Round 2- and go!! Ugh.

chiefjason

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So, being the paranoid folks we are my wife went out to the meter about lunch time. It was moving again, although very slowly. It did not move all day yesterday when we checked it.

Shut off the house on the newly laid water line. Good news, it held with no movement for about 10 minutes.

Bad news, it moves when we turn the water to the house on.

Shut everything that had a valve off, still moving. We think we heard some drips in the wall of the girls bathroom. Moisture level at the baseboard in the dry wall is 14% right now. It goes up as you work down the wall. Got a stethoscope and thought we heard some drips but nothing consistent enough to be sure.

Apparently when the girls went to take showers the pipes made all kinds of racket in that bathroom last night. My mistake was probably not turning on some faucets when I turned the city water on. What I'm afraid of is that it shook something enough to spring a small leak. I may be cutting the drywall out to access the wall tomorrow.

Either that or dig up the line from the shut off to the house to check that too. Or both.

So I'm making this one for all the questions I might have. Wish me luck. Off to work first though.
 
Good luck, hopefully its not too hard to find.
 
I've found the most frequent culprit for this is a toilet fill valve. Take the top off the tank and manually hold it in the closed position and see if the meter quits spinning. From what you're saying about drywall moisture, I don't think it's inside the wall. You'd see it.
 
I've found the most frequent culprit for this is a toilet fill valve. Take the top off the tank and manually hold it in the closed position and see if the meter quits spinning. From what you're saying about drywall moisture, I don't think it's inside the wall. You'd see it.
Good idea. I guess that water running behind the wall would eventually puddle on the floor if you're on a slab.

You could also turn off the toilet valves.
 
I feel your pain. Probably already check this but before getting worried, turn off each toilets water supply after bedtime. See if the water level holds. Before then also see if the fill valve in the toilet holding tank is off with the water on.

I would get a small access panel and cut the Sheetrock if you hear a leak. At least you will have something to cover up the hole. Most leaks caused by water hammering will be at fittings on faucets such as the diverted on the back where water enters. Most weak areas are threaded fittings. If you have a closet behind the showers it will be perfect because a access door can stay there forever. Good luck.
 
I've found the most frequent culprit for this is a toilet fill valve. Take the top off the tank and manually hold it in the closed position and see if the meter quits spinning. From what you're saying about drywall moisture, I don't think it's inside the wall. You'd see it.

Thing is, we shut all the toilet fill valves, sinks, washers, ice maker, and water heater and the meter was still running. Just running really slow.

Baseboards are running 16% moisture which is high per the meter.

The wall for access is bathroom on one side and bedroom on the other. Lucky me.




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Apparently when the girls went to take showers the pipes made all kinds of racket in that bathroom last night. My mistake was probably not turning on some faucets when I turned the city water on. What I'm afraid of is that it shook something enough to spring a small leak. I may be cutting the drywall out to access the wall tomorrow.

.

Sounds like it could be a water hammer issue with the pipes not being secure. If it's copper pipe a joint probably broke loose.
 
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Feeling a bit annoyed but relieved. I cut 2 holes in the wall, bathroom and bedroom. Was positive we heard leaking or dripping. Nope, bone dry. Tried to call a plumber and left a message. Had pretty much run myself out of options. Walked outside, meter is still running. So I started over at the beginning.

Pressure tested line in yard. Fine.
Put the stethoscope on the pressure reducer, it's running water through it when nothing is running inside.
Noticed the shut off valve for the yard spigot beside it does not look right. Dug the dirt out, cleaned it up, opened, then closed it and it finally closed all the way.

Looks like I was getting some water passing the ball valve but not enough to run the spigot which I had checked more than once. I might still have a leak on that line but I'm not pressure checking it until I have a few nice warm days. Now the meter is not running with the valve for the house on. Going to keep an eye on it for a few days to be sure.

I've figured out the worst enemy of a plumber is a motivated husband with a day off.
 
You’ve done as much as a plumber could do if that makes you feel better. Just hope you don’t have a leak in the house concrete slab. That would be hard to find and cut out.
 
You’ve done as much as a plumber could do if that makes you feel better. Just hope you don’t have a leak in the house concrete slab. That would be hard to find and cut out.

Tell me about it. Not many guys around here specializing in slabs. FWIW, it’s not shown leaking since. But it will take a few days to convince us. Still gotta deal with the spigot at some point. Now to learn how to patch dry wall. Lol


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Tell me about it. Not many guys around here specializing in slabs. FWIW, it’s not shown leaking since. But it will take a few days to convince us. Still gotta deal with the spigot at some point. Now to learn how to patch dry wall. Lol


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I’ve tried about everything. Drywall finishing seems to be something that I have no luck with.
 
Drywall finishing isn't hard. Just got to be patient and let the compound dry thoroughly and be sure to use a good quality tape.
 
After I read your post yesterday, I went out to our outside range bathroom and shower. The water was off since before the big freeze. When I turned the water on there was water squirting from 4 places. CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
After I read your post yesterday, I went out to our outside range bathroom and shower. The water was off since before the big freeze. When I turned the water on there was water squirting from 4 places. CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, that's no good.

Luckily ours is still holding strong. Finished mounding up the dirt on the trench today and recovering the box at the house.
 
Did you shut the water off to the house at the shut off in the house then check the meter? If the supply line between the house and the meter is leaking you’ll have to get someone out to fix that.

Edit. Never mind I see you texted it. I’d still test it with the shut off to the house in the off position.
 
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Did you shut the water off to the house at the shut off in the house then check the meter? If the supply line between the house and the meter is leaking you’ll have to get someone out to fix that.

Edit. Never mind I see you texted it. I’d still test it with the shut off to the house in the off position.

I did. It’s fine now to the house. Gotta check the feed to the outdoor spigot. Still have it turned off. Waiting until I need it to test it.


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As you found out a valve may still leak by especially if they get age with hard water or a piece of trash in it. Also be very careful with toliet and sink shut off valves those are like playing with a mouse trap once they get some age on them, had several over the years break or won’t seal and it is usually at the worst time.
 
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