Water leak in house wall/ceiling

[El Chupacabra]

Woke up at 2 AM this morning to a smoke detector alarming in the basement, because water was dripping out of it. Removed detector, got bucket, towels, etc, shut off the water, drained lines in the house (opened faucets). I think we stopped it pretty quickly after it started - now to figure it out.

Leak appeared in the ceiling of a finished basement (drywalled, painted). No obvious plumbing leaks at any connection to sinks, toilets, etc, in the house. Water that leaked appears clean, isn't smelly, guessing it's from a fresh line and not drain line. No rain for a long time, leak isn't from outside the house - definitely an interior pipe somewhere.

Do I start with the insurance company, a plumber, or a leak detection company?

[ötzi]

I've never dealt with them so I have no idea if they're the right choice but I'd think about calling ServPro or somebody else who specializes in problem resolution like them. You've got a physical issue (the water) and a financial issue (dealing with insurance), it would seem wise to get somebody who's used to dealing with both sides of it.

[Slow 'n Steady]

I had a flooded basement a few years back and hired ServPro. They were terrible. It was management & construction amateur hour every time they showed up, which was sporadic at best once the contract was signed, poorly communicated, and never the same crew or supervisor. Not once. And their ineptitude directly caused major delays in both the clean up process and insurance processing. I ultimately had to have my insurance agency pay them off to get them out of my house so I could hire a contractor to clean up their mess. Their staff and managers were friendly and pleasant and utterly incompetent. If you go that route, personally I’d look for a different company. /rant

[senior researcher]

refrigerator supply line?

[El Chupacabra]

Thanks guys. Any reason to not just call a plumber?

I'm going to check out the fridge water line connection, as it's the last connection in the house I haven't looked at. And then climb into the crawlspace and see if I see the leak source from inside there.

[ötzi]

I think I'd at least call my insurance company. When the plumber gets there he might find the issue right off but if he has to start ripping into walls to track it down, who knows where that leads or what he finds when he rips in there.

[liv2ski]

refrigerator supply line?

That fucked up a guy in my ski club on his 2nd home. Wasn't there for a few months in winter and all the water ended up freezing and breaking his foundation. Not to self, always turn the water off when gone.

[Danno]

Thanks guys. Any reason to not just call a plumber?

I'm going to check out the fridge water line connection, as it's the last connection in the house I haven't looked at. And then climb into the crawlspace and see if I see the leak source from inside there.

I would have already called a plumber.

Once you get a clue as to what happened and the damage caused, a call to insurance would be next.

[fatnslow]

Idk what kind of home repair skills you have but finding and fixing a water leak isn't rocket science. Start by cutting out the damaged drywall and turn on your water them see if you can see where the drip is them go up from there. I would hold off on starting a insurance claim to see if you can find the leak. Often times it's just a copper line or coupling that has failed. Great idea about the refrigerator water line. Try shutting off the supply valve to it with the water main on to eliminate it as the source.
Repair usually is exposing the spot by removing some drywall, splice in a new section(copper or pex) then patch your wall.
You don't want to call in ANY of those emergency remediation companies. They don't do shit other than shop vac water, spray enzyme then start calling real repair people. I had a renter freak out after flooding a basement with the washing machine then call one without talking to me. Those fuckers told her "don't worry it's all covered by insurance" then sent me a bill for $3k after literally shopvac some water spray enzyme and run a fan for few hours.
I told them I didn't authorize shit and told them to pound sand and gave them a check for $1000.

[Talisman]

Idk what kind of home repair skills you have but finding and fixing a water leak isn't rocket science. Start by cutting out the damaged drywall and turn on your water them see if you can see where the drip is them go up from there. I would hold off on starting a insurance claim to see if you can find the leak. Often times it's just a copper line or coupling that has failed. Great idea about the refrigerator water line. Try shutting off the supply valve to it with the water main on to eliminate it as the source.
Repair usually is exposing the spot by removing some drywall, splice in a new section(copper or pex) then patch your wall.
You don't want to call in ANY of those emergency remediation companies. They don't do shit other than shop vac water, spray enzyme then start calling real repair people. I had a renter freak out after flooding a basement with the washing machine then call one without talking to me. Those fuckers told her "don't worry it's all covered by insurance" then sent me a bill for $3k after literally shopvac some water spray enzyme and run a fan for few hours.
I told them I didn't authorize shit and told them to pound sand and gave them a check for $1000.

I agree that these repairs are easy to accomplish and cutting the wet drywall need to happen sooner versus later. The refrigerator water supply tubing got me once and it was just a scratch on the tubing that leaked years after installation.

The advantage to calling a restoration company (not Service Pro or Service Master) is access to big dehumidifiers for drying out the space. "Black mold" Stachybotrus chartatrum is a condition you want to avoid and later on being able to tell future buyers about the restoration after a leak that "professionals" were used may be an advantage. In the old days we would bleach it, dry it and then repair the dry wall.

Good luck.

[JimmyCarter]

You have central air in the house?

[XXX-er]

I v'e had 4 or 5 leaks and I've dealt with them myself, random disjointed all-wet thots

- don't leave a hose on an outside tap at -30C it can back up & burst the fitting, even the valves that are way in the house behind the insulation

- In my last house when the water heater went it fucked the carpets SO at the same time as the HE furnace instal in this house i had the guy proactively drain the water heater & instal a splash pan with a pipe to the floor drain, they are really cheap and anybody repalcing the water heater should put one in at the same time

- if the carpets get saturated wet might you as well replace em in fact get rid of them all together go lino or whatever

- I have never had an insurance claim but a GF had a sump pump failure/ flooded basement claim, insurance adjusters will play a back and forth game with you and the insurance company, be patient and good luck !

