Efflorescence or damp? (And wet electrical socket) (Ed.)

[yumlet]

Hi - I have this patch around one plug socket in the kitchen which is above the countertop. That end of the kitchen doesn’t have any plumbing but is adjacent to a range cooker. It did previously have plumbing and was originally a very old toilet which we knocked down when refurbing the entire house which has been fully replumbed/new electrics/plaster border and plastered throughout/new kitchen/new bathroom etc etc. gas boiler is now in the roof space. The house came with a building reg cert saying it already had cavity wall insulation and we had the wall ties replaced when the house was refurbed about 5 years ago as they were corroded and all of the above was done. We’ve used one of those little meters that tell you the moisture in the walls when you hold it against the wall and this patch is showing as red but all the surrounding areas and the rest of the house come up green so it does seem to be oddly isolated to this plug socket area.

There are a few other odd looking patches around the cooker which I’ve photographed too but not sure whether this is bubbling paint or a bigger problem.

Any ideas on either of these in terms of cause / how to prove cause and potential fix?

Thanks!!

 

[Wayners]

Tape a piece of clear plastic to the wall. If water appears under the plastic then the wall is damp. If it appears on top of the plastic then it is condensation.

 

[ree]

OP,
You could have penetrating damp?
The circular marks are typical of Dot&Dab where the moisture is penetrating thro the dab adhesive?
To cross your cavity the damp will have to pass thro the cavity insulation - what kind of CWI do you have? Is it original or blown?
Why not post a pic of the outside of the wall?

For the time being why not unplug, and dont use the outlet?

 

[JohnD]

Efflorescence or damp?​

They are not mutually exclusive

In your case it looks to me like you have a source of water in the wall, such as a plumbing leak or possibly rainwater or a bathroom on the other side of the wall. Sometimes a bathroom leak is above. It does not look like condensation.

Water around electrical fittings occasionally happens when a leak gets into conduit or trunking and runs down into a switch or socket. Or in your case running down the cables from a source above.

You may find some clues if you look behind the switches and sockets.

I agree the pattern looks like it is penetrating through dot and dab from a wet wall.

What is above the wet patch, and what is on the other side of the wall?

If the boiler is in the roof space it is out is sight and may be leaking unseen, or losing condensate.

Stand back and take wider pics of the whole wall, all the way up to the ceiling and under the worktop all the way to the floor, and around the boiler.

I strongly recommend you isolate the wet electrics from power and do not use them until the problem is resolved.

 

[blup]

Damp, whatever the source, has penetrated through the dot and dab. Probably long standing penetrating damp from the pipes associated with the previous toilet plumbing. A suitable stud wall will act as a barrier, otherwise let the wall dry out or reboard with a suitable vapour barrier in place

 

[JohnD]

Finding the source of water, and rectifying it, would be better.

 

[blup]

If its still a current problem

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

From the photos it looks like it's still very wet to me. At least in the area below the socket, for about one socket's height. You'd be able to tell by touching it - AFTER switching the power off.

Definitely isolate that socket and don't use it. Look inside it, see how much of a mess it is. It will probably need a new back box at least, you might not even be able to unscrew it.

Unless you have pets or children, perhaps leave it at least partially open to dry out.

Find the source. I'd say the efforescence is a symptom of what looks like a major leak somewhere.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

Is it all a chimney and/or loft conversion?

If so then start at at the top, get a roofer to look above.

 

[JohnD]

Find the source. I'd say the efforescence is a symptom of what looks like a major leak somewhere.

Yes. It looks like there is a source of water that needs to be found and repaired.