Water Leak in Basement

[Crazy Flamer]

So I woke up this morning to find a water leak in my basement. So far it looks as if the leak is pretty minor and its been contained to my laundry room so the damage is quite minimal.

Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced plumber they have previously dealt with?

[DuffMan]

Duct tape.

Just call whoever is closest to you.

[Crazy Flamer]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

Duct tape.

Just call whoever is closest to you.

I did that the last time I had an issue. Guy down the street from me works for Ace Plumbing. I cannot believe how badly he wanted to bend me over.

[4X4]

How bad is the leak? What's leaking? If it's something kinda obvious that just needs a minor replacement, I have a guy that I use.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by Crazy Flamer

I did that the last time I had an issue. Guy down the street from me works for Ace Plumbing. I cannot believe how badly he wanted to bend me over.

was it an emergency or after hours call. I think plumbers are about $90/hr, m - f, 8 -5, but outside of those hours it is a bunch more.

[Crazy Flamer]

Originally Posted by 4X4

How bad is the leak? What's leaking? If it's something kinda obvious that just needs a minor replacement, I have a guy that I use.

I'm not sure what's leaking. I think it may be a cracked pipe behind the drywall. And the leak isn't bad yet. I put some towels down on the floor and they absorbed the water throughout the night but they were soaked through this morning.

What's the name of your guy? Can you PM it to me?

[Crazy Flamer]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

was it an emergency or after hours call. I think plumbers are about $90/hr, m - f, 8 -5, but outside of those hours it is a bunch more.

It was a Friday morning. I called some other places after he left and ended up having the work done for less than half of what he quoted me.

[DuffMan]

behind drywall eh? you should start removing that. Someone is going to have to. Could it be coming from a bathroom or something above it.

[Pinner]

If a pipe froze, they only leak when they thaw out. So a minor leak now could be a gusher in an hour.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Pinner

If a pipe froze, they only leak when they thaw out. So a minor leak now could be a gusher in an hour.

And considering that it was minus 8000 for a few days, then it was close to zero yesterday, a frozen pipe is a real possibility if it's an exterior wall.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by duffman

behind drywall eh? you should have started removing that before you asked a bunch of hockey message board addicts about a plumber. Someone is going to have to. Could it be coming from a bathroom or something above it.

fyp

[Crazy Flamer]

Well it is against an exterior wall. I went outside and found a mountain of ice along the wall right above where the leak is coming from. That is also where my exterior faucet is. Looks like I am going to have to chip away all that ice...

[Pinner]

Find the water shut off near that pipe ASAP

[Pinner]

Your pipe froze and split, some of it is leaking inside and some outside.

[Buff]

As I sit here at work, reading this thread (on my coffee break, of course), I'm beginning to wonder if I turned off the shutoff tap for the outdoor faucets.

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by Buff

As I sit here at work, reading this thread (on my coffee break, of course), I'm beginning to wonder if I turned off the shutoff tap for the outdoor faucets.

Some have a spring loaded deal, like an expansion chamber ?? that will tolerate being frozen without splitting the pipe. I don't shut off and drain and it's been - 40 w/ no problems.


Edit: OK this is how they work, a long vale stem shuts the water off inside the house and the vulnerable pipe is always M/T.

[DuffMan]

things to do before winter really hits.

Blow out under water sprinkler system with air compressor - check
turn off valve going to outdoor taps and let them drain out - check

I'm good.

[Rjcsjc62]

Crazy Flamer: Turn off the isolation valve to this (or all) hose bibb now!

Good, now that this is done, you need a new hose bibb, and an unspecified amount of pipe depending on where the pipe split. But since you have the fixture isolated, and you likely will not be watering the lawn this weekend, you can wait until next week to call a plumber during regular work hours.

Most homes these days do have a non-freeze hose bibbs. If installed properly, and operating properly, you should never have to turn off the isolation valve to these hose bibbs.

However, it is still good practice, and super easy for any home owner, to shut these off every fall.

[Crazy Flamer]

I turned off the valve. But I'm wondering if the mountain of ice against the exterior wall is contributing to the leak. Could the heat from inside my house be enough to melt the ice and be cause it to drip into my basement?

[Pinner]

Wouldn't hurt to get rid of that ice, you got really lucky, it could've been a disaster.