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Slab leak detection - plumber recommendation?
Posted on 7/23/23 at 9:46 am
Posted on 7/23/23 at 9:46 am
Ive got a beast of a problem at my house. The wood floors were rotting. American Leak Detection came and said they suspected that it was coming from the slab. They pressure tested the supply lines and did some minimal scope of the sewer washout. It wasnt definitive.
Since then, Ive decided to tear up all the floors in my house. I borrow an infrared camera from work and have been taking pictures of the concrete where it appears to be "damp".
Before I go back with a moisture barrier and new floors, I want to find the actual source of this water. Ive been up in the attic and dont see any visible signs of leaking from above. Ive watched my water meter for a solid day with no movement. Had the pressure test done. Im a bit lost as to how to identify a source from below.
I guess a good plumber could find it? Are there any in Baton Rouge that are good at this? Im trying to avoid an inexperienced person coming out and telling me I need to bust up parts of my slab bc he isnt sure. Also, do plumbers address slab drainage issues?
Im giving this project 0/10 would not recommend
Since then, Ive decided to tear up all the floors in my house. I borrow an infrared camera from work and have been taking pictures of the concrete where it appears to be "damp".
Before I go back with a moisture barrier and new floors, I want to find the actual source of this water. Ive been up in the attic and dont see any visible signs of leaking from above. Ive watched my water meter for a solid day with no movement. Had the pressure test done. Im a bit lost as to how to identify a source from below.
I guess a good plumber could find it? Are there any in Baton Rouge that are good at this? Im trying to avoid an inexperienced person coming out and telling me I need to bust up parts of my slab bc he isnt sure. Also, do plumbers address slab drainage issues?
Im giving this project 0/10 would not recommend
5
Posted on 7/23/23 at 10:22 am to jamiegla1
Had this happen to me, but don't remember the company i used to detect leak though...they used some type of acoustic technology to find it
apparently older copper pipes in slab are vulnerable to lightning discharge and 2 other folks down my street had same thing happen at about the same time
copper cracked in slab, and the leaking water followed the pipe where it came up out of the slab in the wall and then leaked under my wood floors
they were able to cut and cap the leaking line in the attic and routed a new PEX run
apparently older copper pipes in slab are vulnerable to lightning discharge and 2 other folks down my street had same thing happen at about the same time
copper cracked in slab, and the leaking water followed the pipe where it came up out of the slab in the wall and then leaked under my wood floors
they were able to cut and cap the leaking line in the attic and routed a new PEX run
Posted on 7/23/23 at 10:57 am to jamiegla1
Is your homeowners insurance involved?
My slab leak was a 2" cast iron washing machine drain line that rusted out. It was obvious since the water started coming up from the floor when the washing machine was running.
My slab leak was a 2" cast iron washing machine drain line that rusted out. It was obvious since the water started coming up from the floor when the washing machine was running.
This post was edited on 7/23/23 at 12:34 pm
Posted on 7/23/23 at 11:34 am to jamiegla1
They can try to energize the copper line then trace that signal through concrete or use an acoustic pickup to ear muff to listen through concrete. My copper line from my main was connected to a PVC fitting under the concrete on my front porch. Copper to PVC cracked and had to ID the copper termination via energizing it. Had to break concrete, find broken fitting, then replace. I had a plumber ID the fitting transition location then I did the rest. I couldn’t believe that the builder designed my home water entry transition under slab. That should’ve gone strait to an outside hose bib closest to my main. The transition fittings are normally the weak point so best to not have that under slab if possible.
Posted on 7/23/23 at 12:22 pm to jamiegla1
With no leak indication on the water meter a plumbing problem is unlikely unless intermittent. Check exterior of slab to see if any area stays wet long after rain. Gutters with downspouts discharging away from house should fix.
I had a leaking icemaker line under the slab that American Leak found but incorrectly located. B&D Plumbing BTR came, correctly located the leak and rerouted with PEX. AL was an unnecessary expense.
I had a leaking icemaker line under the slab that American Leak found but incorrectly located. B&D Plumbing BTR came, correctly located the leak and rerouted with PEX. AL was an unnecessary expense.
Posted on 7/23/23 at 12:58 pm to jamiegla1
Did a whole house remodel for a neighbor and the slab was wet. Leak detectors couldn’t find it and years later discovered the other neighbors irrigation system had been leaking for years and had his slab soaked from underneath.
Posted on 7/23/23 at 1:23 pm to Tree_Fall
I’m a little concerned that it’s from something like this. I have one downspout that’s close but goes to a French drain. I’ve got an irrigation system pretty close. But the wet and rotten spots don’t necessarily correspond. There is a straight line across the house where it was clearly wet. It makes a 90 at one point.
I’m wondering about drain and sewer lines that wouldn’t show up on a meter or pressure test. I’m hoping a plumber can find something like that.
