Major condensation in top floor of brownstone

Mold/condensation question I’m going to throw out here: I have a SERIOUS problem with hot, damp air coming in to my top floor apartment via a vent next to the (non working, blocked off) fireplace. It’s an old brownstone that hasn’t had much done to it, our neighbors below have no issue. But the living room smells musty/moldy and feels like someone just took a long, hot shower in it. The paint is bubbling in some spots and condensation collects on the exterior wall, ceiling, crown moulding and windows. This DID NOT happen last winter and is not happening in the other room. Has this happened to anyone out there? Any clue as to what would cause the vent to spit out all this moist air? I initially thought it might be a leak in the chimney, but I’m not sure. I am renting, the landlord is unconcerned and seems to think it’s just “extreme weather” paired with the heat being cranked up. While that may be a contributing factor, I don’t think it’s the main issue. Some photos below. Any advice greatly appreciated!

cliftonetc

in Walls and Interiors 10 years and 5 months ago

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Rick | 10 years and 5 months ago

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There’s a good chance that your chimney is not venting as good as it should. Most often the vent for the boiler is running through an old chimney in the fireplace. Any blockage in the chimney makes that musty steamy oily condensation pushed back through the walls of the chimney. Have a chimney repair company check for the blockage. Not unusual that old bricks can fall inside the chimney causing the restriction of proper venting. A new metal lining through the chimney will prevent this. You could get gassed by this situation so it should get fixed asap.

cliftonetc | 10 years and 5 months ago

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Thanks all for the input. Can anyone reccomend an honest repair person who could take a look at it? Thanks!

dorkofwindsor | 10 years and 5 months ago

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You should verify that your boiler is indeed steam and follow the clues. It just looked to me like a virtual steam shower which would cause heavy condensation in this weather between the inside humidity and and outside humidity and temperature. I would not wait on this as it could develop some serious mold in the walls, i would personally not cover up that vent and i might even do a test and crack the top of a window ever so slightly to release the humidity while the repairmen can make a diagnosis.

resident2 | 10 years and 5 months ago

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The radiator system is steam? It is definitely a steam pipe leak somewhere behind the wall, probably next to the old hot air vents that are no longer in use, other than as a chase for the steam risers. Steam leaks can happen when the heat & pressure are increased to compensate for the extreme cold.

cliftonetc | 10 years and 5 months ago

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We have radiators, though truth: they never get that warm. Ever. Normally top floors are very warm, but our apartment is consistently cold. There is an identical vent in the bedroom, but nothing comes out of it, save for the occasional food smell from our neighbors downstairs. Until now I had never noticed anything coming from this vent.

dorkofwindsor | 10 years and 5 months ago

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is it steam heating in the building delivered from that vent? maybe there is a leak in a steam pipe. just a wild random thought.

cliftonetc | 10 years and 5 months ago

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The vent in question and its proximity to the fireplace! Currently I have towels tacked over it so condensation doesn’t spew in to the room.

Bessie | 10 years and 5 months ago

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Show us the vent.

cliftonetc | 10 years and 5 months ago

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It’s actually an exterior wall; the building next to us is only two stories, whereas we’re three. But I’m sure that ice/snow from the roof plays a part in this, just not entirely sure.

Arkady | 10 years and 5 months ago

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Is it a party wall? Could it be an oozing leak from an ice dam on the roof?

cliftonetc | 10 years and 5 months ago

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I don’t think anything has been done to the building in years. All the plumbing is on the other side of the building, as well. This only started being an issue about a week ago when we asked our neighbors on the ground floor (who control the thermostat) to turn up the heat before they left town. I think it was happening, just not as noticeable. The walls were cold/damp to the touch but not bubbling like they are now.

GreenThinker | 10 years and 5 months ago

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Has the landlord done any renovations in the past year? He might of potentially ran a bathroom vent into a non-working chimney flu.