Leak from water pipe (picture included)

[Smudge01]

I'm guessing this pipe has a leak below ground and is the reason there is so much damp in this area.

What is the best way to approach this, I don't just dig up the concrete floor do I?

Thank you in advance for any assistance.

 

[ktuludays]

Is that an outside door on the left. What's outside brick look like. Is there an obvious damp proof course

 

[Smudge01]

The wall on the left is a masonry brick wall (internal) and that door internal, no obvious damp course.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Is the floor concrete or floor boards?

Andy

 

[JohnD]

stand back and take a wider pic please, all the way up to the ceiling, and pull back the carpet so we can see the floor.

Also a pic of the outside, showing the wall, and any gutters, downpipes or plumbing.

What is in the room above?

Have you got a water meter?

 

[Smudge01]

Hi,

Below this black line is where the walls are very damp. The carpets and concrete floor are dry.

Both walls shown here are internal and there is no sign of damp on the other side of these walls and there is no sign of water ingress from above.

So the leak must be below the floor and is being sucked up the walls, as the water pipe is so close it would surely suggest the pipe is leaking under the floor.

Unless anyone can suggest anything else?

What should I do now, dig up the floor, or is there a less intrusive way of detecting a leak below ground?

Thank you.

 

[terryplumb]

If you have an external water meter,turn your internal stopcock off, and see if the meter continues to turn / register useage.
If you don't ,remove the left hand skirting board and see if it reveals anything.

 

[Smudge01]

Thanks Terry great approach, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Post pictures of your progress.

Be careful not to go through the pipe or an electric cable. If possible turn off the exterior stopcock.

Andy

 

[Smudge01]

I spoke to the water board this morning and they confirmed the feed outside our front door serves us, and the flat above.

The pipe you see in the corner of that room is going up to the flat above, the stop tap is seized open btw.

The meter outside is spinning consistently, I asked upstairs flat to not use any water for 30 minutes, we stopped using ours also, but the meter kept spinning at the same rate.

I think this confirms there is a leak just under that wall (showing all that water damage).

What next do you suggest please; remove a skirting board, see if there is anything, then start breaking the concrete floor out to find the leak?

Also, it seems like the leg that serves the upstairs flat is the section that is leaking (under our floor), but I guess it's still our problem?

Thank you in advance for any help.

 

[terryplumb]

Do you have a seperate stopcock inside ?
If the meter serves not just you ,who pays the water bills ?
Do you have insurance that covers you for underground leakage ? May be worth involving them ?

 

[Smudge01]

Thanks Terry, if I need it resolving quickly, am I looking at breaking up our floor, or is there a less intrusive solution of determining that it is definitely the main feed?

 

[terryplumb]

It would be prudent to confirm that no water is being used when meter spins. No loft tanks filling ,toilets filling or water running into toilet pans that can go unnoticed,washing machines in use etc etc.
It's almost certain that leak is underground ,but before breaking out the floor you should be 100% certain.
Could be the other side of the wall even. A listening stick may help to pinpoint ,or narrow it down. Used as a stethoscope.

 

[Smudge01]

Thank you Terry. Brilliant help.

 

[Madrab]

Yup, use a large plain screwdriver, end against the pipe with the handle on your ear, with everything off you should be able to hear if its running. Looks like you might be starting at that mains pipe and following that down. I take it the neighbour's on board as it's a communal pipe.

Go carefully, can you isolate it externally at a toby/mains tap?