My 44 year old house is on a slab for the kitchen and a half basement for the rest. I had an unusually high water bill which I suspected was from a leak somewhere. To find out where I turned off all the sources of water usage i.e. toilet, clothes washer, all faucets, dishwasher, and outside hose bibs and visually inspected all the copper lines and fittings for leaks and the copper tubing – no leaks. However, I was still getting a flow reading through the water meter. Next I closed the hot water return from the water heater and the flow stopped.
Because I could see if there was any leakage in the pipes and finding none that told me that somewhere under the slab is where the pipes were leaking specifically the hot water line.
Now the question is after going on line and trying to find out a fix for this under the slab leak, one individual had a video where he inserted 1/2 PEX into the 3/4 copper supply line in order to save busting up the cement floor to replace the copper tube.
Has anybody had any experience doing this? Does the 1/2 ” PEX affect the flow and volume enough to make a difference in the operation of the dish washer and the clothes washer? And is this a reliable fix?
The ironic thing is I remodeled my kitchen last fall and had a new ceramic tile floor installed and I am understandably very reluctant to break up my very expensive floor.
Any suggestions on how to fix this would be appreciated.
EDIT…I meant to say that the outlet from the hot water tank is what I shut off.
Thanks for the suggestions…I think that the best way to approach this is to do as suggested…find a way to route PEX through the walls and abandon the slab piping.
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Before marketing my condo, I had "My Home Handyman" come in and take care of a lot of unattractive and unpleasant problems. The builder was on time, competent, and kind. Most significantly, he was really "handy" and took an hour to complete minor plumbing and electrical work, and reattach closet doors, and some baseboards.
I'm not sure what a hot water return pipe from a water heater is?
I suggest abandoning the slab piping & run new water lines through walls & ceilings, and create soffets & boxes as needed to disguise the new pipe route. Insulating the new piping will reduce condensation, dampen velocity noise, and save energy....
I'm guessing the hot water return is part of a system to allow for the water to be returned to the water heater so you get hot water to a remote faucet without wasting water(?)
I have 1/2 inch pex supplying a dish washer and 1/2 copper supplying the washing machine.
you could try snaking/fishing the pex through the 3/4, however, if you have any 90s, the pex may not bend too easily. you could also research using 3/8 inch pex if it just the return line as I understand it.
I'd do what was suggested previously and try for a new line
good luck
I have 1/2" pex to both my washer and dishwasher - no problem.
I had to run a new copper line about 25 feet from my heat pump internal unit to the outside. The installer wanted to know what I wanted - break up the slab or tear out the ceiling (this is in a finished basement) to run the new line. We brainstormed a bit, and ended up running it along the wall at the ceiling. Had to cut into the back of a closet to get it to come out up there. I did a bit of creative work with crown molding, and the line is hidden.