how do you find a leak in an underground water heater (2)

How Do You Find A Leak In An Underground Water Heater?

Table of Contents
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    Finding hidden water leaks is an effective way to reduce water and financial waste caused by evaporation and seepage. If your water bill suddenly skyrockets for no apparent reason, you should investigate the cause as soon as possible. Your best bet is to get to the bottom of things as soon as possible.

    Ignoring a water leak underground can cause a cascade of problems that end up costing a lot to fix. The good news is that leaks can usually be found and fixed quickly with the help of professional leak detection services. If you're looking for the best roofing company to help you repair your roof, your search can end here; Roof Repair & Restoration Systems is ready to help.

    If you're interested in learning how to find an underground water leak on your own, keep reading for a detailed walkthrough of the process. Hiring a professional plumber to perform leak detection can alleviate a lot of the stress caused by water leaks, especially if the leak is located underground and has not yet been discovered.

    Seattle residents should always be prepared for a plumbing emergency by keeping the number of a reputable plumber handy. A prolonged water leak can cause significant damage to a home's plumbing system, foundation, and lawn. Having a plumber on call is important because plumbing problems can arise unexpectedly. They may result in water damage, rot, and mould.

    Your underground water pipes may make a number of noises, some of which can be used to locate water leaks. During a plumbing inspection, your plumber will be on the lookout for clinking, splashing, and hissing noises. Sounds like splashing and clicking are made when water splashes up against the wall of a soil cavity, and sounds like clicking are made when stones and pebbles bounce off metal pipes. Hissing noises indicate a decrease in pressure.

    Both the frequency range and the intensity of the sounds produced by a buried pipe depend on a number of factors, including the material that covers the ground's surface, the depth to which the pipe is buried, the degree to which it is compacted the water pressure inside the pipe, the type of soil, and the pipe's diameter and material.

    The location of a home's water and sewage lines should be known by every homeowner. Your home's water pipes are buried beneath the foundation and hook up to the city's main water supply. It's important to have a general idea of where the leak could be located in your plumbing system in case it springs a leak. Having this information will save you time and effort during the repair process by removing any room for speculation. If a pipe leak goes undetected for a while, the damage it causes won't become immediately apparent. This piece will describe the various ways underground pipes can be broken into, the symptoms you may be experiencing a leak, and the steps you can take to repair the situation.

    How to Locate Hidden Water Leaks?

    how do you find a leak in an underground water heater

    Some homeowners may not give much thought to their plumbing systems until something goes wrong or their water bill gets out of hand. There are three ways to detect a water leak in the ground, and some additional pointers for tracking it down:

    Water Metre Check

    If you want to know how much water you've used, you should check the metre while the main shutoff valve is closed. If there is a leak below, you'll know it from here. Following its discovery, do the following:

    • If you turn off the main water valve, no water will run through the pipes in your house.
    • To see if there is a leak, look for a small triangle on your water metre that is coloured white, blue or red. The indicator will spin whenever there is water use in the house. Since you disconnected the water to the house, the triangle should be completely still. While it's in motion, a groundwater leak develops.
    • If the metre doesn't have a leak indicator, record the current reading immediately. If you want to wait between 40 to 80 minutes, turn off the main valve. The metre reading then necessitates a return trip to the office. It indicates a leak in the underground plumbing if the reading changes even if no water is being used inside the house.

    Know what direction to pursue. having leaks appear beneath it. Signs like water pooling on the floor or the sound of water dripping down the walls will likely not come to your attention right away. Usually, the first sign of a water price increase will be a higher monthly bill. This may take place over the course of a few billing cycles, or it may occur all at once. Some of the following signs may be present on your property, indicating a possible leak below ground:

    • A section of your lawn with unusually soggy soil.
    • In this context, "grassland" refers to an area where the grass is thicker and grows more quickly than in neighbouring areas.
    • Holes forming in your lawn.
    • Visible decrease in water pressure or volume of flow.
    • It's possible that rust, dirt, or air in the water supply is to blame for this issue, but if it isn't, there are other possibilities.

