Water from behind wall?
#1
01-19-20, 05:56 PM
Water from behind wall?
So I've posted a few times about now about my ongoing bathroom remodel. Everything has went fairly smoothly with your help until today..... Looked at the bathroom floor and saw a small amount of water in a corner and around the drain (see pics).
The pex plumbing was installed like two months ago and no leaks. I turned the shower on several time and held a bucket to the spout to ensure the pipes didn't leak. The kerdi board has been screwed in the wall for a month. I covered the screws with kerdi band and cement two nights ago. Nothing else has happened that could have possible affected the pipes.
I've tried turning on the shower again by holding a bucket up to the spout for a few seconds. When I shut off the valve I don't see any more water on the ground. I don't hear water dripping on the ground. I have no idea where the water came from. I have a fan on it right now to dry it up...... Do I just hope water doesn't start leaking again and continue on with my project or should I cut out a section of the wall???? omgggggggggg. It's such a small amount of water but where did it come from?
The pex plumbing was installed like two months ago and no leaks. I turned the shower on several time and held a bucket to the spout to ensure the pipes didn't leak. The kerdi board has been screwed in the wall for a month. I covered the screws with kerdi band and cement two nights ago. Nothing else has happened that could have possible affected the pipes.
I've tried turning on the shower again by holding a bucket up to the spout for a few seconds. When I shut off the valve I don't see any more water on the ground. I don't hear water dripping on the ground. I have no idea where the water came from. I have a fan on it right now to dry it up...... Do I just hope water doesn't start leaking again and continue on with my project or should I cut out a section of the wall???? omgggggggggg. It's such a small amount of water but where did it come from?
Last edited by Grahf; 01-19-20 at 06:22 PM.
#3
01-19-20, 06:27 PM
Thanks for the reply....sorry for using the wrong words. Do these pics helps? The bubbles are just air bubbles. I just used a pair of pliers to turn on the water valve and held a bucket to where the water comes out to catch it.
https://imagebin.ca/v/59QUn5zKx0ax
https://imagebin.ca/v/59QVNcomJTSN
https://imagebin.ca/v/59QUn5zKx0ax
https://imagebin.ca/v/59QVNcomJTSN
#4
01-19-20, 06:36 PM
And I guess it should be noted that this is a condo.... So there is another condos bathroom on the other side of the wall and another condos bathroom on the floor above me.
#5
01-20-20, 02:17 AM
Member
Do I just hope water doesn't start leaking again and continue on with my project or should I cut out a section of the wall???? omgggggggggg.
Do you really want somebody to say just ignore a visible water leak and hope it will go away and never return?
Your going to have to open up the wall and find the leak!
BTW, this is exactly why I will never use PEX or sharkbite type fittings, they are mechanical devises and prone to fail, rant over!
CasualJoe
voted this post useful.
#6
01-20-20, 04:08 AM
Group Moderator
You're just going to have to do some investigating. Start by looking at the walls above your show for signs that the leak is from the upstairs neighbor. If you can't find the source of the leak then the wall will have to be opened up to find the source.
I like PEX and found it to be more reliable than other methods if you used crimp or compression rings. I have had leaks from push connect Shark/Gator Bite fittings especially if there is any bending force on the fitting.
What is your plan for the shower? I'm surprised to see that you membraned the walls but haven't done anything for the floor/pan.
I like PEX and found it to be more reliable than other methods if you used crimp or compression rings. I have had leaks from push connect Shark/Gator Bite fittings especially if there is any bending force on the fitting.
What is your plan for the shower? I'm surprised to see that you membraned the walls but haven't done anything for the floor/pan.
#7
01-20-20, 07:45 AM
I don't want to needlessly open up the wall. I woke up this morning and the floor was still dry. I turned on the water and let it run into a bucket for a few seconds and there was no signs of a leak. Ie no dripping sounds after the water was shut off and no more water leaking out from under the walls. There are no signs that there is a leak other than discovering a small amount of water in a corner of the walls last night. I'm desperately trying to remember having a glass of water in the bathroom I spilled but I don't remember doing that :\
Do you really want somebody to say just ignore a visible water leak and hope it will go away and never return?
