In slab leak

[Deleted User]

as soon as possible...i was doing a slab leak repair in san diego once, where they build on sand, and the moment i engaged the jackhammers trigger, down thru the slab i went, jackhammer and me...was really fast, and really wierd, like we took an elevator down...i was standing there still holding the hammer upright..the leak had washed away the sand for three feet in depth under that part of the house and this particular slab had no wire mesh...point is you dont want the water to undermine your slab..

nick z.

In slab leak

House is built on a slab on it sounds like there is a leak in the dom. You can't hear a leak,but what you hear is the sound of water running thruogh the pipes. Thing is sometimes you hear somtimes you don't.Checked toilets, and fixtures. when you turn off valve going into hot tank noise continues. Which tells me its probably in the cold, which in this area isn't normal the hot usually goes first.I know Iwill probably end up re routing,but I just wanted to toss it out here first.Any ideas on why you hear it somtimes and somtimes not?

[Deleted User]

If it were me...

I'd break out with my Metrotech multiple frequency leak locator. First, I'd listen to each cold water branch where it comes out of the floor. Once I found the loudest, then I'd use the ground mount microphone to start searching for the loudest spot in the floor. Use google and put the words Leak Locator in the search window and see if Leak Busters has a franchisee near you.

If the system is on well water, you could use an infrared non contact thermometer and locate the coldest spot on the floor..

Leaks create noise based on pressure, density and reflection. No two leaks are the same, and chances are, the characteristics of the leak changes as a function of time. If the pressure fluctuates, then so does the noise. If the temepature of the water changes (density) than so does the noise.

In the 25 plus years that I have been chasing down leaks, there are only two things I know for sure. No two leaks are the same, and they waste water...

Here are links to articles I wrote on leak detection last year.

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/column.cfm?columnid=129

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/column.cfm?columnid=132

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/column.cfm?columnid=140

Enjoy, and learn while you're at it.

ME

Al Letellier

water leak

Nick, did you try shutting off the main inlet valve at the source? Did the noise continue? A water heater or storage vessel can greatly amplify a leak's sound. You may have a leak in the service line coming to the house. (assuming you're on city water)If on a well, a leak outside may be the problem. Here we usually find a check valve in the sub pump and at the tank. A leak in between them will generate noise but not reduce the system pressure. Just a thought!

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hot_rod

Yeah, what Al said

sometimes the leak is outside the building. Any yard hydrants in the yard? Isolate the building from the service line, even if this requires adding a valve at the building.

Happy hunting!

hot rod

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nick z.

> sometimes the leak is outside the building. Any

> yard hydrants in the yard? Isolate the building

> from the service line, even if this requires

> adding a valve at the building.

>

> Happy

> hunting!

>

> hot rod

>

> _A

> HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=

> 144&Step=30"_To Learn More About This Contractor,

> Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A

> Contractor"_/A_

nick z.

Looked at

every thing you guys mentioned.Thanks for the help. I spent today re routing thruogh the attic. Not what I wanted to do.But the h.o. is 91 yrs young and he wouldn't see 92 if I bought a jack hammer in his house.
And wouldn't you know it, the attic had that blown in insulation. felt like I was rolling arould in glass all day.