Under-slab Leak?

[JTScribe]

We had an outside hose that was leaking under the slab. My brother is a plumber and we actually ran Pex inside of the old water line and hooked it up at both ends. Saved from having to jackhammer my driveway. Hope yours is as easy!

 

[danielocean03]

Digging in to the concrete tonight.

 

[danielocean03]

It's fixed! Thanks for all the advice and replies everyone. Ended up being a spot where the concrete touched the hot water pipe when the foundation was originally poured, causing a small dent in the copper line that eroded over time and leaked.

 

[RobbyMaQ]

#barnwood

 

[1911ly]

I live in a slab floor house. I have feared this same issue. The only plus I have is the under slab part is between the water meter and the main shut off. The rest of the plumbing runs up in to the ceiling.

I am glad it was an easy enough fix.

 

[hoosierdoc]

So you leaked enough hot water to notice the meter running... Do you have a gas or electric water heater? That bill may stink too

glad you're fixed and no sink hole swallowed your classic corvettes

 

[halfmileharry]

I worked maintenance for a few months at a large apartment complex on the west side of Indy. Old complex and tri level apts. The sub levels were mostly vacant due to slab leaks in ALL the buildings. I spent my whole time there fixing slab leaks. Jack hammers are not my friend.
Even in the short time I was there I found out that hot water re-circulaters caused worn out spots where the soft copper had a ding or angle in them.
In a couple of buildings the copper was rotten and ended up chasing from apartment to apartment.
I didn't mind the work but the management company was a "Slum Lord" outfit out of Chicago. I had a conscience so I left that employment.
Glad to hear you got your leak fixed. I hate plumbing leaks.

 

[churchmouse]

Post #20..............

Glad you got it fixed

 

[churchmouse]

I worked maintenance for a few months at a large apartment complex on the west side of Indy. Old complex and tri level apts. The sub levels were mostly vacant due to slab leaks in ALL the buildings. I spent my whole time there fixing slab leaks. Jack hammers are not my friend.
Even in the short time I was there I found out that hot water re-circulaters caused worn out spots where the soft copper had a ding or angle in them.
In a couple of buildings the copper was rotten and ended up chasing from apartment to apartment.
I didn't mind the work but the management company was a "Slum Lord" outfit out of Chicago. I had a conscience so I left that employment.
Glad to hear you got your leak fixed. I hate plumbing leaks.

I can probably name the complex.
I did some of this work for the HVAC company I was working for. The hot water heating lines were leaking like the titanic in a few of "Those" buildings.
The re-bar was touching the 2" copper lines and all the solder had left the joints. I am guessing dissimilar metal electrolysis. The line repairs were easy enough. The jack-hammer part sucked butt.

 

[halfmileharry]

I can probably name the complex.
I did some of this work for the HVAC company I was working for. The hot water heating lines were leaking like the titanic in a few of "Those" buildings.
The re-bar was touching the 2" copper lines and all the solder had left the joints. I am guessing dissimilar metal electrolysis. The line repairs were easy enough. The jack-hammer part sucked butt.

Pulling out the cabinets and breaking out reinforcing walls to repair major sections sucked. Then trying to make them look like something when the management didn't want to spend a nickel on the place.
I'm betting you can guess.

 

[churchmouse]

Pulling out the cabinets and breaking out reinforcing walls to repair major sections sucked. Then trying to make them look like something when the management didn't want to spend a nickel on the place.
I'm betting you can guess.

When the heat failed it was deep winter. Some of those units looked like Niagara falls.

 

[looney2ns]

So what's the best way to avoid this issue when it's installed? Use Schedule 40 under the slab, CPVC????

 

[ghitch75]

So what's the best way to avoid this issue when it's installed? Use Schedule 40 under the slab, CPVC????

pex in a pvc sleeve.......CPVC gets very brittle over the years with hot water.......pex has more flex and will stay that way for years to come....

 

[matt thomas]

Anyone ever dealt with an under-slab leak before? Got an abnormally high water bill, started reading around and found a warm spot on a bedroom floor in the closet. Called a friend who is a plumber, he said it sounds like it could be an under-slab leak. Looking into companies to pinpoint leak with thermal imaging tomorrow, anyone have advise or recommendations? Thanks in advance.

If this is under slab leak , then you should hire a slab leak repair specialist . They can find the spot where the water is leaking and fix it immediately without destroying the floor.

 

[dreich]

Years ago, I helped re plumb a 16 unit building with water lines leaking under slab. We moved all lines above under insulation and solved problem. I was told at the time the copper line decayed due to being improperly mated to steel pipe allowing electrolysis to occur and cause the breakdown.