Need help identifying a leak in the basement

[drco]

We discovered a bit of water coming out from under the concrete in one of the basement rooms.

A contractor dug a hole and found more water under. The water is not overflowing. We would vacuum the water but more would come up, bit it doesn't overflow. From the surface of the water to the top of the concrete floor, it's only 2 inches.

We tried hydro flushing on our perimeter drain and also did camera and everything looks fine. No blockages.

We tried shutting off the main water valve. We only shut off for 3 hours as we are not sure if this will have a detrimental effect on the water heater. When the main water is shut off, the water still rose but seems to rise slower. Hard to say if this is just die to residual water in the pipe or from the water heater.

We are using baseboard heat.

Any ideas on where this leak is coming from and how to troubleshoot it?

I'm not a plumber so hope you will be patient with me

Thanks for your help

 

[Geofd]

Does your meter spin with the water off

 

[drco]

House is 25 years old.

 

[drco]

Does your meter spin with the water off

I'm in Coquitlam, BC. We don't have a water meter here. We just pay an annual fee to the city.

 

[Geofd]

With flow your main should be cold, at rest it should be warmer

 

[drco]

With flow your main should be cold, at rest it should be warmer

The water is room temperature. Not cold, nor hot.

 

[RS]

I would turn off the water heater and then shut the water of for a long period of time, 12 hours? If you have an expansion tank in the system you could watch for pressure drop, that would indicate a leak.

 

[drco]

I would turn off the water heater and then shut the water of for a long period of time, 12 hours? If you have an expansion tank in the system you could watch for pressure drop, that would indicate a leak.

Is it easy to turn the water heater back on?

Thanks.

 

[drco]

I had a plumber come in and he suspects it's a slab leak. He also noted that we are using Poly B pipes. His suggestion is to cut the 2 lines going to the basement then monitoring if there is improvement. Then possibly repipe the entire house.

See below for pic of the 2 pipes he suggested to cut. Is this a sound plan?

But the water could still come from the water heater if this is not cut as well, right?

So maybe all 3 needs to be cut?

We don't mind doing the repipe after researching Poly B pipes. But I want to make sure this will solve our leaking problem.

 

[Twowaxhack]

Install a pressure gauge. Then turn the main valve off snd see if the pressure drops. If it drops then you have a leak.

 

[RS]

Is it easy to turn the water heater back on?

Thanks.

Every one I've had has been easy, if gas you turn it off on the burner control, if electric in the breaker panel.

 

[CT18]

Is it easy to turn the water heater back on?

Thanks.

Its a gas water heater so you wont have to do anything. If you want you can set the burner to pilot or vacation.