My water company issued a bill indicateing that I used 31,000 gallons of water in two months. The checked meter which was newly installed last summer. Working properly. No wet spots in yard but I had noticed a few wet spots where the slab and outside wall meet. These wet spots are in the kitchen area; no leaks under sink but on two occasions when I used my dishwash, dirt backed up in the kitchen sink. I checked around the other areas of the slab and no wet spots. One plumber is talking about running a pipe in the attic; I'm afraid that that would leak and bring the ceiling down.

There have not been any leaks in the kitchen; the ice maker is connected to the sink waterline (fyi)and seems to be working fine.

Please tell me that this is not a big deal and will be maybe not easy to fix but not breaking up my kitchen or digging up my yard.

I'm single and scared out of my mind because I don't have the money to pay $'s as one plumber was hinting at.

Same plumber is supposed to come tomorrow 2/15/2011 for his advice.

I really hate to have to tell you this, but its usually underground when there are no other obvious signs of a leak. Your dishwasher or ice maker shouldn't have anything to do with this. When an underground pipe or fitting leaks, water takes the path of least resistance, which is usually along the pipe until it reaches the foundation or breaks through the ground. It could be a split pipe due to freezing if you live in a colder area. Have you experienced extremely cold weather for an extended period recently? A few days or more with temps 20'F or less could very well be the cause. Sorry & Good Luck!

First you should determine whether you have a leak.

Your 31,000 gallons in two months may indicate a leak or it may just be the amount of water used.

It may just indicate a leaking toilet.

With no water being used, read your meter. If you see any movement in the meter, that of course means water is leaking somewhere. If you see no movement wait about an hour and read the meter again.
It you see movement or if the second reading shows movement, turn off the main shut off valve in the house. Check again.

Any movement now means you have a leak in the main line to the house.
If there is no movement, turn the main valve back on and turn off the shut off valves to all toilets. No movement means a leaking toilet. Movement means a leak in piping somewhere. If the leak is not visible, it very well may be under the slab.

The question then is where.


no leaks under sink but on two occasions when I used my dishwash, dirt backed up in the kitchen sink.

That indicates a problem with a drain line, not a leak in the water supply lines.

Before a plumber talks about repairs needed or cost, he should determine what the problem is and where. From what you have related, I'm not sure that he has done that or if he has, he has not related it to you.

The wet spots could mean a water supply line leak or they could mean a broken drain pipe or they could mean something else.