Leak without a source - Need a plumber?

Hi all, Recently purchased a little brick townhouse (see attached picture) and there’s been this ongoing leak. We were doing cometic work inside and weren’t aware of the leak until it was time to refinish the floors. The floors got sanded and there was one spot by the front windows, near the window bench that kept getting soak. At first it seeemed like the water was coming from the outside around the windows. So first we replaced the windows in the front. Okay not the best windows but still. And the leak continued. It leaks through the floors when it rains but also when it doesn’t. You’ll see from the picture of the outside that there’s a little mansard roof in the front that we thought it might be coming from, so we replaced that. The roof on the top had already been taken care of. Still a leak. Then we moved the gutters from next to the house to down the side of the front switching the direction of the water. Still a leak. There’s nothing on the walls and no water pipes beneath the spot. We’ve had a dehumidifier on the spot for weeks and it just won’t dry up. The wetness doesn’t correspond to rain, showering, or anything else like this. Besides ripping up the floors and walls any other ideas? We don’t even know who to call in at this point. All advice appreciated! Thanks!

yesbrooklyn

in Plumbers and Plumbing 9 years and 9 months ago

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azggeorge | 9 years and 6 months ago

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When dealing with your roof, make certain that you comprehend everything, before beginning the work. I think these leaks often result from improperly installed windows or poor home construction techniques that prompt the need for expensive, premature repairs. There are tons of repairing services who help in providing the solution and ideas on what you should do. So it is better to contact the plumbers once. [balcony waterproofing](http://getdry.com.au/)

yesbrooklyn | 9 years and 9 months ago

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Thanks! They only do mitigation, not detection… Any one know of someone/can recommend someone who can detect leak?

dorkofwindsor | 9 years and 9 months ago

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contractors that do restoration should have one, as well as plumbers, but also there are water damage contractors that should certainly have them. The only water damage contractors i have used was Servpro (in manhattan) but since there is one that is a Brownstoner sponsor in brooklyn i’ll plug them for Cate: http://www.servpronorthwestbrooklyn.com

yesbrooklyn | 9 years and 9 months ago

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Thanks so much! There’s no AC line and I’m afraid it might be coming from a neighbor?! How do I find said person with pinless moisture meter? What kind of person has this?

dorkofwindsor | 9 years and 9 months ago

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Wow you’ve been chasing this for a while. What i think you need is someone with a moisture meter to determine where this leak is. Or at least where to start some exploratory holes. My hunches: 1) rusted waste pipe in wall 2) clogged A/C condensate line 3) pin hole leak or joint failure in water pipe in wall. I won’t say go back to the roof because if it is there long after rain is gone then you should see a pattern. And i’m assuming there is no radiant heat pipes or PEX tubing for heat underneath the floor. Also, it is possible that this could be coming from one of the neighbors as well on the aforementioned issues. So instead of blindly going and re-doing the whole house, find someone with a professional (pinless) moisture meter and go on hard data as far as detective work goes. It uses RF to detect, and i know the professional ones can cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Not sure how reliable the consumer / prosumer ones are, *If you have an ac unit on the roof and condensate is draining onto the roof all summer, it could still be the roof (flashing issues?). but moisture meter should be able to give you better confidence in your search.