No.  The term “sealer” can be misleading.  The typical clear products applied to façades are generally Silane or siloxane water repellents.  There are other types of water repellents as well, but the important thing to remember is that these materials are designed to slow down water absorption into the façade materials, but the do not “waterproof” the façade.  Similar to a water resistant vs. waterproof watch.

Possibly yes.  That depends on the façade design and functionality.  Most modern facades are designed to allow some level of water to enter through the exterior skin but to be managed by a weather resistive barrier (WRB) within the wall cavity directly behind the skin.  These types of facades are generally described drainage systems, and some have complete air barrier systems installed through the WRB.  Completely sealing these types of facades at the surface may create more problems and may not allow the system to function properly.  Other wall systems are described as barriers.  These systems do not have the WRB secondary lines of defense and water must be completely managed at the skin.  One important note for waterproof materials, whether on the face (for a barrier) or the WRB (for a drainage system), these materials must be breathable so as to not trap water vapor trying to exit to the exterior side.

Typically, yes.  Unless there are obvious holes and/or large cracks in a barrier system, in order to properly understand the existing conditions and locate the potential source(s) of water intrusion, proper diagnosis is achieved by trained professionals through investigation and specifically localized water testing.  Note: spraying water on the façade in a general area and observing water on the interior side after a period of time is NOT water testing.  Water testing is a specific process to first determine the assumed construction and water management design at the face and (even more importantly) behind the face and then work in a systematic process to isolate the various components to determine the assumed water paths.  The process is very much like a murder investigation – it isn’t usually the first suspect.

Although there are some typical signs that a façade is a drainage system, such as the presence of weep holes or weep tubes at consistent locations throughout the façade, without proper review and investigation by trained professionals, scope development is often left to chance by many so-called waterproofing companies.  These types of decisions could end up costing the owner hundreds of thousands of dollars or more without solving the root problems and lead to continued water intrusion.