Soaking Wet Insulation Batt

kingofmycastle

So we found soaking wet fiber glass insulation on some exterior walls.

We left a 5' section of wall exposed (no wall or insulation) for almost a year to monitor it for leaks.
We haven't witness any dampness on the brick or pudding.

After remove the entire 25' section of the wall, more wet insulation was found.

Can this wetness caused by condensation from poor vapor barrier installed and the walls sweating (we use a fire place in this room)? 2" insulation with the barrier not sealed at the top or bottom.

There are signs of efflorescence on some blocks but can they come from the condensation rather than a leak?
Didn't see any cracks on the blocks and mortar lines looks ok.

I will post some pics this morning.

joecaption

I'd be up on the roof checking the crown and flashing on the chimmney and feeling for soft wood around the base of the chimmney.
Also look in the attic at the under side of the roof in that area for damage.
Effervesants tells me moisture from outside is getting in, not condensation.

kingofmycastle

Here are some pictures.

This picture below shows something was applied on the cinder block, whether its from when the house was built 30 years ago or when they finished the basement I don't know. But some is flaking off. You can see efflorescence.




This picture is of the same section of the wall at a different angle. The underside of the carpet is stained near the bottom left of the picture where the bottom brick looks like it has fracture marks.



This last pictures shows the other section of the wall with carpet stains but not very much evidence of efflorescence. The top section of the brick has some dark stain. The 2x4 bottom plate above the brick looks clean and dry.




There are holes in the mortar in the first course of the bricks, I think it might be created by pests move in and out of the basement walls and using the wet insulation as their habitat.

What do I do to confirm if this wall is leaking? We want to re-finish the wall again soon.

kingofmycastle

All the dry wall and wood looks dry and clean above the foundation wall.

I have read a report that pro-long condensation can cause efflorescence but I don't know if I should believe it or not.

joecaption

There is no brick, that's all concrete blocks. It should have been sealed on the outside not the inside. Looks like someone tryed to use a product like Dri-Loc or even paint or the inside to stop the leaks, not going to happen.
Take a picture of the outside of the house in that area.

allthumbsdiy

sill plates under the window looks like they are stained.

are you sure you don't have leaks around windows?