When it rains, it pours...

[MacFromOK]

Well... it seems we have a water leak under our concrete slab. :/

The water bill jumped from $27 to $35 to $39 to $53 since December. The meter has a small triangle "flow indicator," and it doesn't stop unless I close the water valve going into the house. No leaking toilets or significant faucet drips. I tried shutting off the valve at the water heater, and the flow indicator keeps moving.

So... the good news is, that it's not on the hot water side.

However... the bad news is, that it's not on the hot water side. :/

Any ideas on shortcuts/whatever to locate the leak? I've been around the house looking for wet spots (also checked front/back faucets and the water heater pop-off), but it's rained so much lately that "wetness" isn't much of an indicator. And it's supposed to rain again this weekend.

All I can think of is opening up walls and start plugging off non-hot water lines.

Any ideas (and prayers!) will be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[adamsredlines]

Man, when I came up to OK for work, I kept paying water service "like normal" since the local company didnt offer online bills. I'd just submit a payment that was like $5 more than normal for about 6 months at my house in TX while I was working in Tulsa. I finally get back home and come to find out the pipe broke under my driveway and had been pouring water to the extent of a $900 water bill (after already "over paying" for the last 6 months) and about $1,500 for them to go under the slab to replace the pipe. Thankfully they didnt have to pull up the driveway!

 

[Okie4570]

Thermal cam.There should be a hot spot or a cold spot. Make sure the water has been running before checking. Pretty sure most repair plumbers have a thermal nowadays. They can check acoustically also.

 

[MacFromOK]

Thermal cam.There should be a hot spot or a cold spot. Make sure the water has been running before checking. Pretty sure most repair plumbers have a thermal nowadays. They can check acoustically also.

The water department guy said it's about 10 gal/hr (electronic meter charts agree). Not a large leak. Think that will show up on thermal through a slab & flooring this time of year? Or acoustically?

 

[Okie4570]

Yeah it will show up as a different colored spot on the thermal. Hopefully it's not under a cabinet or an appliance.

 

[ronny]

If it's leaking under the slab, don't dig it out. Replace it through the attic with pex.

 

[MacFromOK]

If it's leaking under the slab, don't dig it out. Replace it through the attic with pex.

Not gonna try to dig it out unless it's within a foot or so from the side of the slab. Even then, the soil is so shallow that it might not be an option anyway. :/

EDIT: At least that's the current plan...

 

[okierider]

Before you pay some one, drop some red food color in the toilet tank. That is generally the issue. The flapper can seep so little that you can't see it but you put the dye in the water and it will turn pink in a few minutes. Also check you outside hose bibs , if the seals fail in those it is hard to tell as well some times. Check the hot water tank drain pan for water. Also if you have an April air system (humidifier) in your heat and air system it can leak as well so check the condensation pan there as well.

Flappers on the toilet should be on a maintenance schedule, they are cheap and easy to replace once a year.

 

[swampratt]

I assume none of the showers are dripping or outside faucets.
I have had a couple broken lines from outside faucets they were shut off not leaking outside but the long stem was leaking into the wall.
Had an ice maker supply line leaking into the wall.

I assume you checked all over for damp spots. Under the sinks also.
If you have vents in the floor look into all of them for water.

 

[harley128]

Before you pay some one, drop some red food color in the toilet tank. That is generally the issue. The flapper can seep so little that you can't see it but you put the dye in the water and it will turn pink in a few minutes. Also check you outside hose bibs , if the seals fail in those it is hard to tell as well some times. Check the hot water tank drain pan for water. Also if you have an April air system (humidifier) in your heat and air system it can leak as well so check the condensation pan there as well.

Flappers on the toilet should be on a maintenance schedule, they are cheap and easy to replace once a year.

Or just close the valves under the toilet. There has to be some.