hot water leak under a slab house

[riverman]

I recently discovered I have a hot water leak under my slab. I dont have any drawings for the plumbing. How do I find where the leak is so I can break through the concrete slab in the proper place? I tried hooking up an Argon line at 20 psi. I used a stethascope and tried to listen for the leak, but could not find. Are there any new methods for finding such leaks?

[Pete WanserskiParticipant]

: I recently discovered I have a hot water leak under my slab. I dont have any drawings for the plumbing. How do I find where the leak is so I can break through the concrete slab in the proper place? I tried hooking up an Argon line at 20 psi. I used a stethascope and tried to listen for the leak, but could not find. Are there any new methods for finding such leaks? there are more efficent listening devices available, but the method you are using has been used for years. part of the trick to finding a leak in this fashion is cutting off water supply and then apply air pressure long enough to blow water out back to leak(which can take a good while depending on size of leak)then crack open water supply a little and this will create a bubbleing sound which is more distinct. you try to end up with the air pressure just a little higher than the water pressure.of course you can also walk around barefoot looking for a warn spot, maybe turn AC down low to get contrast.

[Pete WanserskiParticipant]

There are commercial leak locator companies that do it rather reasonably. Unless you have a $1,000.00 deductible on your home owners insurance policy, it will cover the cost of detecting the leak, breaking the floor, and replacing the floor and any fooring material. the only thing it will not cover is the cost of fixing the pipe, and sometimes they even cover the labor for that, and you just have to pay the $2.00 or so for parts. : I recently discovered I have a hot water leak under my slab. I dont have any drawings for the plumbing. How do I find where the leak is so I can break through the concrete slab in the proper place? I tried hooking up an Argon line at 20 psi. I used a stethascope and tried to listen for the leak, but could not find. Are there any new methods for finding such leaks?

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