Help,under Slab Hot Water Leak

BE001

I have a client with a hot water leak under the slab. Some plumbers say re-pipe house, leaning in this direction ,seems like the only way to permanently solve problem and eliminate future problems.My question is, is it realistic to run new supply lines through the attic, and how should these lines be protected or insulated ? House is in NC and we do have freezing temps. Remodeling I've done on this property confirms that supply lines come up from slab in at least 2 locations. Any other suggestions that make sense ?
Thanks for any help.

thom

the lines need to be inside the heated building envelope.

Sell them on re-piping the entire house, running pex in the area at the top of the walls, then hide the pex with crown molding. You will have penetrations at all your drops but those patches should be relatively easy.

griz

Lots of different solutions. There are probably several miles of copper water line run in slabs in the US. Maybe not the ideal way to run water line, but it's there. I have saw cut and jackhammered my fair share of slabs fixing such leaks.
Guess it just depends on how much $$ your clients want to spend.

BCConstruction

You could run them in a loft. In the UK prob 95% of houses are plumbed in via the loft and they are fine as long as the pipes are correctly insulated. Even when pipes where close to the eaves they were fine. I have seen 50 gallon cold water storage tanks frozen solid but the pipes be fine many winters. Just make sure you use good quality lagging, Glue and tape all joints and it's the correct thickness and you should be fine.

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radimeto

in North korolina requirements of the City. The water pipe must be isolated with one inches rubitex isolation and must also put insulation R18 over the pipe

Dave R

I had the same problem with a rental house I own. I used pex and ran it in the attic. I put the insulating tubes around the pex and buried as much as possible in the attic insulation. I have not had any problem with it freezing and it is here in North Carolina.
My main line came through the slab and up to the water heater . It then turned around and was routed back under the slab. It resurfaced at each bathroom, the kitchen and laundry room.
Trying to find the leak and jack hammer the slab in the right location seemed like too much work and mess.
I also added cutoffs for the hot and cold lines going to each bath.

radimeto

when you have slab leak the best way it's to reroute all the hot water lines
that will resolve the fetcher problems with our underground piping

stp57

Uh, why is this listed under "Plumbing Picture Post"? I'm still waiting for the first photo?
Steve

breid1903

breid................