Plumbing leak???

streetneons · 01-07-2013, 04:58 PM

So here is my issue, Water is coming up through a crack in the concrete slab in my florida house built in 2005. The crack is in the master bedroom up against the wall about 2 feet long. Water is only coming up when you run the dish washer about 20 minutes into the cycle. I used vinegar in the tub and you can smell the vinegar in the bedroom water so I know its coming from the discharge drain. No leaks under the dishwasher panel and dry under the sink. I had a plumber come out to diagnose the issue and he tells me the pipe is fine and running the other direction of the house towards the sewer. In the course of two weeks the floor is totally dry until 20 minutes into a wash. So I am sure I have isoltated the issue. The plumber and myself are at a total loss for words and I am hoping maybe someone can have any advice on what I can do minus never using the dishwasher again. Thanks in advance.

joecaption · 01-07-2013, 05:50 PM

And how did he check it?
What is the drain made of?

jagans · 01-07-2013, 06:05 PM

Paper Plates? An excuse to eat out? Just kidding.

You need a new plumber, Id say. You pretty obviously have a breached line under your bedroom floor, and a backup. Can you show us a diagram of your piping layout? Time to scope it out with a camera, id say.

streetneons · 01-07-2013, 06:48 PM

The pipe for the drain is pvc. I am currently trying to get the layout plans on the plumbing from the city I live in but not sure how long that will take and I contacted the home builder and being the house is 8 years old they no longer have the plans they say. As for the plumber, I was not here at the time, but he used his audible tester, and also tested the pipes with air or something that put 100 psi in the pipes to detect a leak, but no video check.

jagans · 01-07-2013, 07:15 PM

Audible Tester???? Got me there, but maybe Alan can help. You have a broken pipe, or an open joint under your slab, otherwise water would not come up through a crack in the floor. How did the floor crack? Maybe the pipe cracked too?

joed · 01-07-2013, 07:15 PM

Video check is what you need. You definitely have a leak. Never heard a pressure check for drain lines after the install. Unless he plugged the vents, the actual drain leaving the building and all the fixture traps the drains would not hold any pressure.
Sounds like he tested the supply lines.

streetneons · 01-07-2013, 07:20 PM

So with it being a drain line that is not under water pressure, is there an easier fix then breaking up the slab to get to the broken pipe once its located, or is that the only fix.

**TheEplumber** · 01-07-2013, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by streetneons

So with it being a drain line that is not under water pressure, is there an easier fix then breaking up the slab to get to the broken pipe once its located, or is that the only fix.

Thats about it

jagans · 01-07-2013, 08:43 PM

You must have some sort of warranty on something like this for an eight year old house. Call the builder and tell him he needs to fix the pipe and your floor. Get a Lawyer. I don't see how you could lose on this one. I know I wouldn't.

streetneons · 01-07-2013, 08:53 PM

Yeah I wish it was that easy. My understanding is the house came with a two year warranty. And I didnt buy the house new, I just moved in two months ago and unfortunalty it did not get brought up during my home inspection, then again they only run the dish washer to make sure it works, not wait an hour to see if it leaks, so I guess it is what it is and I just need to pony up the bucks and get it repaired. And I bought the house as is with no warranty.

Alan · 01-07-2013, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by streetneons

The pipe for the drain is pvc. I am currently trying to get the layout plans on the plumbing from the city I live in but not sure how long that will take and I contacted the home builder and being the house is 8 years old they no longer have the plans they say. As for the plumber, I was not here at the time, but he used his audible tester, and also tested the pipes with air or something that put 100 psi in the pipes to detect a leak, but no video check.

I'm not sure how one would pressure test a drain pipe that has a supposed leak in it.

Alan · 01-07-2013, 10:10 PM

Here's a thought (longshot) : Possible bad joint in pex fitting under the slab?

Pex has a decreased pressure rating over an increase of temperature. So assuming the dishwasher is running for an hour and heating up the pipe, and then stops on and off, maybe the heat from the water is enough to weaken the joint to allow hot water to flow out of it when the water cycle in the dishwasher shuts off? I've seen some pretty horrible pex fittings installed by professionals just in the last year. Real scary stuff.

At any rate you have an issue under the slab that you won't know anything about until you open up the floor.

Sorry about that.

Javiles · 01-09-2013, 01:33 PM

You need a real plumber out there i can think of half dozen reasons why that's happening. camera will not find it nor a leak detector i hope you did int pay this clown for a leak detection, i am to assume that the dishwasher is connected under the sink via tail piece or disposal? if so fill up the kitchen sink then dump the water see if you get the water on the floor or not. do this twice wait 5 minutes between each dump, see what happens let me know.

streetneons · 01-10-2013, 09:12 AM

well what I have done is run the sink water on full for about 30 minutes with no leak, I was advised that there is not enough pressure doing it that way to get the leak. Maybe filling the sink and letting it out would prevail different results. And yes I did pay, he did spend almost 3 hours at the house looking for the leak, the dishwasher conclusion came after he left and about two weeks worth of detective work.

Alan · 01-10-2013, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by streetneons

well what I have done is run the sink water on full for about 30 minutes with no leak, I was advised that there is not enough pressure doing it that way to get the leak. Maybe filling the sink and letting it out would prevail different results. And yes I did pay, he did spend almost 3 hours at the house looking for the leak, the dishwasher conclusion came after he left and about two weeks worth of detective work.

If your sink drain is working properly, the dishwasher pump will not pressurize it.

Even with a partial blockage, you still have a vent, and 2 open basket strainers on the kitchen sink. The only buildup of pressure you're going to end up having is if you can get the line to back up all the way into the sink which = 1/2 PSI per foot of change in elevation. Is your dishwasher connected inside the sink cabinet?

If you have warm water bubbling up through the floor, it's time to just open it up. Nothing you do by looking or trying to diagnose the problem is going to fix it anyway. Just open it and look at it.