Waterline Leak Under Concrete Slab - How to Fix It

[@ghostphantom8682]

Great job man

[@TappPlumbing]

Thank you for the nice comment and for watching!!!

[@frankgrant4784]

Just curious, I have seen copper pipe run in the slab. Why was this done instead of running through the structural wood framing so it would be easier to locate and repair. Also can I assume that this pipe was not protected by any form of plastic wrap or sleeving when it was installed? Why wasn't any form of sand used in the trench backfill to protect the copper pipe?

[@TappPlumbing]

We are in the Atlanta Georgia area, our code only requires sleeving where the copper turns up through the concrete.Basically the answer to all of your questions is the builder and the plumber that installed the original plumbing wanted to do things as cheap as they possibly could . Thanks for watching our video and asking some great questions!

[@OmniAmity]

dude I'm a plumber, i would have been upset if you opened my floor and then rerouted it into the attic. you should have just rerouted to begin. take the leak detection tool sound tool, touch the manifold you will hear the leak without opening any floors.

[@TappPlumbing]

The plan definitely did not unfold the way I had envisioned. Thanks for watching and leaving us a comment!!

[@kennyblack8558]

I love your videos and it is so awesome to watch the process. KBP

[@joepark6458]

I am so glad you watched this one! It was a fairly interesting little project with a few challenging complications. We had so much fun making the video . We always appreciate your kind words so much . Thanks for spending your time on our channel!!!

[@TappPlumbing]

Thank you Kenny! Joe and I always appreciate the positive feedback!! We are so glad you enjoy our plumbing videos!

[@jeffgehman8344]

Curious if you think that during construction it would help to wrap all of the under slab copper pipes with maybe tar paper (or house wrap?) to try to eliminate the chance of rocks and concrete touching the pipes? Or do copper pipes just have a 30 year life expectancy and trying to extend that is unlikely to work? Great vid, BTW. I know it takes extra time and patience to continually place the camera to show the action, all while performing a difficult job, then the time to review, edit and assemble all the content you recorded ... good job.

[@TappPlumbing]

@@jeffgehman8344 I like the idea of running the copper through a much bigger pvc conduit. That way it wouldn’t touch anything and if for some odd reason it did fail a person could just pull it out and replace it . Thank you so much for the kind words and support !!

[@williamalexander3731]

Would it not have been easier to cut that line, then run it through the sub flooring above? I have water lines under my slab, but also in between the first and second floor (I have no idea why they went under the slab). If the ones under the slab ever fail, I'm cutting them out and rerouting them.

[@TappPlumbing]

@@williamalexander3731 I am also a fan of rerouting over head ! On this house it would have been extremely difficult to figure out and execute. The house was massive and had a very open floor plan. There was also a recirculating line and I had no idea exactly where it tied in . Thanks so much for watching and asking a great question!

[@redbonekitty7575]

My house is on a slab this was totally terrifying. I wonder if he got the run around with his insurance company to cover a cost.

[@TappPlumbing]

In most cases insurance is pretty good about helping out with this scenario. They cover everything except the cost of my actual repair on the pipe. That is a small portion of my bill. The main expense of our bill is normally the leak detection, running the Jack hammer , excavating, and the backfill. Insurance also normally covers all of the other trades to put the house back together . This particular client had no problems with his insurance company just so you know.

[@theresaf2019]

We currently have a leak now. Been without water for almost 2 weeks. Our insurance company (Nationwide) would not cover the cost.

[@um8440]

@@theresaf2019 Most people that call me their ins wont cover it beside most of their deductable is over 2000.

[@jdwool08]

@@theresaf2019how did it turn out?

[@everythinghomerepair1747]

Nice work. How old was that house to have a pipe in that bad of condition? The studs and that yellow electrical wire running though the wall look pretty new for a house with a slab leak. I wonder if the original builder accidentally got concrete on just that line and that’s why it failed so early.

