last person to post wins!

[frodo]

What is in that wall?
If plumbing is in the wall...
Cut the sheet rock low enough so your base board will hide the hole
look in the wall for water
if you find water cut the wall open

Run the water in that room.

 

[frodo]

A pipe that only leaks when something is on?

that would be a drain leak/ or the appliance itsel

 

[Floorist]

that would be a drain leak

A dishwasher only leaks when it is running. Maybe it is something like that. But if the water meter is not running, you would almost think it is rainwater coming in. I have seen icemakers that only leaked when running.

 

[Havasu]

A pipe that only leaks when something is on?

Haven't been able to determine the trigger for the leaking. Something suspect is a stress fracture that follows directly under the floor plate and runs left to right. If a slight leak, water could be dripping down from the manifold into the stress fracture and either go outside by going left, or flowing to the hole if water goes to the right. I like your idea about cutting the drywall above the pressure treated lumber under the manifold to look for wetness. I really think if I don't find this, the plumber will rip all the drywall out of the room until he finds something. Mind you, that little corner contins the primary manifold, the new shower toilet and sink just behinf that wall, and to the right is the washer and dryer, and all the ABS drain lines from the washer, to the sink, to the toilet, to the shower. Lots of wet piping coming and going from within 5' of that hole.

 

[Havasu]

A dishwasher only leaks when it is running. Maybe it is something like that. But if the water meter is not running, you would almost think it is rainwater coming in. I have seen icemakers that only leaked when running.

Dishwasher and refrigerator is 40 feet away. Bone dry there.

 

[Floorist]

Dishwasher and refrigerator is 40 feet away. Bone dry there.

How about the washer?

 

[frodo]

Ok bud. go into the washing machine room
pull the washer out is there a clean out behind the washer? check the threads for leaking

I am thinking you have a nail in a drain pipe

 

[Havasu]

Yes, the washer is 5' to the right of that hole, just on the other side of that wall. I routine check behind the washer looking for discolored/wet baseboard, but it is bone dry. Also a moisture meter on that wall did not trigger and is bone dry.

 

[Havasu]

Ok bud. go into the washing machine room
pull the washer out is there a clean out behind the washer? check the threads for leaking

I am thinking you have a nail in a drain pipe

That is a great thought, but as said above, no moisture is detected at or near the drain line. When these high capacity front loads discharge water, there is tens of gallons perged through the drain line, but no water is showing anywhere near that drain line and the drywall is dry. We have done 5 loads of was just this morning, but nothing is showing any water leakage.

 

[Havasu]

Ok bud. go into the washing machine room
pull the washer out is there a clean out behind the washer? check the threads for leaking

I am thinking you have a nail in a drain pipe

Yes, there is a clean out there. If water was leaking from that point, it would fall into the drywall and the moisture meter would detect moisture. Nada, zilch, nothing.

Thanks everyone for helping me brainstorm this, I know it is alot of typing, but I have until Monday before this house will be ripped apart and the cost of tens of thousands.

 

[frodo]

I am stil leaning towards a sheet rock or base board nail in he pipe
water then seeping down the pipe the the concrete and under the house vie the annular void between pipe and concrete

What is the booby prize if we guess it? I want a billy beer LOL

 

[frodo]

cut that hole behind the base board, use toilet paper on a stick to probe for wetness

toilet paper is a good leak finder

You can cut 12x12 or 24x24 and use a AC louver to cover the hole.

 

[Havasu]

All dry at the manifold and black vent drain

 

[Chris]

I have a leak locator you can borrow, just come grab it

 

[frodo]

that is your best bet

inspect those sleeves, it could be leaking down the sleeve

did you turn the washer on and run a cycle

what was fixed under that new concrete, is that where habeeb worked?

 

[Havasu]

Yes, Habib did the repair. I just removed the nail plate and the repair 3/4" copper line has a definite kink, but again, no water or moisture around it. Plumber came back out and said he will repair that kinked line, but doesn't think that is the reason. He wants to retire, but he has to tear out the tile on our shower to plumb up and over. About $20,000 in cost. We've run 7 loads of wash, flushed 3 toilets multiple times, ran sprinklers for 20 minutes, had 2" of rain yesterday, but yet, the hole stays dry.
On top of this, my dog has a rotten tooth, all vets are closed, and Friday the guy is coming to remodel the kitchen. Im hemorrhaging money.

 

[Floorist]

If he can't fid a leak, don't let him tear anything out.

 

[Havasu]

I agree. I'm hoping by digging up the hole, we will discover something glaring. If not, I don't know what to do...

 

[oldognewtrick]

I agree. I'm hoping by digging up the hole, we will discover something glaring. If not, I don't know what to do...

Buy, rent or borrow a FLIR thermal imaging camera.

 

[Chris]

Buy, rent or borrow a FLIR thermal imaging camera.

I got one here next to my leak locator he can borrow