    If it also has any of the other indicators we've discussed, there's a significant probability there's a leak in the earth below.

    Expert Leak Finding and Fixing for Commercial Buildings

    Although discovering an underground leak is an important first step, it is only the start of fixing the problem. You'll need the expertise of a licenced plumber to pinpoint the source of the water damage below. Common places for underground water leaks to occur include close to the main shutoff valve and at pipe connections. What if the source of the water is not outside, but rather inside the house? Determine how much of a hike in your regular water bill you may experience if a leak were to develop.

    Watch For Slipping Clues

    You'll know right away if the fitting on the water supply line under your sink breaks and water sprays everywhere; however, some leaks are far more subtle than others. A major catastrophe may occur if water slowly dripped from pipe fittings concealed behind a wall, but was not discovered until extensive damage had already been done. Even though the water metre test shows that there isn't a leak in your home right now, a leak could develop at any time, so be on the lookout for the following symptoms:

    • Discoloration of the walls. There may be water leaking out from behind the drywall and seeping through to the wall's surface. Water damage usually results in yellow or brown stains on walls and ceilings.
    • Paint and wallpaper both looked like they were bulging or peeling. Both of these issues point to wet wallboard, which makes the paint or wallpaper less effective at adhering to the surface. You may also notice a bulging in the wallboard, which is a sign of more severe water damage and the need to replace the wallboard.
    • The sound of water slowly dripping. However, other leaks are sometimes audible, which could lead you to the source of the problem. A silent leak can occur, for instance, if water is dripping down a wall stud.
    • The air is musty. Constant moisture from a leak provides the perfect conditions for mould to flourish. It's possible to see black spots on the wall's exterior if there's mould present, but mould typically grows on the wall's interior, where it's unseen; a musty odour is an indicator of this.

    While these are all signs of a leak, it's vital to keep in mind that not all water leaks are plumbing leaks, despite what the above list might imply. Another possible source of the water is a leak in the ceiling or around one of the windows. Water damage can be prevented, if detected and fixed quickly, in either situation involving leaks.

    How To Find Cold Or Hot Water Leaks?

    Fixing leaks in a water main that runs beneath a concrete slab is a formidable challenge. The first thing that needs to be done is checking the water metre to determine how much water is being used even when no one is home. The water metre is the first place to look for leaks in the water supply. This holds even if there is nowhere to see water on the surface.

    The next step is to turn off the water heater by sealing the tank's emergency valve. If the water metre continues to rotate, the issue is probably with the cold supply line. A leak in the supply of hot water would cause the water metre to cease moving.

    Finding Plumbing Problems

    Homeowners, especially those who are trying to get their houses ready for sale, are often concerned about the need to jackhammer tile and floor in order to repair leaks. We claimed that we had never repaired any water main breaks that had developed beneath the pavement. The hard copper that the dripping pipe is supplying to the above-ground fixtures is always redirected through the walls and ceiling.

    Repairs made to soft copper pipes that are then encased in concrete, in our experience, do not last very long. As an analogy, consider the difference between hard and soft copper pipes. The pipe has worn down to the point that it is exceedingly thin and weak due to the regular use and the acidity of the water. The soft copper is leaking as a result. If the rest of the pipe is in the same corroded state as the section being worked on, then the repair will just be a band-aid.

    Detection of Water Losses by Electronic Means

    We provided a cost estimate for the installation of electronic leak detection equipment to trace the path of the leaking pipe, as it is impossible to sell a home with an underground water leak. Every soft copper pipe that travels below ground must begin at an above-ground manifold in order to connect to the fixture's water supply. To stop the water flow from the leaking faucets, the manifolds must be located. Now that both ends have been located and sealed off, the pipework can be safely ignored.

