Diagnosing plumbing problems

[buksida]

We have a few strange problems with our water system and probably a leak somewhere. The tank is now almost empty yet we've been away for 4 days, the valve was turned off at the mains before we left - the pump will come on and off every 5 minutes or so regardless of whether a tap is on or not.

So the pressure must be dropping somewhere due to a leaky pipe or there is a leak in the tank somewhere causing the pump to keep switching on and off. There are no puddles or leaks in the house so it must be underground.

What would be the best way to diagnose these things? Any good recommendations for a plumber that knows his stuff?

Would this be the landlords responsibility or the tenants?

[Nereus]

We have a few strange problems with our water system and probably a leak somewhere. The tank is now almost empty yet we've been away for 4 days, the valve was turned off at the mains before we left - the pump will come on and off every 5 minutes or so regardless of whether a tap is on or not.

So the pressure must be dropping somewhere due to a leaky pipe or there is a leak in the tank somewhere causing the pump to keep switching on and off. There are no puddles or leaks in the house so it must be underground.

What would be the best way to diagnose these things? Any good recommendations for a plumber that knows his stuff?

The tank should be on the suction side of the pump, so unlikely to be that. The only one in Hua Hin that knows what he is doing is K. Sang---081 991 2677 (Visut). Thai only, no problem for you!

[splitlid]

firstly, check your toilets, sometimes the valve stays open in the cistern, usually due to calcium build up so the seal does not fit properly.
if its not that then you have to start at the pump and work towards the house. if your water pipe runs from the pump and up into the roofspace and then down into the rooms then it is easier to determine where the leak is.(if this way then water will be showing in the walls or ceiling) if all the water pipes run under the ground then its a bigger problem.

[lindosfan1]

should be the landlords responsibility but TIT

[STEVE G]

Yes, I would check the toilet system as mentioned above by splitlid as I've had that problem a couple of times.
Sometimes you can just clean the seal or if it's damaged stick a new one in as they only cost a few baht.

[buksida]

Thanks for the suggestions, have tried the dunny and that's ok - noticed a lot of air in the upstairs shower pipe just as you turn it on (never happened before) and very low pressure on it so that seems to be the culprit. Now to get someone out to fix it ... may give your guy a go Nereus.

[magnum]

Had same problem Buksi, had very hot floor in bathroom turned out had hot leak under floor turned off water tap in loft on heater, pumped stopped, Had to re route hot pipe no hot at sink tap in bathroom now but shower ok.Good luck.

[playboy]

I had similar problem couple years ago. The pump was switched on and off every couple minutes. Lucky that my gardener noticed a leaked of water out from cracked cement in front of the house. So he needed to break cement out and fixed the broken pipe. I wondered if those caused from previous earth quake couple years ago. Anyhow good luck for you.

[margaretcarnes]

That air lock in the pipe could be the cause Buksi - but keep a careful eye on your pump as well. If it's trying to pump nothing it might overheat and burn out. If you clear the air prime the pump again.

[buksida]

On further investigation we've discovered its the tank. Turned everything off last night and the water level was lower again this morning.

I imagine these huge underground concrete tanks are a bugger to fix.

[Khundon1975]

buksida

Most of those underground tanks are made with a block outer wall with a reinforced concrete inner core, which has a sand/cement screed inner finish.

If the tank is leaking, then the RC concrete must have broken, that will be difficult but not impossible to fix.
There are waterproof compounds that can be applied to fix a crack in the concrete but first you would need to drain and inspect the tank to determine exactly the extent of the problem.
Maybe SJ has some ideas.

I doubt you are the first to have this problem, so there is bound to be a fix out there for it.

Good luck.

[Huahinian]

Any further news on this topic as I now have a similar problem and need help.

[buksida]

Still a bit lost, its not the tank as it stays full when the pump is disconnected. There are a few minor leaks in the toilet (not enough to empty the tank though) so I've replaced squirters and rubber washers here and there, I think the pump is on the way out though - when we unplug it all is fine.

[Terry]

Still a bit lost, its not the tank as it stays full when the pump is disconnected. There are a few minor leaks in the toilet (not enough to empty the tank though) so I've replaced squirters and rubber washers here and there, I think the pump is on the way out though - when we unplug it all is fine.

Buksi - your previous statements + the one above "when we unplug it all is fine" would suggest maybe the pressure switch on your pump is stuffed.

This can be replaced for a few Baht by a competent plumber

[Nereus]

Are you sure your neighbors have not tapped into your system while you were away playing tourist over the long weekend!

It is not uncommon for an underground PVC pipe to fracture and start leaking where you cannot see it. If the water is being lost because the pump is running, then there is probably not too much wrong with the pump. It does not take a big leak to empty a tank overnight, and if it is underground it may well not show up. You mentioned before that you "turned everything off" overnight,so it points even more to an underground leak.