How to find the source of a water leak?
I live in a condo. Last year on July 4th my ceiling began to leak with water. The plumbers came out and could not find the source. Then a company with a little camera came out and said the source was the upstairs neighbors’ water heater overflow was not connected properly. So it was fixed. The leak happened again this year on July 4th! Again the plumbers can’t find the source. The leak is not constant. It will drip for 3 minutes and then not drip for days. How do I find this leak???
Ask your neighbor the day he usually use his washing machine and check if the leak appears during those days. If apartments are the same, compare what equipment, tubing or drains are near the dripping area. Water leakage may be accumulated in the area for various days before it is noticed in your apartment.
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Val. The only thing I can think of, is the pipes above you might be sweating.
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Ask your neighbor the day he usually use his washing machine and check if the leak appears during those days. If apartments are the same, compare what equipment, tubing or drains are near the dripping area. Water leakage may be accumulated in the area for various days before it is noticed in your apartment.
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It sounds like it may be a sweaty pipe. You say it has happened both times on the 4th of July when usually the temperature out side is quite high and being a holiday are you using more water do to company which would cause the pipe to sweat more than any other time and causes the leak.
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Even though it’s upstairs find a company that specializes in slab leak locations. Ask them to do a full sewer test. They can verify and isolate leaks without cutting sheetrock. They will do a hydrostatic test on the sewer to find out if any leaks exist using test balls,then they should test the tub/shower drain. Many of the leaks that only show up every now and then are something simple like the overflow gasket on the tub,tile leaking,a/c drain or pan. They should be able to find it no matter what it is. Most of the time I know what it is before I ever test. Your insurance company should have some references of slab leak locators. Every leak can be found if the proper steps are followed. It sounds like you will need to go beyond your local plumber and get a specialist. Not all plumbers are good at leak locates. Might check with the neighbor and see what’s different on July 4th. Visitors using a restroom that rarely gets used,a kid that fills the bathtub up past the overflow.
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lic. plumber/slab leak specialist
if the upstairs tub/shower is above the leak. Have your maint tech check the escutcheons around the shower and tub controls. occasionally water will sneak behind them depending on peoples shower habits.also the seal behind the tub overflow will sometimes dry up and leak.
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