What could be causing this?

[fizzyfizzy]

Hi, would anyone like to hazard a guess at what's causing this problem on the ground floor of our house? As you can see, the bottom of both sides of the door frame are wet. The doorway is nowhere near any windows and is positioned pretty much in the centre of the house. Could this be water dripping down a pipe from above or likely some kind of leak under the floor? Why would it be localised to the door frame?

I've had two plumber/builders visit to give an assessment but both declined to take the job any further. It's very worrying and I just want to get it rectified.

Thanks

 

[Ben-gee]

Is it a concrete floors?

If you turn the central heating on does this leak become hot?

Is your water meter constantly spinning even with no usage in the house?

How about if you turn the internal stopcock off?

Etc etc many questions but these 4 will do to start with…

 

[snowhead]

Just one extra question,
Have you had any work done in the last few months in the area above where the leak is?

 

[fizzyfizzy]

Thanks for the replies. I'll try those suggestions. No, not had any work done recently. It's been like it for a long time.

 

[Ben-gee]

Didn’t start after a new carpet did it?
Nailed down gripper and door threshold bars?

 

[Last Plumber]

Could be a number of things. Nailed pipe, pin holed pipe, leaking joint. Needs investigating obviously. I'd see it as a challenge and sort it! It can't be that difficult. Its not a bad job is it?

What amazes me is the amount of times (not just on forum but in real life) I hear "Plumbers won't take it on". I've heard it twice in as many weeks and it's not one plumber either, it's normally a procession.

Why would a Plumber not take that on? The two above have engaged the same part of the brain as I did from the off. Curiosity, intrigue, challenge etc. To locate that and fix it gives a sense of job satisfaction never mind being paid.

Maybe it's a generation thing? God knows!

Looking at the circle of damp, my guess would be that there's water running down the inside of the architrave. Or a pipe behind it? What's above? What did the visiting Plumbers think it was?

 

[Gasmk1]

I have had to repair a couple of leak for floor fitting friend wher the pipes run down behind the architrav. But If floors are wood I would plump for the carpet gripper through pipe.