Which all points to water getting into the stack.

Have you got a set of flue brushes and rods, if so, give them a sweep and see how damp it is.

Adding vents is bad idea as far as the gas fire is concerned. Which is the worse case the gas fire or the electric fire.

Is there a bend in the stack about ceiling height.

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Thanks again for your comments.

I feel we have two options:
1. Get the chimney damp proofed, though this can only be done when the weather is warmer/drier?
2. Get the chimneys removed down to roof height and put a vent for the fire? Expensive but this cure the problem once and for all.

Anyone done the later? Also and I am niotsure if this forum allows this, but can someone recommend a good company to do this?

I did speak to the original roofers and they did say ferns were growing inside the chimney

Questions, questions, questions!

The first option is to read the posts and respond to them.

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I thought I had answered most in my previous post (is inside of chimney damp - yes ferns are growing) and on page one

As for a bend in the chimney, no there is none.

HTH

How about the flue brushes

Water is getting into the center of the stack, to get out there must be a blockage, which is also reflected by the ferns growing. a good sweep would probably solve most if not all the problem.

How dangerous is the gas fire.

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I would like to make a few comments.
It is a shame that the chimney's have been painted, as it makes it harder to see what has happened in the past, but I have noticed some cracks in the render.
It is normal for water vapour to travel through mortar as, when mixing mortar air is entrained into the mix and these holes/bubbles whatever provide a means for water to spread, sink and rise.

As you can see, the chimney's were not designed and built to a very high standard and they do not have fitted trays to collect the water landing on the chimney and to divert it away from the house.

I would guess from the photos, that the property is in an exposed position?

I would also guess that the render on the walls is cracked?

And that wind swept rain is entering the render and making the internal walls cold.

The above are causing the water vapour suspended inside the home to condense into the cold walls.

Can it be confirmed that the windows run with condensation at times?

Can it be confirmed that the heating is turned off during the night and possibly during the day?

Does the problem go away with the heat of summer?

And return each winter?

Perr, many thanks for taking the time to reply.


I would guess from the photos, that the property is in an exposed position? Yes

I would also guess that the render on the walls is cracked? In places

And that wind swept rain is entering the render and making the internal walls cold. I assume so as there is no evidence of ingress from the roof.

The above are causing the water vapour suspended inside the home to condense into the cold walls. Yes, it has affected the other external wall

Can it be confirmed that the windows run with condensation at times? Yes

Can it be confirmed that the heating is turned off during the night and possibly during the day? Yes

Does the problem go away with the heat of summer? Yes

And return each winter? Yes

All very impressive Selective condensation.

You still have a blockage up the flue, or the water would be running in the fire place, or at least down the wall.

The stack is dry above the ceiling, and dry a couple of feet below the ceiling.

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While there may not be a problem with the chimney's one is not being used?
The other is being used for a gas fire.
Probably the best thing is to take the unused one down to below roof level.
The used one is suspect.
And should probably be taken down to two brick courses above the point where it enters the roof, then a stainless steel flue should be dropped down and attached to the vent on the fire and a stainless steel cowl fitted to deflect the rain.

You are currently using it to vent the gas fire.
When you burn gas, the gas creates water vapour, this water vapour then enters the chimney and condenses, making it damp and of course the walls on either side are damp.
This problem occurs every time you light the fire.
In any event the process of warming the chimney drives the damp towards the cold, the inside of the room.
When the room side of the chimney is damp and cold, a lot the water vapour in the home moves towards it and condenses into the wall, making it damp, before moving across the chimney by convection, depositing on the other side and moving to the outside.

The problem is the water vapour you and your family produce by merely living.
Every time you cook, wash, breath, sweat water vapour is put into the air.
Each of us breaths out and sweats about 1.5 litres of water vapour every twenty four hours. Old people a bit less, active children and animals a bit more.

In the normal way the breath and sweat are dealt with, absorbed into the fabric of our homes.

The water vapour from cooking and washing should be vented to the outside via extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom, kitchen and bathroom doors should be kept closed at all times to limit the water vapour getting into our homes. Where this water vapour is not expelled outside damp followed by poor health follow.

Water vapour can be handled by installing and using extractor fans, preferably ones with heat exchangers and controlled by humidistats, these will spring into action once the humidity reaches your prescribed level.
It can also be handled by opening the window while cooking, and leaving it open for a time afterward s.
Opening the window after washing works.
Buying and using a dehumidifer.
Insulating the walls and ceilings therefore raising the temperature of the rooms, enabling the air to hold more water vapour.
Keeping the heating steady, maintaining the same temperature 24/7 through the winter.

Obviously, wasting heat is an expensive business, retaining as much heat as possible must be the target. Using a dehumidifier will dry the place, it will also help warm the home, reducing costs as dry air is cheaper to heat than damp. Extractor fans with heat exchangers are expensive to buy, but they do provide fresh warm air.

Thanks chaps.

thescruff. There has been water running down the inside of the wall when it has been raining hard and there are water trails in the fire grate.

The chimney with the gas fire, has evidence of damp but is no where near as bad as the other chimney (the photos shown in the original post) where there is no fire.

The bedroom is heated from around 5-10pm each night (central heating) and a dehumidifier is used every other day - the other day it is used in the second bedroom.

Having lived here for almost 9 years it was only when the roof was sorted that the problem happened, but I have to admit this was the same time the stacks and house was painted.

Looks like to ensure 100% cure, I need to get the chimneys removed.

Isn't that a good clue.

Have you got a pic of the side flashings.

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Thanks thescruff , but I really don't want you having to hit your ehad against the wall or roll the eyes too often, so I will call it a day.

Best wishes to all.