Your going to have to open up the wall and find the leak!
BTW, this is exactly why I will never use PEX or sharkbite type fittings, they are mechanical devises and prone to fail, rant over!
Your going to have to open up the wall and find the leak!
BTW, this is exactly why I will never use PEX or sharkbite type fittings, they are mechanical devises and prone to fail, rant over!
#8
01-20-20, 07:48 AM
I was dry fitting the curb, shower pan, and drain when I discovered the water on the floor. Which is why this is SO weird. Was the drain or shower pan carrying water that I spilled on the floor? That seems impossible to me since they've been sitting in my bedroom.
I guess I'm going to give it a few days before I install the pan, drain, and curb......see if any water shows back up.
I guess I'm going to give it a few days before I install the pan, drain, and curb......see if any water shows back up.
What is your plan for the shower? I'm surprised to see that you membraned the walls but haven't done anything for the floor/pan.
#9
01-20-20, 10:12 AM
Agreed with the others - you definitely want to find the source of that water. It'll be much easier cutting into the Kerdi Board now, rather than after tile is up! Can you add an access panel on the other side of the wall?
I haven't seen a shower pan that would be installed after the walls. The Kerdi board should extend over the shower pan, with the kerdi roll stuff going down over the lip into the pan. What kind of pan are you using?
I haven't seen a shower pan that would be installed after the walls. The Kerdi board should extend over the shower pan, with the kerdi roll stuff going down over the lip into the pan. What kind of pan are you using?
#11
01-21-20, 11:48 AM
I guess a few things about this are on my mind. I'm not 100% sure it was a leak.... Like I said, I was dry fitting the kerdi tray and drain when I saw the water.... a small amount of water. The tray should not have been wet but I can't rule out that's where the water came from.
1) If water never shows up on the floor again..........is it safe to assume there is no leak? Water has not shown back up thus far.
2) I have turned on the hot and cold water and let the shower run for a few seconds and again, no water on the floor, no sounds of water dripping behind the wall. I know this isn't the correct way to test pipes but is that a good indication that everything is fine?
1) If water never shows up on the floor again..........is it safe to assume there is no leak? Water has not shown back up thus far.
2) I have turned on the hot and cold water and let the shower run for a few seconds and again, no water on the floor, no sounds of water dripping behind the wall. I know this isn't the correct way to test pipes but is that a good indication that everything is fine?
#12
01-21-20, 11:54 AM
Member
It's like dejavu all over again.
I think the question was answers by many, it you feel confident that it was a fluke then just ignore the comments!
I think the question was answers by many, it you feel confident that it was a fluke then just ignore the comments!
#14
01-21-20, 12:59 PM
Group Moderator
Water has to come from somewhere. If all of your items are stored inside the home then they should be dry. So, that leaves a leak as a likely source of the water especially if it was from groundwater or rainwater that got in during a storm.
#15
01-21-20, 01:38 PM
OK so maybe the water got in from a rain storm.
But it doesn't make sense for the water to have came from the pex because if I turn on the shower no more water appears on the ground and the water appeared on the ground when the shower was off. Does that make sense?
But it doesn't make sense for the water to have came from the pex because if I turn on the shower no more water appears on the ground and the water appeared on the ground when the shower was off. Does that make sense?
#17
01-21-20, 04:52 PM
Group Moderator
We aren't psychics. We cant tell you where your water is coming from. If you could have opened it up while it was wet you likely could have found the source... Whether it was your plumbing, the adjacent neighbor's or the guy upstairs. No way for us to know.
If it was mine, there is no way I would tile it without finding out. Pretty easy to open and patch back up now. Will be really hard to do later. But if it's dry now... Opening it up isn't likely going to tell you anything.