I’ve used American leak detection 3 times (2 for my pool). Only one of the technicians seemed like he knew what he was doing and he accurately found the leak in my pool. The other two guys seemed amateurish. I’m hoping a good plumber can help
I’m wondering about drain and sewer lines that wouldn’t show up on a meter or pressure test. I’m hoping a plumber can find something like that.
I’ve used American leak detection 3 times (2 for my pool). Only one of the technicians seemed like he knew what he was doing and he accurately found the leak in my pool. The other two guys seemed amateurish. I’m hoping a good plumber can help
Posted on 7/23/23 at 1:36 pm to jamiegla1
quote:
There is a straight line across the house where it was clearly wet. It makes a 90 at one point.
Can you post a pic?
Posted on 7/23/23 at 1:46 pm to weadjust
This is after I started tearing up the floors. You can see a dark line that I circled in red. I’ve also been taking FLIR images and spray painting where it appears damp. That’s the black mark. Most of the time, the FLIR is picking up cooler areas around cracks in the slab. I’ll have to upload that later. But the FLIR cooler images are not following the straight line where the wood was rotten. They’re usually very close to it.
Also, there was an addition to the house before I bought it. That red circled area is also where they tied in the new slab
This post was edited on 7/23/23 at 1:48 pm
Posted on 7/23/23 at 3:16 pm to jamiegla1
Age of house. If found a leak in the slab, they bring everything from the attic. If a vapor barrier is not used below a slab, moisture will wick up. If no leak is found, a vapor barrier will be needed between the slab and new flooring.
Where is your location?
Where is your location?
Posted on 7/23/23 at 4:16 pm to jamiegla1
quote:
Most of the time, the FLIR is picking up cooler areas around cracks in the slab.
You may not have a leak and your moisture is coming in through the cracks. Clean the floor up real good and tape some plastic sheeting over that area of the floor. Make sure you have a tight seal with the tape and floor around the perimeter of the plastic sheeting. Watch it a few days and see if you get any condensation on the plastic sheeting.
Posted on 7/23/23 at 6:42 pm to weadjust
Think a calcium chloride test is in order? I kind of think the same thing. But I’d like to ID the source.
My plan is to use one of those diamabrushes on the whole house and epoxy where the new “wood” will go (LVP). I’m going to tile the bathrooms and laundry. I just don’t want water getting between the epoxy and LVP from some other source
My plan is to use one of those diamabrushes on the whole house and epoxy where the new “wood” will go (LVP). I’m going to tile the bathrooms and laundry. I just don’t want water getting between the epoxy and LVP from some other source
Posted on 7/23/23 at 7:07 pm to jamiegla1
Find your water meter, it should have a 'tattletale' indicator on the meter face. With everything turned off the tattletale should not move. If it does then you have a water leak for certain.
Posted on 7/24/23 at 9:18 am to Unobtanium
i did that for 24 hr and didnt see anything. Im not sure how well that works for a very small pinhole leak, though. If i waited a week, maybe id see it move
Im going to go with the "bipsqueen" suggestion and see if i can extract something from it
thanks for all the good suggestions. Its very helpful to get out of my head for a bit and hear other peoples thoughts
Im going to go with the "bipsqueen" suggestion and see if i can extract something from it
thanks for all the good suggestions. Its very helpful to get out of my head for a bit and hear other peoples thoughts
Posted on 7/24/23 at 9:59 am to jamiegla1
Having a similar problem. Wood floors getting wet from underneath. At the same time had a sewer clog outside. Got that cleared, and I’m thinking tiny leak in the sewer pipes inside that showed only with the back pressure?
Plumber with accutemp did come out and check supply… pressure held.
Planning on scoping the sewer, but any suggestions welcome.
Did we get any plumber recs in BR in this thread?
Plumber with accutemp did come out and check supply… pressure held.
Planning on scoping the sewer, but any suggestions welcome.
Did we get any plumber recs in BR in this thread?
This post was edited on 7/24/23 at 10:20 am
Posted on 7/24/23 at 10:38 am to Duck Island
quote:
neighbors irrigation system had been leaking for years and had his slab soaked from underneath.
this is a major fear of mine. i have pool thats always had leak problems, thanks to my neighbors two cypress trees (thats a whole new post). Ive wondered if the pool leaks were saturating the ground under the house.
I dont know that a plumber would be able to address that. Unless they can drill holes and have some sort of depth moisture meter?
Posted on 7/24/23 at 11:23 am to holdem Tiger
quote:
Did we get any plumber recs in BR in this thread?
I’ll give a good one.
Sam with Attaboy Plumbing
(225) 907-4134
Posted on 7/24/23 at 1:39 pm to LSUDad
Their quote was reasonable so I have them coming out tomorrow. Thanks
Posted on 7/24/23 at 1:46 pm to holdem Tiger
How much did getting the leak detection done run you if you don’t mind my asking? I’m considering having the same thing done here shortly.
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