carpet there were two damp patches on yellow tongue flooring. Plumber has indicted sub floor - no water leaks. Builder indicted bricks/windows/roof - no water entry points. Two different areas of room. Have used dehumidifier/drying. Surface dries then hours later wet again. Subfloor area dry. House on piers. Any suggestions of what to do? Desperate!!!!

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MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @con_66. It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about leaks.

Where is the nearest water source inside the home? If the wet areas are anywhere near a bathroom, especially a shower, that would be a high probability of the source. If the leak continues once you've dried the area, that would tend to point to an internal plumbing leak. You'd think once dry if the leak was from rain and an external source, it would only re-wet the area after the next rainfall.

In situations like these, you'd need to enlist the services of a plumber who specialises in leak detection. A leak detection specialist will have a moisture meter that they can use along with UV dyes to track the leak back to the source.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

con_66

Hi Mitchell. The nearest water source is in the adjacent (not ensuite) bathroom. The problem is that one wet patch is on one side of the room and another in a different area. A plumber has been under house and sub floor area is dry as is underneath yellow tongue flooring. Due to distance between patches, it appears to be two different sources. The moisture reappears randomly ie without rain and does not dry out at all unless I use drying appliances - even on hot, windy days with windows open. I’ve turned off water to house and metre does not change indicating no leaks. The water seeps in regardless if I’m using water, at home or if it rains. It’s really puzzling and plumbers and builders have no idea despite checking under house for leaking pipes etc

EricL

Hello @con_66

I suggest engaging the services of a leak detection specialist with a thermal imager. A thermal imager is a device that can accurately detect the temperature differences in your floor and wall. By using this device, they will be able to see where the leak is making its way through your house. My only other thoughts are it could be a condensation issue and its manifesting itself in that particular section.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

con_66

Hi Eric. Thanks for your reply. If it was a condensation issue I think it would present in the walls too. I’ve only just repainted room. There was no moisture damage in walls or ceiling. There was no water in area where new built ins went. One wet area on yellow tongue is in front of ceiling to floor window but when a house was situated all around window frame no water came in. As I’ve said, even on hot windy days, when there is zero condensation, the moisture is still there and the yellow tongue flooring does not dry out at all. I have tried to find a builder who uses thermal imaging but plumber has assured me there are no leaks from pipes. One suggestion is that moisture could possibly run down sarking but there are only two areas and if condensation were the issue I’d think it would affect whole room. It is really difficult to find anyone who can help with either a solution or possible source of water. This raining today and the moisture is no worse than it was without rain. I have pest control booked and thought they might see something that others could have missed

EricL

Hi @con_66

It is indeed a mystery, but I can only suggest going for a thermal imaging inspection. Not only does it detect leaks, but it also sees temperature differences in the overall structure of your house. It might be able to reveal sources of moisture and condensation you were not aware of.

let me call on our experienced members @TedBear, @Dave-1, @Nailbag and @JoeAzza for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

JoeAzza

@con_66 , can you check and see if you have a cracked roof tiles, water could seep through the cavity of the external walls, I agree with @MitchellMc and @EricL , re water leak detection services.

Dave-1

Good Evening @con_66

I would also suggest a thermal imaging inspection. It will show where the dampness/wetness is and extends to. You have stepped through the same steps I would be asking and that leads to someone with a thermal imager and the knowlege of how to interpret it.

The only thing I can add is long term repeat wetting of the areas (pets, water potplants, fishtank leaking) that has saturated an areaa but I dont believe it would return after your drying efforts.

I would be interested if you get a thermal imager person in and see what they say or better yet see some photos 🙂 It may give someone else with the saame type of issue peace of mind. 🙂

Dave

Nailbag

Hi @con_66

Again I agree 100% with @EricL @Dave-1 @MitchellMc in getting a leak detection service in to scan and test the area. I recently had to remove and re-silicon an external sliding door, and area's of roof and gutter flashings due to deteriorated silicone and in some areas none at all on a townhouse only 6yrs old.

The internal damage wasn't realised until another small section of the ceiling in the garage had collapsed after a roofing plumber had already re-siliconed areas they thought was the cause.. The water ingress was not directly above the garage, but had been travelling along other internal cavities and pooled there. The test specialist was able to apply water to various areas and then track where it was travelling.

Regards Nailbag

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con_66

Hi Joe. House has colour-bond roof and has been checked for leaks. No ceiling damage at all in any rooms. Electrician replaced lighting in room and no leaks or water damage. The water is coming in at floor level in two separate areas on opposite sides of room with no apparent cause unfortunately

con_66

Hi. Silicon has been used around windows and also around power box area. A hose was used either pressure all around windows and no water entering around window areas. Timber panel running across bottom of window has been lifted, flashing in place and dry. Part of architrave/skirts removed in area, small piece of prick bring closest skirt removed and all perfectly dry. Guttering replaced two years ago and new fascia boards with no water issues until recently with this one happening

JoeAzza

Hi @con_66 are you able to access under the house yourself, if possible, get a good torch and go under the house and check the area where the dampness is on your floor, if there is some wet area, have a look to see where it's coming from, if it's not wet underneath, it could be that the timber just needs to dry out properly, hope this helps.

con_66

Hi Joe. Plumber and other trades have check under house. No water leaks. There is central heating vent near one area of moisture, builder removed venting and flooring is wet on one side of vent and completely dry on other side. No water leaks under house at all,

JacobZ

Hi @con_66,

Condensation from the vent certainly sounds like a possible cause. The fact it is wet on one side of it and not the other could indicate an issue on a specific side or that it is tracking down that side of the vent.