    Pump for Heating and Recirculating Water

    Along with the water heater, we noticed a hot water recirculation pump installed nearby. When a leak does occur, it usually begins in the soft copper piping that carries the hot water. Do not forget that the water is constantly flowing through the pipeline in order to supply hot water instantly to any fixture. The purpose of this is to make life easier for the user. The leak was tracked down to the half-inch soft copper return piping that supplied the circulator pump.

    We gave up after tracing the manifold inside the wall that was supposed to link the hot water return line to the circulator pump. After taking the pump out of the water heater and ensuring that the leak would no longer occur, they were able to resume their efforts to sell the house.

    The Primary Source of Hot Water

    Two days after the repair was put in place, another hot water slab leak appeared in a different part of the house. This was the primary water heater for the entire house. Having additional leaks in close proximity is unusual. Keep in mind that the water was circulated throughout the entire dwelling, eventually eroding away at the softer copper that lay in wait beneath the surface.

    Extensive Copper Repiping

    The situation was getting more serious. Loan funding for the sale of the house was contingent on the entire two-story, four-bathroom home, including the kitchen and laundry washer, being repaired prior to escrow closing. The loan would not be approved without this procedure.

    It took us three weeks to complete everything, including obtaining a permit and having it inspected, after beginning work on the leak the next day. It took three weeks and a total of 191 hours of work to complete. We hired a subcontractor to finish sealing up the walls and ceiling, including painting, so that the job could be finished before escrow closed. This was a great chance to hone your plumbing repair skills and think creatively about how to address issues. If your water heater has a circulation pump, you should contact us to discuss the solutions open to you before your home also springs a hot water leak below ground.

    Signs of a Water Leak Below Ground

    how do you find a leak in an underground water heater (3)
    • Weakening water pressure that can be felt
    • A browning and dying patch of grass in an otherwise green irrigated lawn.
    • Split pavement
    • An unexpected jump in both water use and the associated cost
    • Ruptured pavement and craters
    • Water pooling in the dirt and grass
    • There's air or debris in the water that's coming out of the tap.
    • Disgusting odour
    • The cracks in your house's foundation are getting worse.
    • Water covered the roadway entirely.
    • Pooling water in various locations throughout your home, most notably on the ground and in the vicinity of plumbing fixtures

    It's time to start checking for water damage around the house. A plumber will be able to quickly determine the source of the problem and fix it, and the chance of damage will be reduced as a result. If you see any of the following issues in the region immediately surrounding your home, it's possible that you have an underground water leak:

    • Water pools have been spotted in the yard.
    • Water pressure suddenly dropping dramatically
    • Cracks in the pavement appear to be relatively new.
    • The faucets are dripping with tainted water.
    • Sinkholes
    • The water bill has gone up in price.
    • Points of high temperature in your garden
    • Reforms to the base structure

    Whether you don't have plumbing leak detection equipment on hand, checking your water usage with a metre will help you figure out if there's a problem. After making sure that all of the water taps in your home are turned off, you can take a reading from your water metre. Look for evidence of rust, leaks, and cracks in all of the visible pipes.

    Checking to see if the needle on your water metre has moved from its previous location is the next step. Clearly, there is a leak in your home's plumbing if this is the case. You may not be able to determine the precise location of the leak, but you can use your most recent water bills to estimate when the damage occurred. This can be done regardless of whether or not the leak's origin can be pinpointed.

    The Causes of a Leak Recognized

    There could have been a number of factors that led to an underground water leak. If you suspect that one of your pipes has been compromised, you should evaluate whether or not the following conditions apply to your situation.