[@TappPlumbing]

The house was only 20 or 25 years old I would guess. I believe your theory is spot on with the concrete somehow getting to the pipe. Thanks for watching!!

[@Realeyesseereallies]

Use a wet towel over the jackhammer limits all dust

[@TappPlumbing]

@@Realeyesseereallies That is a great suggestion! You can bet I will try it out next time! Thanks !!

[@markmanning5683]

Scary. I have the Leak Detectors coming in the morning for my under the slab leak. GOD help me.

[@TappPlumbing]

Just remember your problem will be solved and everything will be back to normal eventually. You have got this! Please keep us posted if you can make time!

[@kehindeakinyemi9739]

How do u detect the spot? This is my major problem

[@TappPlumbing]

There are companies that provide this service. Type in water leak detection in your search and I am sure you will find them. I will caution you they can be very inaccurate just as you saw in this video. Best of luck getting your problem solved, keep us posted if you can.

[@OmniAmity]

its a leak detection took. it amplifies the sound of a leak. you'll hear the leak. guy destroyed the floors for no reason. you can use the leak detection tool to her a leak at the manifold.

[@michaeljkasnter]

Just don’t understand why you ever opened the floor up? Besides to run up the Invoice?

[@TappPlumbing]

We normally have great success repairing holes in copper with this method. It is very unusual to find the copper in this condition. There is no way of knowing where the manifolds are in the house and which line it is. Just out of curiosity how would have handled this situation?

[@jonathancruz6156]

You call the pros

[@ashtonking6737]

​@@TappPlumbingunless it's originally designed to run overhead then why not run it through the ground? Besides that good video

[@TappPlumbing]

@@ashtonking6737 One of things I enjoy most about making and posting content is the difference of opinions we get on the comments! Thanks so much for engaging with us and I think you have a great question!

[@FreeAmerican-mm2my]

@@ashtonking6737 replacing large distances of pipe under a slab may require ripping out large amounts of concrete

[@aaronbaraiya3692]

Is there any reason why the pipes weren't installed in the attic in the first place? Also normally is there only one manifold one for hot and cold?

[@TappPlumbing]

Pipes are not typically run in the attic because if they start to leak it creates a massive amount of damage to everything below. I would say here in the Atlanta area there is not typically one one manifold, however there are a few systems where that is the case. If for some reason you need to find the manifold it can be challenging! Thanks for asking some some great questions and for watching!!

[@wonton8983]

Here in Perth Western Australia, the cold and hot plumbing is buried on the outside perimeter of the house and tapped off to bathrooms, kitchen and laundry etc. Because coastal Perth is one big sand dune the majority of houses have pavers rather than concrete that will crack with sand movement. With pavers it is relatively easy to lift and fix a leak. But the coastal sand is salty and it attacks the copper pipe, I have had 2 pinholes in the 4 years i've been here, 20 year old house.@@TappPlumbing

[@TappPlumbing]

It is always so interesting to get get comments from different countries! What type of bedding do the pavers sit in? How deep are the water lines buried? Thanks so much for your engagement!

[@wonton8983]

@@TappPlumbing Our pavers are normally laid on an inch of paving sand which has no organic material but because the housing estates are built on sand-dunes they get intermixed. My pipes where only 8 inches below the pavers but increased to 2 feet near the water meter. No marker tape above them. My neighbour just had his pavers replaced with concrete, the only prep was levelling the existing loose sand surface and using reo mesh, no sub base. 3 to 4 inches of concrete, it will be interesting how long before it cracks.

[@TappPlumbing]

@@wonton8983 Where we live there is a saying, There a are two types of concrete. Concrete that has cracked and concrete that is going to crack 😂

[@AmpdEngineering]

Do they know if their water was metering at the gauge?

[@TappPlumbing]

Not sure what you mean by this , are you asking something about their water pressure?

[@AmpdEngineering]

@@TappPlumbing how did the home owner know they had a leak in the first place?