If it was mine, there is no way I would tile it without finding out. Pretty easy to open and patch back up now. Will be really hard to do later. But if it's dry now... Opening it up isn't likely going to tell you anything.
#19
01-22-20, 06:15 AM
You indicated you are residing in a condo; it is possible the leak is coming from the other resident next door. I would advise to notify the Condo HOA (if you have one) or the Condo Management! The other resident might not be aware that there's a line leak! I recommend to STOP EVERYTHING! FIND THAT LEAK!
#21
01-22-20, 08:46 AM
I know the owner next door. Spoke to him and he said his bathroom is fine.
#22
01-23-20, 11:32 PM
A little late. Pictures were a little difficult to take. Most were taken with the hot water running. I'm just venting at this point.
Plumbing when wall was open: https://postimg.cc/YhvSbw1q
You can see that the apparent leak was under the hot water bend.
Top Left Hot Water Bend: https://postimg.cc/njd3VmSx
Has what appears to be calcium deposits around it.
Going down hot water: https://postimg.cc/LJKFMdZT https://postimg.cc/0Md0rwtj
Again, more....calcium deposits?
Bottom Left Hot Water Bend: https://postimg.cc/Pp8MH7DW https://postimg.cc/2bm4p5zD
Cold Water Bend: https://postimg.cc/G8YvVy0z
No calcium deposits on it.
Floor: https://postimg.cc/750GxytY
Dry and certainly doesn't have the amount of water on it that was seen when I started this thread.
Curious about the calcium deposits when I've barely used the pipes
Plumbing when wall was open: https://postimg.cc/YhvSbw1q
You can see that the apparent leak was under the hot water bend.
Top Left Hot Water Bend: https://postimg.cc/njd3VmSx
Has what appears to be calcium deposits around it.
Going down hot water: https://postimg.cc/LJKFMdZT https://postimg.cc/0Md0rwtj
Again, more....calcium deposits?
Bottom Left Hot Water Bend: https://postimg.cc/Pp8MH7DW https://postimg.cc/2bm4p5zD
Cold Water Bend: https://postimg.cc/G8YvVy0z
No calcium deposits on it.
Floor: https://postimg.cc/750GxytY
Dry and certainly doesn't have the amount of water on it that was seen when I started this thread.
Curious about the calcium deposits when I've barely used the pipes
#23
01-24-20, 04:12 AM
Group Moderator
If you are getting mineral deposits around a fitting... it's leaking. The water slowly leaks and evaporates leaving the minerals behind. I wouldn't freak out just yet, your photo is rather blurry and if you look closely you can also see something white on the edge of the crimp ring. I would take another look and try to verify if it is actually mineral deposits or some other schmutz showing up in the photo.
#24
01-24-20, 09:17 PM
Super Moderator
Man, cinch rings, copper crimp rings, plastic pex ells, brass pex ells, and all one color pipe. No pride in the work there thats for sure.. hodge podge...
Ummm us only brass pex fitiings. Maybe someone bought a cheap criming tool...chinese stuff alsws out of tolerance...
https://www.ferguson.com/product/sio...pk/_/R-3549212
Ummm us only brass pex fitiings. Maybe someone bought a cheap criming tool...chinese stuff alsws out of tolerance...
https://www.ferguson.com/product/sio...pk/_/R-3549212
#25
01-28-20, 04:51 PM
It was the cheapest guy on craigslist. I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN. Everything else in my bathroom I did myself.
Man, cinch rings, copper crimp rings, plastic pex ells, brass pex ells, and all one color pipe. No pride in the work there thats for sure.. hodge podge...
Ummm us only brass pex fitiings. Maybe someone bought a cheap criming tool...chinese stuff alsws out of tolerance...
Ummm us only brass pex fitiings. Maybe someone bought a cheap criming tool...chinese stuff alsws out of tolerance...