Is there any venting anywhere near the other wet spot?

Jacob

JoeAzza

Hi @con_66 , If you have building insurance, you could contact them and tell them about the water situation/leak, i knew someone that had a water leak in a wall , plumbers couldn’t locate the source of the leak, eventually the insurance company found the they had a toilet pan with hairline crack at the back of the unit, this caused the water damage in the wall, they were covered by insurance for all the repairs.

con_66

No the vent is not the cause. There is only one vent near one moisture patch not the other one. There is no condensation near vent. I only mentioned vent area as one side of vent where yellow tongue flooring is wet and the other side is completely dry.

Dave-1

Evening @con_66

I keep coming back to getting a specialist water/leak detection person in with an thermal imager to tarck the moisture. It may cost a little but I think it would be the easier path to follow to find the source of your problem.

Dave

Nailbag

Hi @con_66

I would highly recommend as per my first reply in getting a leak detection service in as it sounds like you have well covered off the visible possibilities. The longer it takes to resolve the potential for more serious internal damage to continue.

Nailbag

con_66

Hi. Thanks for reply. Had a pest and building inspection with thermal imaging. Absolutely no moisture in sub floor, walls or ceiling. They said possible window leak but only suits one area. Still no closer to knowing source of water unfortunately

EricL

Hi @con_66

If the thermal imager didn’t reveal any obvious leaks but the floor is still getting wet, there are other methods to help track down the leak. Using a moisture meter can help detect hidden water accumulation in materials like wood or flooring, allowing you to pinpoint areas of high moisture. Dye testing can also be useful by introducing a non-toxic, brightly coloured dye into plumbing or drainage systems to track where the water is leaking from.

Pressure testing is another option, particularly for pipes, to check for a drop in pressure that could indicate a hidden leak. Sound detection with a leak noise correlator can help identify leaks in pipes by listening for specific frequencies, while infrared thermography might be worth revisiting, especially if there’s a more significant temperature difference between the water and surrounding materials. A combination of these methods could provide a more comprehensive approach to finding the source of the leak.

My only other suggestion is to cut the damp area out in a square pattern and inspecting the sides of the timber. Capillary action might be the cause of the leak. Re-patch the area with new timber and observe if the leak returns.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

con_66

Hi Eric. Thank you for all the info.
Flooring that is damp is yellow tongue flooring in two different areas of room. Plumber, building/pest inspector have examined boards underneath damp patch (underside of boards dry except gif a very small area). No moisture detected in any other floor areas, walls, ceiling or roof cavity. House on bearers and joists. No water damage or moisture in sub floor area.

JacobZ

Hi @con_66,

As @Dave-1 has mentioned, your best option is to have a leak detection specialist attend.

They are not the same as a building and pest inspector. As this is their specialty, they will be better equipped to give you a solid answer.

Jacob

Dave-1

Evening @con_66

Cruising into town today I was thinking of your problem 🙂 I was trying to think outsode the circle and have a couple of ideas to throw in the ring.

You know those water absorbing beads? DampFree 300g Disposable Moisture Absorbers - 2 Pack Put them in the middle of the damp patch, turn a clear large container upside down and tape it to the floor to seal the edges. It may pull the moisture from the boards.

Second idea, Using same said bucket, place it in the center of the damp areaand see if water is dripped into it from above. That will eliminate two potential ways that damp patch may be appearing. I fully get you may have tried both but really want you to know that with all the questions in here, someone will find or point towards an answer that may work for you. 🙂

Ideas never stop!

Dave

con_66

Hi All, thanks for all suggestions to get a leak detection specialist in. Followed advice and booked one. Paid a call out fee first up then thru booked in the “specialist” to do the inspection. They then rescheduled twice. Third time the guy who arrived wasn’t the person who i eas told initially would do inspection. The guy used a thermal imaging camera, took some photos, used a moisture metre. All up they were here fir about 35 minutes and charged me $850. They didn’t test pipes or inspect under floor area. I’ve asked company for the contractors name, licence number and connection to company I initially engaged with. They refused. So getting the leak detection testing has been a disaster and I’m no closer to knowing what the issue is

Dave-1

Evening @con_66

The leak specialist I would have presumed would be check water pipes pressure wise as well, plus any drains. As you have stated it wasnt the person you thought would be doing the checking. I would be discussing this with the company itself. I wouldnt expect to be given the contractors name as its the company you have aksed for the test to be done. Explain what and how the testing was done and ask if that is normal for a specialist to do. If the answer isnt to your liking then the department of fair trading would be the next stop (different states will have different gov bodies)

I find talking is far better to get a resolution then going down the hard path of a goverment body.

Dave

con_66

Thanks for your reply Dave. I’m not sure you understand the issues though. I engaged one company who allocated a specific qualified contractor by name to complete the work. That was what I agreed to. The specialist was not available the third time they changed the appt, so they sent the father of the contractor. I did not agree or engage a third party. I am entitled to know the contractors name and licence. I have asked company and they’ve refused. Sounds like you want to stick with the guys without knowing the details. As I engaged a specific specialist due to the complex nature of water ingress, I expected that service. I didn’t get the service and they used a person who seemingly, given the sub standard inspection, didn’t know what he was doing.

EricL

Hi @con_66

I'm sorry to hear that your experience with the leak detection specialist was not a positive one. I can only suggest contacting the owner/manager again to see if they can resolve your query.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

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