[@AmpdEngineering]

@@TappPlumbing at the the water supply at the street or in the yard(from the city). Was this water metering with all faucets and appliances turned off inside the house. Basically how did they know there was a leak somewhere before the slab detector dude came out

[@TappPlumbing]

I am with you now and I feel kinda silly. I should have known what you were asking . The first indication was a high water bill. The meter was definitely showing a flow with all fixtures off. Thanks for putting up with me and for watching our video!!

[@danpurse8754]

Unbelievable. When I saw there was an open attic in this house, and that ALL the water lines in the house could have easily been rerouted through the attic and down into the wall cavities with NO FLOOR DEMOLITION I about fell out of my chair. No reason to jack hammer the concrete whatsoever. What a waste of time and the homeowner's [insurance companies?] money. A complete lack of clear thinking.

[@TappPlumbing]

Thanks so much for your thoughts on this video ! First question for you is , do you have much success dictating to insurance companies how to proceed in the way you prefer over how they want the job to be executed? Next question is, would it have been more cost effective to replace all of the pipe in a massive ranch on a slab with multiple bathrooms? Wouldn’t there have been much more damage through out the entire house with this plan? I could go on with this line of questioning if you would like but I figured you might like an opportunity to answer these first. Thanks for watching our video and commenting!

[@jdcisneros9023]

Hilarious, guess you told him 😂

[@TappPlumbing]

Just asking 😂😂

[@christian_7500]

Bill’s gut is impressive.

[@TappPlumbing]

@@christian_7500 I am sure he would appreciate the compliment! I am not sure exactly how I would pass it along next time I see him though 😂. Thanks so much for watching our video!!

[@51-FS]

I bet that red clay would make a nice dirt track

[@TappPlumbing]

You know it would! I went back through our channel to try find my first comments to you about the dirt tracks and couldn’t find them. I am so glad you reached back out to us. I was curious if you had responded to them? But reading this is even better .I will make a screen shot of this so I can find it later.

[@51-FS]

I run a 3/8 track in Oklahoma My rookie year, I started and finished every race at 2 different tracks. Friday night in tulsa Oklahoma, I got 2nd in points and Saturday night at creek county speedway I got 5th in points. It was a fun and expensive rookie year.

[@51-FS]

@TAPP PLUMBING I went and watched 90% of your videos and commented on a lot of them. I did make a comment on one of them, and I apologized for leaving a rude, uncalled for comment on the first video of yours. I'm not sure why I left them nasty comments, but I did remove it and subscribe to your channel. Hope you guys have an awesome day.

[@HungPham-sc3mo]

You found where the pipe leaks. You cut it and said,"There is no way I can repair it." Can you cut new pipe to fit and solder it together?

[@TappPlumbing]

Yes that would be physically possible, however I would not do that on a pipe in that poor of condition. It would be very challenging to solder in a hole like that for many reasons. The challenging would be battling the steam created because it would be almost impossible to get all it the water out of a pipe that low in the system .

[@HungPham-sc3mo]

@@TappPlumbing Wow, You are right. I did not think about the water in the pipe. Thank you very much for your comment.

[@OneLeggedTarantula]

@@TappPlumbing shark bite it!!! :)

[@TappPlumbing]

@@OneLeggedTarantula This should get people fires up😂! I am not gonna touch that one!

[@jasonlee8719]

This is why they just do reroutes instead of wasting time, correct ?

[@odavis1364]

I would much rather have them in the attic. It’s a lot easier to fix drywall.

[@TappPlumbing]

What is not cool in the attic is the water heaters in my humble opinion. I just went to one of those today and the thermal expansion tank was spraying and it made a huge mess in the rooms below. Thanks for watching our video and sharing your thoughts, which I do agree with in many situations!!

[@Breeze-gd8wj]

The most important question Would you rather fix a leak in slab concrete Or fix one in the Attic which one is cheaper to fix

[@TappPlumbing]

I prefer neither. If it leaks in the ceiling at the wrong time and place the damage is catastrophic. It can destroy most of the house quickly. Thanks for a most interesting question and for watching our video!!