-test yer sump pump before the flood season, to make sure the float mech works, also if its old enough to have a metal impeller its in danger of rusting off, if it does the pump just runs forever & the basement floods, latest design of the exact same pump now uses a plastic impeller only costs 100$ and will never rust off

- I had a drain leaking for a long time ( tennants who never complain ) so I had to cut out all the DW & studs up to 2' , the black drain pipe was glued too close to the concrete to repair so I needed a plumber to jack hammer enough concrete to replace the fitting, he cost me 250$ but sometimes its worth it to pay the pro, true for plumbers and realestate agents IME,

besides hating RE agents do we also hate plumbers ?

[El Chupacabra]

Thanks guys. Any reason to not just call a plumber?

I'm going to check out the fridge water line connection, as it's the last connection in the house I haven't looked at. And then climb into the crawlspace and see if I see the leak source from inside there.

Fridge water line is bone dry, dusty. Braided hose of some kind - not metal, but not the skinny cheap clear plastic ones either.

Crawlspace inspection: no sign of any leaks or wetness. A couple old crusty bits at connections.

There are no water lines or sewer lines running near where the water leaked out of the ceiling, based on crawlspace inspection. So the water traveled there from somewhere else.

House has central heat, but no air conditioning.

I think next step is call plumber. I have no drywall repair skills, so cutting open walls and making them look good later is going to be somebody else's job.

[El Chupacabra]

I would have already called a plumber.

Once you get a clue as to what happened and the damage caused, a call to insurance would be next.

I'm going this route.

Homeowner policy looks like going through insurance is going to cost over $5-6K after deductible and water damage claim surcharge for a couple of years - - if the insurer even covers it. Going to see what a plumber says first.

[wooley12]

No skill needed to cut a hole in the ceiling to take a look. Leak might be obvious. Signed Beenthere Dunthat. A couple of times. My money is on water feed to the fridge

[Timberridge]

I like a good mystery.
Keep us posted.

[fastfred]

Stop peeing in the closet at night.

Do not call servpro or any nationwide type remediation co

Water finds the lowest easiest point before it shows itself can lights are a big exit place research yourself call a plumber drywall removal maybe it's not hard to find but an idiot will fuck your house up for sure be leery of idiots but sometime s they guy who smell s the most like weed might be your best guy to solve the problem

I'd suggest not dealing w insurance if it is a minor issue insurance companies are the scum if the earth and will hose you in the end

Sent from my SM-J737V using Tapatalk

[fatnslow]

I'm going this route.

Homeowner policy looks like going through insurance is going to cost over $5-6K after deductible and water damage claim surcharge for a couple of years - - if the insurer even covers it. Going to see what a plumber says first.

Don't discount the fact if you have multiple claims your insurance company might drop you.

[Percy Rideout]

No skill needed to cut a hole in the ceiling to take a look. Leak might be obvious. Signed Beenthere Dunthat. A couple of times. My money is on water feed to the fridge

Sounds like he checked the fridge water line. No air handlers with condensate lines.

My bet is now a pinhole leak in a copper line within 5 feet of your water recirc pump.

[californiagrown]

Don't discount the fact if you have multiple claims your insurance company might drop you.

yep. Had an upstairs neighbor flood their place and cause water damage to mine, twice in a 3 year period. I filed claims both times, and both times my insurance recouped from their insurance. When i went to buy a house this past year my own insurance and another one refused to cover my new home because of the 2 recent water damage claims. Sick.

[El Chupacabra]

Sounds like he checked the fridge water line. No air handlers with condensate lines.

My bet is now a pinhole leak in a copper line within 5 feet of your water recirc pump.

I don't have a recirculation pump - if you mean the sort of instant hot water at any faucet type of thing.

FWIW, house is on its own well, with well pump. Pressure tank and piping where it comes into the house is lower than the location of the leak, and not anywhere near it, so I doubt that's involved.

[fatnslow]

If you want to save a few bucks make sure to save the cutout drywall for paint matching and paint the walls/ceilings yourself after the drywall repair is done.

[wooley12]

I had water on a ceiling three times. Each time I found the leak by cutting damaged ceiling away as a first move. Leaking 1st floor dining room was a roof leak traveling through the walls. Wet kitchen was condensation off the water supply to the shower above it when then the kids were into 30 minute snhowers. Wet kitchen #2 was my screwing up a toilet install that dripped once a minute for 3 months.

Serrated carving knife works.

[El Chupacabra]

Waiting for call back from plumber who thinks they can get here today. Scheduled a different one for tomorrow, but as we have no running water inside, today would be better.

Q on dehumidifier and professional drying out stuff: necessary given where I live? - - high desert, going to be about 93* outside today, humidity will be single digits. I can open the windows in the basement and dehumidify pretty quickly.

There is one smallish section of carpet in basement that got wet. But it's not really any more wet than when the carpet cleaners do their work.

[XXX-er]

from what you say i would be tempted to cut a hole right where the water came trhu to take a look-see and follow it back since it might very likely need fixing anyhow

no body looks up at a ceiling to see if its fixed purty, a wall at eye level is way more of a worry

you could just turn the water on but put a big garbage can under the drip

I have seen ceilings full of water balloon out big time !