Damp/wet around plug socket

quickstepqueen

Yesterday morning I noticed a patch of wet/damp around this plug socket. Occasionally I plug one of those air fresheners in, and after talking to my partner, it seems he'd taken it out and laid it on its side on top of the plug. I assumed therefore that it had leaked. As the day wore on the patch started to dry out.
I left the plug out and placed in on the window sill, well away from the sockets. This morning however, I got up to find that the damp patch had extended, and was clearly new wet, as the patch was darker.
Now, I'm absolutely baffled. This socket as you can see is halfway up the wall. It is on an external wall and we have no plumbing/pipes on that wall or indeed on the wall in the bedroom above. (We don't even have central heating, so our water pipes are very limited.) I can't feel any damp on the cable channel further up the wall and can't see any damp upstairs either.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/147683074@N04/48692592863/in/dateposted-ff/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/147683074@N04/48693104317/in/dateposted-ff/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/147683074@N04/48692933096/in/dateposted-ff/

Does anyone have any ideas as to why this has suddenly appeared? My partner is currently working away and I don't know what I should do in the meantime (other than avoid using that socket.)
With many thanks in advance - qsq x

Fire_Fox

Liquid from the air freshener 'wicking' through the plasterwork and paperwork over time?

The base of the fragrance is more likely a volatile solvent or oil or mixture than water. Certainly there are a host of EU fragrance allergens listed on most plug-ins that are components of essential oils (not water miscible).

CakeCrusader

Does it smell like the air freshener? The socket's probably fine to be honest, it's probably worth switching the mains off and taking the cover off the socket to see what it's like inside, but the patch is most likely where the wall paper has soaked up some of the liquid inside the air freshener. It needs to dry out but you'll probably end up with a discoloured patch of wall paper there.



Plug in air fresheners need to be kept upright, they aren't too air tight at the top so they will leak.

unforeseen

Any water source above that socket (first floor or in ceiling) . It may be that it is running down inside the plastic conduit and will only appear at the socket

keith969

I'd hazard a guess that the air freshener liquid has soaked into the paper or even the plaster below, and is hygroscopic (absorbs water from the air). Only thing you can really do if that's the case is to repaper (or even replaster).

quickstepqueen

CakeCrusader wrote: »

Does it smell like the air freshener? The socket's probably fine to be honest, it's probably worth switching the mains off and taking the cover off the socket to see what it's like inside, but the patch is most likely where the wall paper has soaked up some of the liquid inside the air freshener. It needs to dry out but you'll probably end up with a discoloured patch of wall paper there.



Plug in air fresheners need to be kept upright, they aren't too air tight at the top so they will leak.

Mmm, it doesn't actually smell of air freshener. Yesterday, when I saw the first damp patch I would have put it down to the air freshener being laid on its side. However, last night the patch was drying nicely, so couldn't understand why a larger and darker patch (obviously new damp) appeared this morning, even though the air freshener was no where near the socket. I'll switch off the mains electric and take the socket front off and see what's going on behind. Thankyou.

quickstepqueen

keith969 wrote: »

I'd hazard a guess that the air freshener liquid has soaked into the paper or even the plaster below, and is hygroscopic (absorbs water from the air). Only thing you can really do if that's the case is to repaper (or even replaster).

That would make sense i.e. the air freshener has been absorbed into the paper/plaster, and even though the freshener is no longer there, air is being drawn in from the room and making the air freshener liquid kind of diluted and continuing to spread. Thankyou Keith.

quickstepqueen

unforeseen wrote: »

Any water source above that socket (first floor or in ceiling) . It may be that it is running down inside the plastic conduit and will only appear at the socket

There is no water source at all above this wall. I've checked for problems in the brick work and can't see a dislodged tile etc. The top of the conduit isn't wet and there's no moisture above it on the wall directly above. Ooh, I love a good mystery lol

unforeseen

quickstepqueen wrote: »

There is no water source at all above this wall. I've checked for problems in the brick work and can't see a dislodged tile etc. The top of the conduit isn't wet and there's no moisture above it on the wall directly above. Ooh, I love a good mystery lol

What about in the conduit. Have you taken the front off the socket and looked inside?

quickstepqueen

unforeseen wrote: »

What about in the conduit. Have you taken the front off the socket and looked inside?

Hello Unforeseen... Yes I did and it was all completely dry. Phew!! I've come to the conclusion that Keith's post hit the nail on the head. I couldn't smell anything yesterday, but today I got a faint whiff of the air freshener scent on the wall. With the info about the air freshener being hygroscopic, it all makes sense. I've definitely learned something from this (and I hope me other half has too lol)
I shall keep my eye on it, just in case, but thankyou to each and everyone of you for replying with your advice. You've just saved my sanity, and stopped me from chopping half a wall out or paying a builder to get to the nub of the problem. You MSE guys and gals are just stars :A :T

FreeBear

If/when you come to redecorate, paint some stain blocker over the affected area - Regardless of whether you paint the wall or put up wallpaper, the stain will show through without the stain blocker.