Leak in New House

dace69

Hello,

Any advice here, much appreciated? Moved into our newly built house a few weeks ago. We have a Back Boiler installed. Lit the fire last week & noticed water appearing out from under the hearth of the fireplace, just on top of the wooden floor. Not a hugh amount of water but enough to be concerned as to where it's coming from. The wooden floor is installed on batons, hence the sub-floor is about 3" below. Plummer came back & broke out inside of fireplace (below grate) & also hole in the wall where pipes come out - no trace of water here at all. If I put a piece of newspaper in under the granite hearth, which lies on the wood if will come out wet so, if the water is under the concrete it is rising up this far. Took the adjoining skirting board off & it's bone dry. Plummer has now suggest taking the fireplace out. Very messy but think we'll have to do it. I envisage us taking up the floor at this stage too. It's a solid floor running to the hall, dining room & sun room so, I guess the leak could be anywhere. Again, any advice much appreciated.

Avns1s

From what you describe, it would seem that the source is either the backboiler, associated pipework or water coming down the chimney, either down the flue or the blockwork though I think the latter is unlikely. Are there other pipes in the vicinity?

You say the plumber looked at where the pipes are coming out throught he wall but you don't mention if he eliminated the connections on the back boiler or the back boiler itself.

The fact that it seemed dry before you used the boiler would seem to indicate a problem with the boiler or pipework, perhaps a leak that only happens with the expansion in the pipes etc when the fire is running.

From your description, it seems unlikely that water is running along the floor and getting under your hearth, as it is significantly higher (3-4 inches) which again indicates your boiler.

Hope you get it sorted. Nothing worse than a leak in a house, particularly when you are unsure of the source.

dace69

Thanks for your reply. Think we've eliminated a leak under ground at this stage as the attic tank isn't losing any water. Next step, is to light the fire again & see if the problem gets worse. Could be connections on the boiler alright, when it's in use. Thanks again.

david2002

It might be possible that there is condensation froming on the underside of the hearth if a leak has been eliminated. I have not hear of this before but if the subfloor is bone dry and the only place water is found, is under the hearth, but on the raised wood floor, this may be a possibility.

Maybe someone in the know on fireplaces or woodfloors may have come across this before and be able to advise you on whether it is a possibility. Sorry I could not be more help.