    • The movement of soil Soil erosion surrounding your house and garden can put unwanted stress on the pipes buried in the ground. It's common knowledge that large tree roots can affect the stability of the ground and of pipes, causing shifting. Older water lines often have clay pipes, which are easily broken into by tree roots.
    • The movement of soil Soil erosion surrounding your house and garden can put unwanted stress on the pipes buried in the ground. It's common knowledge that large tree roots can affect the stability of the ground and of pipes, causing shifting. Older water lines often have clay pipes, which are easily broken into by tree roots.
    • Degradation: Over time, the materials we utilise will unavoidably deteriorate. If a pipe has been compromised, sealing it off using plumbing sealant can help it last longer before it needs to be replaced.
    • Changes in Temperature Extreme temperature changes can also be harmful to the condition of your pipes. The earth around the pipe and the water inside the pipe are much colder during the winter, causing the pipe to constrict. This puts pressure on the connections and raises the risk that a weaker pipe will burst.

    Employing a Licensed Plumber to Fix the Leak

    After determining that a damaged pipe is the source of the leak, it is time to call a plumber for assistance. Repairing a leak in a water main that runs below ground is not a job for the weekend plumber but rather requires the expertise of a licenced plumber.

    In order to reduce the time needed to fix the leak, it is important to give the plumber as much information as possible regarding the source of the leak. Ask these questions and more when investigating Houston plumbing companies:

    • Do they have the required credentials and a good track record?
    • They have the ability to locate leaks below ground and make the necessary repairs.
    • We were wondering if they offered flat rates or if their prices varied by the hour.

    Any suspicion that there might be an issue with your plumbing calls for an immediate call to a plumber. Putting off maintenance will simply exacerbate the problem and may cause more damage to other parts of your plumbing system. Roof restoration is the process of refurbishing an old roof by coating it with a specially formulated product to make it look like new again. You can get help with this from Roof Repair & Restoration Systems.

    Conclusion

    The residents of Seattle would be wise to keep the number of a plumber on hand just in case. The plumbing, the foundation, and the grass can all suffer serious damage from a water leak if it is left unattended for too long. Water leaks can cause a lot of hassle, but you can avoid most of it by hiring a professional plumber to detect and fix the leaks. Having a rough idea of where the leak could be in your plumbing system is essential. There are three methods for finding a water leak, and some additional clues may help you find the source of the problem.

    The presence of any one or more of the following on your property should alert you to the possibility of a leak somewhere below ground. Unusually wet grass can be a sign of a leak in the foundation. Leaks in piping and the main shutoff valve are frequent sources of water seepage in the ground. Find out how much your regular water bill could increase if a leak developed. Contrary to what the preceding list may lead one to believe, not all water leaks are plumbing leaks.

    A leak in the ceiling or around a window could also cause the dampness. A water main rupture under a concrete slab presents a formidable challenge that must be met. Checking the water metre is the first order of business. If there is a water leak below the ground, the home will never sell. Any water supply for a fixture installed below ground must enter a soft copper pipe at an above-ground manifold.

    Finding the manifolds is necessary for turning off the water supply to the dripping fixtures. There may be a water leak beneath the ground if you notice any of the following problems in your yard. Inspect every exposed pipe for rust, leaks, and cracks. A plumber can quickly diagnose the problem and make repairs. A water leak below the ground could have been caused by several different things.

    Assuming you have reason to believe that one of your pipes has been compromised, you should determine if the above conditions hold true. This can be done whether or not the source of the leak has been identified. In the winter, the temperature of the ground around the pipe and the water within the pipe is much lower, causing the pipe to contract. In order to fix a leak in a water main that is buried underground, you need the services of a professional plumber.

