Jump to content
Chapala.com Webboard

Has anyone had an experience with a water leak under their concrete slab?


Recommended Posts

This is not a sewer water leak.

I'm going some backtracking of it on my own, but if I find where the water is actually exiting the underside of the slab, I need a plumber, especially one with the equipment to detect where the leak is. This is a very specialized process.

I'm pretty sure it came as a result of earth movement because the alignment of a gate post changed about 1/4" in the last week.

Any personal knowledge or reference will be appreciated.

Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

39 minutes ago, Eric Blair said:

This is not a sewer water leak.

I'm going some backtracking of it on my own, but if I find where the water is actually exiting the underside of the slab, I need a plumber, especially one with the equipment to detect where the leak is. This is a very specialized process.

I'm pretty sure it came as a result of earth movement because the alignment of a gate post changed about 1/4" in the last week.

Any personal knowledge or reference will be appreciated.

Thanks.

Try Jose Martinez --765-3297, 333-174-1282

He has been recommended many times as someone with a camera that can find problems within pipes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw some videos on re-routing, but first the leak needs to be found.

Also, it seems to be random. The water comes out from the edge of the slab and literally floods an area overnight, but then it stops.

I    dug a trench along the foundation so I can get a better idea of where the water is coming from.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Jreboll said:

My aljibe fills up at night and not on all nights. It could be your water supply line coming from the street. Shut it off and see what happens.

 

 

I live quite close to Eric.

The water supply from the fraccs wells is only "on" from 8am-12pm, and he states he notices the problem "literally floods an area overnight, but then it stops", so I doubt that is the problem.

Our first rainy season here I was convinced there was a natural spring running under the house because every morning  a river of water was running out from the low side of the house. We had just completed a major reno including replacing all the water pipes (and waste pipes) under the floor which were completely corroded galvanized pipes and I didn't believe a new pipe or faulty plumbing was to blame. The past several years we have not had a similar problem, even in the rainy season.

I'm not smart when it comes to this sort of thing, but I believe there are indeed underground streams of water here in the hills that reappear during heavy rains. Since it rains primarily at night this might explain why his puddles are only visible in the early morning, and only intermittently. If streams of water underground are like those above ground, they are constantly forging new paths, which might explain why we no longer have water flowing from beneath our house and Eric has suddenly seen more water around his.

Just a thought.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Eric Blair said:

This is not a sewer water leak.

I'm going some backtracking of it on my own, but if I find where the water is actually exiting the underside of the slab, I need a plumber, especially one with the equipment to detect where the leak is. This is a very specialized process.

First off, stop thinking as the house as being on a slab, it isn't. Houses here have foundations under all the walls, interior and exterior. The floor tile is on a quite thin 2-3" concrete with generally no rebar or steel grid. You need to call a plumber who can find your problem. If it is truly under the floor they can go through the floor and repair the leak. They would find it by using an air compressor onto the line and raise the pressure to 40-50 psi. The they will listen for the air coming out through a leak. Then either go in through the floor or simply reroute with exterior lines.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Borrow a Stethoscope and during a quiet time at night lay around  and listen for the sound of running water..A camera is not a solution for finding a leak in this particular situation..Good luck, or maybe time to start excavating for that pool or pond you have never wanted..LOL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Eric Blair said:

This is not a sewer water leak.

I'm going some backtracking of it on my own, but if I find where the water is actually exiting the underside of the slab, I need a plumber, especially one with the equipment to detect where the leak is. This is a very specialized process.

I'm pretty sure it came as a result of earth movement because the alignment of a gate post changed about 1/4" in the last week.

Any personal knowledge or reference will be appreciated.

Thanks.

It could easily be a Spring coming up

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is a good idea.  Also, remember to shut off your tinaco and your pressure pump, if you have them, in addition to shutting off the water from the street.  Leave them off for several hours, as you listen and observe.  That should help to answer your question.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...