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DMiddl6010
Aug 18, 2009, 01:06 PM
In your home is there generally one place where the pipes come out of the ground or are there more than one.

I have had two slab leaks and they were located on hot and cold at the front of the house and they were both from the slab.

So my question is in terms of constructing a home on slab do you generally use one site for the pipe to come out of the ground and then the water is in pipes in the walls ?

ballengerb1
Aug 18, 2009, 01:17 PM
Can go both ways depending on climate. If freezing isn't an issue the pipe exit the slab in one spot and go through the attic. If freezing is an issue its common for the pipes to be buried through out the home and rarely through the walls anymore.

DMiddl6010
Aug 18, 2009, 01:28 PM
Thank You that was helpful.

I live in California in orange county, so I don't have to deal with freezing tempertures.

I am trying to under stand slab leaks, because now I think I feel some moisture behind a wall in my living room. Directly on the other side is my bathroom shower.

The wall happens to be close to the exterior wall where there is a faucet for the garden. I see no moisture out side, the garden bed is dry.

I only feel moisture at the base of the wall about 1 foot from the exterior wall.

So I am trying to decide if I have a slab problem or is the pipes leaking (dripping). There is no water evident on the living room floor or should I say at the bricks on the fireplace because the floors is not visible.

I have ordered a moisture tool by sonic to see if I detect moisture in the drywall, because Im not sure if I am not getting fooled by using my hand. Also I am so nervous because of my previous leaks I am boardering on paranoia.

What are your thoughts.

ballengerb1
Aug 18, 2009, 07:22 PM
I think you have to open that wall at tis point. With that moisture present it will start to mildew and mold in 48 hours. Once tha wall is open you might see what is going on. I pcture in my minds eye a leak higher than the slab more like at the connection of the outside spigot. You are doing fine with the site. Each time you respond just drop down to the balnk box below the last post to write your next post.

speedball1
Aug 19, 2009, 05:29 AM
Can go both ways depending on climate. If freezing isn't an issue the pipe exit the slab in one spot and go through the attic. If freezing is an issue its common for the pipes to be buried through out the home and rarely through the walls anymore. Not on the West Coast of Florida.
About the only place we water pipe overhead is in condos and apartment buildings.
In single family homes we never pipe in the attic. We water pipe under the slab and jumpup into the walls with a manifold to branch out to other fixtures.
There are several reasons for this;
1) The expense! It takes more time and material to pipe overhead.
2) It's a safety thing. If you should develop a leak where would you rather it leaked into. The dirt under the slab or raining down from the attic onto your furniture annd carpet?
Regards, Tom

Cappietrips
Feb 16, 2010, 10:02 PM
If you have more than one leak and your home is relatively new, start looking at the construction. Is everything done in copper? Have any brass fittings been used where they shouldn't? Are these leaks in soft copper? Is it properly sleeved? Call United Leak Detection (http://www.unitedleak.com) to find and repair if you move to the Midwest

speedball1
Feb 17, 2010, 06:25 AM
Capp,
You're responding to a 6 months old thread. Look i8n the upper left hand corner beforee you post. Regatds, Tom

Cappietrips
Feb 17, 2010, 06:20 PM
Sorry, I guess I had not noticed. Thanks for the heads up each time. Appreciate it! :)
United Leak Detection (http://www.unitedleak.com)