    Content Summary

    1. The loss of water and money due to evaporation and seepage can be significantly reduced if hidden water leaks can be located.
    2. Understanding the situation as soon as possible is your best bet.
    3. The good news is that, with the help of leak detection specialists, leaks can usually be located and repaired rapidly.
    4. Keep reading for a step-by-step guide on how to detect a water leak in the ground and fix it yourself.
    5. If the water leak is underground and hasn't been found yet, hiring a professional plumber to perform leak detection can help alleviate a lot of the stress caused by the leak.
    6. If you live in Seattle, you should always have the number of a reliable plumber on hand in case of an emergency.
    7. Because plumbing issues often arise out of the blue, having a plumber on call is crucial.
    8. There are a variety of noises that could be coming from your underground water pipes, and some of them could help you find water leaks.
    9. There should not be any clinking, splashing, or hissing sounds when a plumber inspects your plumbing.
    10. Every homeowner needs to know the exact location of their home's water and sewage lines.
    11. If your plumbing system develops a leak, it's helpful to have a rough idea of where the problem could be.
    12. It may take some time for the effects of a pipe leak that has gone undetected to become noticeable.
    13. This article will discuss the different entry points into underground pipes, the signs that you may be experiencing a leak, and the solutions you can implement to fix the problem.
    14. A water leak in the ground can be found using one of three methods, with further help from the following: Inspecting the Water Meter Checking the metre with the main water shutoff valve closed will give you an accurate reading of your water consumption.
    15. If your water metre has a tiny triangle on it in white, blue, or red, it may have a leak.
    16. If there is no leak indicator on your metre, make sure to write down the current reading.
    17. If the reading shifts even when no water is being used inside the house, there is a leak in the underground plumbing.
    18. Find out where you want to go.
    19. This may happen gradually over a few payments or all at once.
    20. A spot in your lawn where the ground is unusually saturated.
    21. Your lawn is being ravaged by holes.
    22. Evident drop in water pressure or volume.
    23. If the problem isn't caused by rust, dirt, or air in the water supply, then it could be caused by one of several other things.
    24. There is a high chance there is a leak in the earth below if it also has any of the other indicators we've discussed.
    25. The Best Commercial Leak Detection and Repair Services Finding an underground leak is a critical first step, but it is only the beginning of the repair process.
    26. Locating the source of the water damage below will require the skills of a trained plumber.
    27. There are two common sources of underground water leaks: the main shutoff valve and pipe connections.
    28. Find out how much your regular water bill could increase if a leak developed.
    29. Despite the results of the water metre test, which indicate that there is currently no leak in your home, it is still important to be on the lookout for any of the following signs of water damage. Wall staining and discoloration.
    30. Yellowish or brown stains are typical after water damage has occurred on walls and ceilings.
    31. A bulge in the wallboard indicates more extensive water damage and the need for wallboard replacement.
    32. The constant dampness caused by a leak is ideal for the development of mould.
    33. While all of these can indicate a leak, it's important to remember that not all water leaks are plumbing leaks.
    34. A leak in the ceiling or around a window could also cause the dampness.
    35. A water main rupture under a concrete slab presents a formidable challenge.
    36. The water metre is the first place to look for leaks in the water supply.
    37. In the event that the water metre keeps turning, the cold supply line is likely to be at fault.
    38. In the event of a break in the hot water supply, the water metre would stop counting.
    39. Detecting Fixable Plumbing Issues Jackhammering tile and floor to repair leaks is a common source of anxiety for homeowners, especially those who are preparing to sell their homes.
    40. We stated that we had no history of fixing water main breaks that were located below the surface of the ground.
    41. The contrast between these two types of copper pipes can be thought of as a metaphor.
    42. As it is impossible to sell a home with an underground water leak, we provided a cost estimate for the installation of electronic leak detection equipment to trace the path of the leaking pipe.
    43. Any water supply for a fixture installed below ground must enter a soft copper pipe at an above-ground manifold.
    44. Finding the manifolds is necessary for turning off the water supply to the dripping fixtures.
    45. Water Heating and Recycling Pump We also discovered a hot water recirculation pump had been put in close proximity to the water heater.
    46. The soft copper pipes carrying the hot water are the most likely to spring a leak.
