Water Leak in Slab House???? Anyone?

[Gailann Schrader]

I just found out that I don't have a foot valve problem in the well? It's a slab leak. Joy. One of my friends has suggested that I just drop back and re-plumb the entire house.

I'm inclined to agree with him.

AND the well is at the FRONT of the house and the incoming line is at the BACK of the house. Joy. We think the leak is at the back of the house... The house is 50 years old and we think the pipes are galvanized and/or black pipe...

It's about 30' from the front of the house to the back of the house...

Anyone else run into this problem? I think it will be quite expensive either way, but I think my livestock would like water. As would I.

Anyone?

[Cygnet]

Did they go under the house, or around it, when running the line?

My water line goes *around* the house.

[Gailann Schrader]

Hmmmm I assumed they went UNDER the house, but I don't even know!

No schematics of the water lines.

Thanks for that thought though!!!

[BobDFL]

I had a under slab leak at our previous house.

Re-Plumbing depends on the location of the leak. Mine was under the garage so it was cheaper to jack-hammer up the garage floor and patch the concrete after fixing the pipe. If it had been in the middle of the living room that would have been a different story.

To re-plumb though they will have to run the pipes through the attic, which can be problematic if there is another leak.

[WayneR]

Rent a trencher. Pick the best route between the well and the house entry point. Try to check for tree roots and large rocks.

Get some flexible plastic waterline (have used the Blue colored, preferred over Black). Run TWO lines as the hole is already dug and it won't cost that much more. Use at least one inch line (or the size in place now).Less friction loss with a larger line. Of course you will need transition fittings from the plastic to metal line.

You may even want an additional line to feed new electric service to a pump.
Use "fish tape" and liquid soap to put wires inside pipe, prior to burial. This additional line is for electric ONLY.

A brand new line between the well and the house ,with a spare, if needed.
Presumably the pipe in place now comes up through the slab by an outside wall. A hole will need to be made in the slab (hammer drill, star chisel & sledge,etc.) to pass the new lines. If at all possible, locate the metal-plastic union inside the house. Alternately, you could pass the lines through the exterior wall and enclose them in a small insulated "dog house" to protect them from freezing. Going through the floor would be preferable, if possible.

If the rest of the plumbing is sound, further repairs may not be needed.

If extensive remodeling of the house is contemplated, now would be the time to re-new the rest of the plumbing. CPVC plastic would be the easiest to install. No special tools or training involved.

[turtlehead]

When I was a kid we had a leak in the slab floor, but it was a hot water line and we knew exactly where the leak was because the floor got hot there when someone took a shower.

My folks hired the repair and they came out and jackhammered the floor up in the hallway, did the repairs, left it a few days to be sure it was all fixed, then filled in with concrete.

If I understand your situation, though, you know you have A leak but don't know where. Is that right?

[wy_white_wolf]

Originally Posted by Gailann Schrader

Hmmmm I assumed they went UNDER the house, but I don't even know!

No schematics of the water lines.

Thanks for that thought though!!!

Call a line locator. They will be able to find right where it runs.

Might even be able to follow with a metal detector.

[Gercarson]

I went through a similiar situation two years ago. I have a slab floor and "city" water. Water bill doubled and the meter would not shut off. No clues as to where the leak was. Dug up every lline and checked all the outside faucets by digging up the lines to them (a LOT of digging ). As I was giving up and ready to call someone to come and charge me a fortune to check to see if the leak was embedded in the slab - I checked the meter one more time - voila! The ground around the meter had finally gotten soaked ( live in a sandy area ) - What a huge relief! Fixed it in twenty minutes and then spent two more days filling in the trenches. I am only hoping you have the same kind of wonderful good luck.

[mommagoose_99]

rent a metal detector its cheaper

[Jim S.]

If it's underneath, which is how they do them here (DUH), a typical replumb goes overhead. If you go that way, BE SURE TO INSULATE WELL, or you may create more troubles later.

[Gailann Schrader]

Why can't you go at the baseboard? Bump hazards?

And why not at the ceiling line?

My friend had his lines installed in the attic and had freeze problems CONTINUALLY.

I really don't care about esthetics. I just want reliable water...

I KNOW when I pass that the house will be skinned to dirt. So I'm not making pretty. I want function.

No, we don't know EXACTLY where the leak is. The guys want to take out the water heater because the sound is coming from there. _I_ don't know where the leak originates from. But I know there is some pretty sophisticated instruments that can locate it...

Right now I'm just shutting the pump and water heater on - water the animals, wash dishes or whatever, take a shower - and then turn the water heater to vacation and turn off the pump. It seems to be PRIOR to the inside pressure tank because shutting off the barn water and house water does NOT stop the sound/leak. PVC was my re-plumb of choice of course!

[WayneR]

The water heater sounds may be from the water heater warming up and not from a leak. You could remove the baseboards and notch the drywall and studs to pass the lines. This could quickly become a messy proposition.

The earlier admonitions concerning freezing would also apply to lines in exterior walls. There is a type of flexable water line that is supposed to resist freezing damage. Special tools and fittings are needed, however.

No easy or inexpensive alternatives

[Gailann Schrader]

Oh, goodie.

Oh, forgot to say that my house is a concrete block house.

I just called the company and they said they would work out some numbers, but that they want to (and they have the machine to do this) punch a hole from the front of the house to the back of the house to where the water comes in (the well is in the front). And that he can't tell me even a ballpark figure. And that the house DOES need re-plumbed.

Crap.

And then there is the $$ it has already cost to have them over for 4 hours yesterday to put in the new shut off valve in the house (the one at the well is broken) and diagnose the problem - he can't tell me that figure either...

AND my son is a high school exchange student in England and I'm sending him every bit of money I have... because the ex is rapidly loosing ground monetarily...

And my son's there until next July...

I think I need a nap, hug, sedatives, alcohol, and cigarettes....

And I don't smoke or drink...

Thanks everyone! I think I'll skulk off now...

Bah Humbug.

[Gailann Schrader]

Oh, and thanks? But I've ruled out the water heater. I turned it off as well.