Water Leak ?

[nspctr1]

While mowing the yard yesterday I discovered a puddle of water up against the house. We haven't had rain in a couple of weeks and I haven't watered the yard in a few days so I figure I have a leak. I started digging this morning and found the soaker hose that I installed a couple of years back but I kind of doubt that is the source but to be safe, I disconnected it from the spigot. I also checked the meter to see if it is spinning and there is no sign of a major leak however, it could be slow enough that it only turns the meter every few minutes. I will continue monitoring the meter for movement but my real question is, is there a rule of thumb on how the water is fed through a house? does it feed an outside spigot first? the water heater? I have had to repair this line before. The meter is at the curb and the line runs directly to the corner of the house and 45's in. from there it is headed straight to the water heater but there is a spigot nearby also. Then since the line is obviously in the slab, would it tee and feed anything else? I know it has to run to the water heater for the kitchen and baths but my concern is, if the leak is in the slab and I am able to bypass it and tie back in, what are the chances I will be bypassing another exterior spigot etc?
This really isn't the way I wanted to be playing in the mud on memorial day.... ugh

Thx

 

[PAToyota]

There really isn't a "standard" after the meter. Once through the meter, it is pretty much run to whatever is closest and then the next closest down the line - i.e.: no reason to run over to the middle of the house to the water heater, then on to the kitchen, then double back to the bathroom at the front of the house, and finally around to all the outside spigots.

For example, my supply comes into the house in the front basement corner. The meter is actually inside my basement. First thing it hits is then the front outside spigot; runs back to the water heater - which is pretty much right under the first floor bathroom, so it hits that too; then back to the laundry in the basement; from there on to the kitchen; and then hits the rear outside spigot. From the water heater, the hot water lines parallel the cold supply where needed. In my case, there is no hot water needed before the water heater, so no lines double back. The "trunks" are 3/4" and 1/2" lines tee off of that to go to the various installations.

Sounds like you don't have a basement and the water lines are all in a slab on grade? Only way to tell where the lines go is to look at the original house plans. Even then, the builders may have done something different.

But, if you have a leak in the slab you'd likely see moisture issues inside the house. Also, is the puddle at the point that the water line from outside leads into the slab? It could be draining back out along the pipe where it goes in.

I'd expand the digging until I encountered where the water was actually coming from.

 

[Rookie2]

The typical way I've seen it is it comes off the main at the road to a metered box then to an interior spot (basement, closet) where you'll have a pressure regulator and a main shut off valve. From there it's distributed throughout the house, no particular pattern of distribution from that point that I'm aware of.

 

[nspctr1]

Well, after digging the area up and exposing the soaker hose etc, it appears that the ground is not getting any wetter, there is no water standing in the hole and it may even be drying out a bit, hopefully. I think the soaker hose was at fault but not sure how other than the spigot was on just a tad.

Thx for the replies...

 

[Capt. Jim]

Your water meter should have a leak indicator on it. It is a small rotating device that will spin at the slightest flow through the meter. Usually about 1/4" to 3/8" in diameter with a highly visible shape/pattern. It will be located right on the meter dial face. Is that what your are watching to see if it spins?

 

[nspctr1]

It does and that is what I monitor when checking for leaks. I let it sit for 2 or so hours Sunday and it didnt move so I'm hoping it was just some weird deal with the soaker hose.

Thx