    47. Keep in mind that the water is always moving through the pipes so that any appliance can receive instantaneous hot water.
    48. The half-inch soft copper return piping that fed the circulator pump was identified as the source of the leak.
    49. As we followed the manifold inside the wall that was supposed to connect the hot water return line to the circulator pump, we eventually gave up.
    50. They were able to get back to trying to sell the house after they removed the pump from the water heater and made sure the leak wouldn't happen again.
    51. The Most Common Cause of Warm Water Two days after the fix was made, another hot water slab leak developed in a different part of the house.
    52. The water in the entire house was heated by this one system.
    53. It's not common to have multiple leaks so close together.
    54. The buyer's loan approval was conditional on the two-story, four-bathroom home having all necessary repairs made before escrow closed, and those needed to be made included the kitchen and the laundry washer.
    55. It was finished in 191 hours over the course of three weeks.
    56. So that the job could be completed before escrow closed, we had a subcontractor finish painting and sealing the walls and ceiling.
    57. Before your home springs a hot water leak below ground, you should contact us to discuss the options available if your water heater has a circulation pump.
    58. Standing water on the floor and around the pipes and other plumbing fixtures, among other places, is a sign that there is a leak somewhere in your home. It's time to start looking around the house for signs of water damage.
    59. It's possible that you have an underground water leak if you notice any of the following issues in the area immediately surrounding your home: There are puddles in the yard.
    60. Zones of extreme heat in your garden Changes to the foundation If you suspect a leak but don't have the proper tools, you can still determine if there is one by monitoring your water consumption with a metre.
    61. Once you've turned off every faucet in your house, it's time to check your water metre.
    62. Inspect every exposed pipe for rust, leaks, and cracks.
    63. The next step is to see if the needle on your water metre has changed positions.
    64. There must be a leak somewhere in your home's plumbing system if this is happening.
    65. You can do this regardless of whether or not you've found the source of the leak.
    66. The Roots of the Problem Detected A water leak below the ground could have been caused by a few different things.
    67. If you think that one of your pipes has been broken into, check to see if any of the following are true.
    68. Terrain shifts Pipes in your yard or house may be at risk from soil erosion.
    69. It's well-known that when trees have particularly massive roots, they can cause the ground and pipes below them to shift.
    70. Plumbing sealant can extend the life of a damaged pipe until it can be replaced.
    71. Temperature Swings Your pipes can be damaged by the weather if the temperature fluctuates too much.
    72. Inviting a Qualified Plumber to Repair the Dripping If a damaged pipe has been identified as the cause of the leak, a plumber should be called.
    73. In order to fix a leak in a water main that is buried underground, you need the services of a professional plumber.
    74. Providing the plumber with as much information as possible about the leak's origin will help them get the job done more quickly.
    75. They can find the source of a leak and fix it without digging.
    76. An emergency call to a plumber is warranted at the first sign of trouble with the water supply or sewage system.
    77. Putting off repairs will only make the problem worse and could lead to leaks and other plumbing issues down the road.
    78. The term "roof restoration" refers to the practise of giving a worn-out roof a new coat of a specially formulated product that makes it look as good as new.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Water Heater

    A water leak detector can reduce the risk by alerting you to problems quickly, so you can act to prevent severe damage. We have tested several over the past few months, and these are the smart water leak detectors we recommend.

    One popular technique used by professional plumbers for repairing a broken underground pipe is trenchless pipe repair. This technique involves locating the access point of the pipe and inserting a resin or acrylic patching material, and maneuvering it into the place where the crack or damage is located.

    Signs you have an underground water leak inside

    • Noticeable drop in water pressure when using plumbing appliances.
    • Hissing or splashing noises.
    • Dirty or rusty water (although this could be due to another problem)
    • An increase of mould or water-loving insects in your home.
    • Sewage smell or mouldy odours.

    Ground microphones and listening discs are among the basic tools that plumbers use to pinpoint leaks. Using sound technology, they can hear the noise of escaping water and dripping even through a layer of concrete.

    If you're looking for something that can let you know if there's a leak, then the best water leak detector is the Flo by Moen Water Leak Detector. It only costs about $50 and has two sensors and an alarm that sounds if water is detected.

    Scroll to Top