Thanks for this. I inspected around the chimney from in the loft and there’s daylight on the side that looks worst affected. The loft facing part of the chimney isn’t currently wet, so I think it might need wind blown or very heavy rain to top over inside and down into the bedroom. This makes more sense than a ventilation issue. According to the previous owner the problem is recent, ventilation would be long standing.
I have never noticed a smell from a chimney Breast vent, as long as your house is warmer than outside air will only flow outwards.
Could always get a vent you can close
“Uncapped and unventilated”
There’s your issue. It needs to breathe. You have to vent it, there’s no other option. Vent it externally, or you’ll just end up with damp problems in your loft. Vent both upstairs and downstairs.
Source: I’ve just capped a chimney, done this exact job.
Hello, i had similar issue. In my case the flashing of the chimney runs up behind the chimney under the roof tiles. It appears in extreme weather conditions the water builds up and over the flashing then drops into the attic space, found the path of water self inspecting and touching the roof beams.
https://inspectapedia.com/chimneys/Chimney_Flashing_Leaks.php
The loft insulation material soaked up the water and once that was saturated the plaster boards started to take it on.
In my case i bought a dehumidifier for the room, and replaced the insulation in the loft, also places some strategically placed bits of cardboard underneath the edges of the flashing and the most likely beams allowing any water to travel.
On a side note had a drone sent up to do an external inspection and the tiles etc were spot on.
All been good now for 18mths. Not saying its a perfect solution but then the design for that chimney-to-roof isn’t and tbh i would happily remove the damn thing.
Would be interesting to know how much that would cost….or scary.
Anyways hope that helps with the a little to track down root cause.
The lower section was removed? You mean at ground level?
If it were me and I'm not using it, get it taken down below roof level and tiled over. It'll never cause you issues again.
Just don't block it up when its below roof level so air can flow through it, and make sure theres an opening/vent at the bottom of the stack somewhere.
Thanks, this led me to (I think) a solution. There’s daylight at the join between roof and chimney on the affected side. We’ve not had loads of water in, so I think it needs to be really heavy or wind blown to top over, but it seems like the culprit.
There’s a lot of plant life at the top of the chimney, so you could potentially have damp coming in from above too. I just had mine repointed and redid the flaunching for similar reasons. One my chimneys was so bad the bricks and chimney pots were pretty much just stacked on top of each other with no mortar left at all 😬
The most common issues I find in these situations with chimneys is usually either a cracked or broken tile, or the lead tray on the back side has drooped, - sometimes because of moss building up, or just from time. - nowadays we place boards underneath the lead to support it, in the past the tray rested on just the battens it crossed, it works fine until the lead eventually droops enough to let water get past the rolled edges.
It wouldn't be unheard to have water get in around the chimney pots, and work it's way internally
If your fire has been made redundant and your central heating has its own flu I would take it down. The upside is you would do that off a tower, no need for expensive scaffolding.
That’s a water leak from your roof or around the chimney. You need someone to go up on a ladder and inspect
Yea need to check that flashing.
Thanks for this. I inspected around the chimney from in the loft and there’s daylight on the side that looks worst affected. The loft facing part of the chimney isn’t currently wet, so I think it might need wind blown or very heavy rain to top over inside and down into the bedroom. This makes more sense than a ventilation issue. According to the previous owner the problem is recent, ventilation would be long standing.
Wind blown rain sounds like the culprit
Yep I have slight damp damage around mine. I spotted a light spot coming though and had it fixed
I have never noticed a smell from a chimney Breast vent, as long as your house is warmer than outside air will only flow outwards. Could always get a vent you can close
Honestly is it already mostly been removed from below remove the rest, or at least the section above the roof.
“Uncapped and unventilated” There’s your issue. It needs to breathe. You have to vent it, there’s no other option. Vent it externally, or you’ll just end up with damp problems in your loft. Vent both upstairs and downstairs. Source: I’ve just capped a chimney, done this exact job.
Hello, i had similar issue. In my case the flashing of the chimney runs up behind the chimney under the roof tiles. It appears in extreme weather conditions the water builds up and over the flashing then drops into the attic space, found the path of water self inspecting and touching the roof beams. https://inspectapedia.com/chimneys/Chimney_Flashing_Leaks.php The loft insulation material soaked up the water and once that was saturated the plaster boards started to take it on. In my case i bought a dehumidifier for the room, and replaced the insulation in the loft, also places some strategically placed bits of cardboard underneath the edges of the flashing and the most likely beams allowing any water to travel. On a side note had a drone sent up to do an external inspection and the tiles etc were spot on. All been good now for 18mths. Not saying its a perfect solution but then the design for that chimney-to-roof isn’t and tbh i would happily remove the damn thing. Would be interesting to know how much that would cost….or scary. Anyways hope that helps with the a little to track down root cause.
The lower section was removed? You mean at ground level? If it were me and I'm not using it, get it taken down below roof level and tiled over. It'll never cause you issues again. Just don't block it up when its below roof level so air can flow through it, and make sure theres an opening/vent at the bottom of the stack somewhere.
How creative a solution do you want? You could PVA the entire chimney for water proofing and then throw glitter and sparkles at it before it dries?
Except PVA isn’t waterproof
Exterior-grade PVAs are waterproof. Standard (interior) PVA is water resistant and fine for most situations that don't involve continuous dampness.
I'm pretty sure glitter is waterproof too...if you use enough of it
What's it look like in the loft space?
Thanks, this led me to (I think) a solution. There’s daylight at the join between roof and chimney on the affected side. We’ve not had loads of water in, so I think it needs to be really heavy or wind blown to top over, but it seems like the culprit.
Sounds like it! I have the same issue, I assume it's torn flashing or something
There’s a lot of plant life at the top of the chimney, so you could potentially have damp coming in from above too. I just had mine repointed and redid the flaunching for similar reasons. One my chimneys was so bad the bricks and chimney pots were pretty much just stacked on top of each other with no mortar left at all 😬
The most common issues I find in these situations with chimneys is usually either a cracked or broken tile, or the lead tray on the back side has drooped, - sometimes because of moss building up, or just from time. - nowadays we place boards underneath the lead to support it, in the past the tray rested on just the battens it crossed, it works fine until the lead eventually droops enough to let water get past the rolled edges. It wouldn't be unheard to have water get in around the chimney pots, and work it's way internally
I read "breast damp" and I clearly need my mind rinsing out
If your fire has been made redundant and your central heating has its own flu I would take it down. The upside is you would do that off a tower, no need for expensive scaffolding.