Rant: Shifting soils and plumbing!

[GhostTX]

So I get my water bill today for February and usage is quadrupled what it was this time last year! We didn't water, the sprinkler system is off and I do a walk around the house to ensure the hoses are all turned off. I make sure and check all the water is off in the house then walk out to the water meter. Indicator is spinning. For giggles, go back in and turn off all the toilets. Indicator is still spinning. Go in again and turn off the incoming line to the hot water heater. Indicator stops spinning. I check every bathroom and under every sink, no evidence of a leak. I walk around the house and with the recent rain, all the ground is still fairly damp...I can't find anywhere more mushy than the other. Turn the line back on for the hot water heater and time the dial...looks like a gallon every 2 minutes.

So...looks like I have a leak in the hot water line after the water heater, under the foundation...somewhere... FML!

Time to get quotes...and hope they can find the leak somewhere near the edge versus under the middle of the house. Also looks like sponge bathes and cold showers for the near future. At least we have cold water to use...

Stupid North Texas soils! FYI, 34 year old house that's been Ram Jack'd about 6 years ago.

[95DRGT]

That's where my leak was- hot water side from HWH to master bath. My wife got out of bed one morning and the carpet felt hot. It was right in the middle of the master. Insurance doesn't cover jack unless the sub floor gets damaged- I was out about $1800 once it was all said and done.

[90lxstangman]

I had a similar incident occur back in 2010. The downstream hot water pipe busted right at the start of the slab. At the time I had a room mate and he assumed it was just the hot-water heater going out. Well needless to say about a week later I returned from a business trip in West Africa to find all my wood floor spongy and nasty. USAA made right of it, I was only out my 1300 deductible for approx 18k in damages. The deductible also covered the pipe being cut off and re routed.

[GhostTX]

How did they fix it? Tunnel under or pop a hole in the middle of y'alls house?

[90lxstangman]

Mine was in the wall directly behind the master closet. They had to cut about 18" of wall out of my master bedroom,Living room, foyer, water closet, and garage wall out because the insulation soaked up a ton of water. Once the wall was exposed they capped the busted pipe and re-routed up through the attic to the affected side of the house. It was a long and drawn out process for me because of my travel schedule, What could have taken a matter of 2 weeks turned into 3 months before it was 100% again.

[Lone Sailor]

I don't care what anyone says, I would much rather pay for a dig out than to cut out the foundation and pour it back. It can be done, and has been done, but it's a hassle and messy as hell. We had a dig out done last year for a slab leak. It was leaking at the very first manifold that the supply line was feeding. Took 2 days and about $1800, but I'm glad we dug it out. We also found a problem with a pipe coming off that same manifold that would have lead us to probably have to do this again had we not done had them dig out under the house. But yeah, expansive soils are a real bitch. Best you can do is keep those soaker hoses on at night to help keep moisture in the soil beneath. It obviously doesn't prevent all ground movement, but as you know it helps the soil from shifting due to drying out. Good luck!

[forbes]

just re read your post, i have guys in sherman off of fallon rd. you want to see if i can get one of them to look at it

[GhostTX]

just re read your post, i have guys in sherman off of fallon rd. you want to see if i can get one of them to look at it

I could always use another quote. I tentatively have a plumber scheduled for Friday. I'll PM you my home phone and address.

[GrayStangGT]

I had the same thing happen at a house I was renting in Arlington, they ended up having to jack hammer out the slab in the spare bath to fix it. I was really glad I didn't have to pay for it.

[kingjason]

I cut my lines and pexed them. Cost me about 80 bucks. Pay someone to find it then fix it yourself.