Redundant chimney stack

[susanm]

Chimney no longer used. Despite spending £4000 on repairs (supposedly) the issues remain. The chimney breast in attic room remains damp. Ceiling wallpaper comes down periodically. Treated the exposed brickwork with all products known to man to damproof it. Try and get permission to remove??? Any ideas?

 

[TudorCottage]

Damproofing is quite possibly the cause of the issue. Any moisture inside the chimney stack will be struggling to dry out if the outside is covered in non breathable materials.

Old houses will always get wet, having the best chance of drying when the sun comes out and the wind blows is key.

Are the pots covered, is the pointing sound?

A few pictures may help.

 

[Cubist]

Too often when finding damp people will always look first to the external sources of water penetration. Sometimes, and more often than may be thought, the culprit is indoors and a direct product of our activities. Its wise to consider whether, as these troublesome damp patches and failing wallpaper are sited at the top of the house, your heating and ventilation systems may be at fault and due to warm moist air rising from the ground and upper floors and that moisture condensing out around the cold chimney breast and the ceiling. This, of all causes, is the simplest and easiest to test for by taping a sheet of kitchen foil over one of the damp patches and after 24hrs or so checking to see if its wet on its outer surface nearest you. If it is, then the problem is condensation, but if its dry and the back against the wall is wet then its penetrating damp.

 

[susanm]

Thankyou I will give the kitchen foil a try however the brick chimney breast in the attic bedroom visibly looks and feels damp. A Radiator is on in that room constantly.

 

[susanm]

Damproofing is quite possibly the cause of the issue. Any moisture inside the chimney stack will be struggling to dry out if the outside is covered in non breathable materials.

Old houses will always get wet, having the best chance of drying when the sun comes out and the wind blows is key.

Are the pots covered, is the pointing sound?

A few pictures may help.

The chimney stacks have covers on them and they have been repointed. There is an exposed fireplace in the bedroom on the first floor. Would it help to light a fire and hope to dry the chimney out do you think plse.