A homeowner couldn't determine the cause of water seeping in around her chimney cleanout. Our inspection found this hidden rod hole leaking water on the floor near the chimney to be the culprit.
The rod holes were a consequence of when the house was first built. Rod holes were formed when the foundation of the basement was originally poured during construction of the home; metal rods were used to hold the forms together until the concrete had cured. At which point the rods were removed, leaving holes to be filled with balls of hydraulic cement. These fillings, however, are prone to wear and tear, and often can lead to leaks during rainy weather over time.