Looks like I need help. Would like an overall on what I can expect when I talk to a plumber. And should I have all pipes replaced (house 60 years old), how long should this take, what would cost range be for job in southern CA? Should all piping be checked for cracks. House is very small so this could be a big mess. :eek: Thanks

Before you panic get some plumbing help in there that can access the situation. We can't tell you how much the cost to repipe your house would be without being there. Do you have old galvanized pipes or is your home piped with copper? Before we can help we need to know more about your problem. What pipe's leaking? How bad? What's it connected to? Answer us and we'll answer you. Tom

Not sure if copper. Hot water pipe from water heater. Can feel when standing on floor in kitichen (area about 3 by 3 ft.) No visible signs of water anyplace.

Now it becomes clearer, you have a "under slab" leak. My bet's that you have coper pipes. Since water, like electricity , follows the path of least resistance the leak might be some distance away from the hot spot. You will have to get a leak detecting service to pinpoint the leak, then a plumber in to drain the system down and repair the leak. Don't let this slide, you are paying double for that leak. Once for the water and again for the energy to heat it. At the same time this might be a good time to get three estimates on repiping your house. If it were me I would repipe in CPVC or PEX. Good luck, Tom

Sometimes there is an option of routing the pipes overhead. It might be a considerable teardown, but do the hot and cold water.

Many years ago when I was very young, we came home from vacation and heard water running. It was an under slab water hot water leak. Fortunately we had turned off the gas to the hot water heater when we were away.

It would have been a lot of effort for the builder to route the pipes overhead, so they didn't. It required going through the joists with one heat duct in the middle of one joist. Removing part of a powder room ceiling, then under a step landing, then down again and over. Quite a task.

Repair under the slab can be done using leak detection equipment like ground penetrating radar, but if you can try to re-route the pipes overhead with insulation for the hot water. See if you can do the cold water at the same time.

My $0.02