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  1. #1
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    Water Leak Nightmare

    Done all the usual tests--Toilets/tank -also had Plumbers (Chaing) in to check, seems I do have a leak, somewhere underground or in the walls.
    Before I take the final step of tearing into the tiles /concrete-on a hit and miss bases.
    Has anyone used a company with a water leak detector? You know like the metal detectors, they walk along and say "you have a small brake here"
    I live in Issan (udon Thani) , but would be
    Prepared to fly someone in, rather than the other option.

    So frustrating I go to Google and they seemed to be used everywhere--except Thailand.
    Malaysia has large adds-- "House water leak-If its under steal Concrete or wood-if our water detectors can not locate it.-We wont charge you".

    When I ask at plumbing supply places here--I just get that 20 yard blank stare.....The Farang wants What ??

    There is another option--an internal water sealer , I dont think its in Thailand yet.... but Boy it should be.
    Has anyone had any experience with this .

    Thanks guys.



  2. #2
    Thailand Expat Backspin's Avatar
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    Joined in 2007, 8 posts. That must be a record

    How do you know it's a leak and not a pump issue ?

  3. #3
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    By Changing the Pump.......

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Backspin View Post
    How do you know it's a leak and not a pump issue ?
    Quote Originally Posted by sleepy View Post
    By Changing the Pump.......
    Logical, really

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by sleepy View Post
    By Changing the Pump.......
    We apologize in advance for backspit. He is a bit "challenged"....

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by nidhogg View Post
    We apologize in advance for backspit. He is a bit "challenged"....


  7. #7
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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  8. #8
    Thailand Expat Backspin's Avatar
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    Is the pump turning on more frequently and running longer than it should ?

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat Fondles's Avatar
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    If the leak is under the floor then possibly the tiles will be slightly cooler, grab a infrared temp gun and check around.

    Rented a house years ago and a pipe under the floor burst... they dug up the tiles and ground through two bedrooms, loungeroom, kitchen and finally the lanudry before they found it.

    The Meth One's Fuck The Best !!


  10. #10
    Thailand Expat VocalNeal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Backspin View Post

    How do you know it's a leak and not a pump issue ?
    By reading the meter , one would think.

  11. #11
    Thailand Expat Backspin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by VocalNeal View Post
    By reading the meter , one would think.
    Yeah it depends what kind of system he has. With a well , the only way to tell is if the pump is running too frequently. I had a riser freeze this winter in a house and it broke after it thawed. I also did a pressure switch and a bladder tank recently

  12. #12
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    turn of the taps on your toilet cisterns it does not take a big leak to activate a auto pump and check if it stops happening , fix the problem by bending the float arm downwards or install a new valve, i have had that problem several times and fixed it every time by doing that

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by VocalNeal View Post
    By reading the meter , one would think.
    if he has a tank as most of us do , and I believe he does because he mentions a pump, then checking the water meter would only show if there is a peak between the water meter and the tank, a condition easily verified buy shutting the water at the valve entering the tank and looking to see if the meter till spins.

    the leak problem Sleepy has is difficult to locate without the proper equipment.
    Try adding a bright food coloring only costs 20 bht and look to see if any color shows up anywhere. Its a long shot, but what do you have to lose?
    The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up.

  14. #14
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    They sell water leak detectors on lazada but you need to be able to read Thai to find out about them

  15. #15
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    Our village has a private mains water supply, coming from a small lake owned by a prominent local family of hoteliers. They also owned the land on which the village was built. I bought our house some 15 years ago, when the house was already around 7 years old.

    By and large, the water service has been OK with the occasional disruption due to leaks/pump issues. Things started to go downhill around the start of Covid, where there was a noticeable lack of maintenance, including the basics maintaining the pressure in the water tower, and filtration. Our house has a solar hot water system mounted on the roof, and frequently there wasn't enough pressure to be able to provide hot water. For those occasions where a few cloudy days also meant no hot water, I'd installed an electric water heater to the shower in the downstairs bathroom. Problem there was that frequently not enough water pressure to activate the heater.

    Anyway, about six months ago there was a marked downturn, pressure very, very low, due to a main pump out of action. M'Sahib got on the case and was told they had gone out to tender for a new pump. This excuse went on and on, so we decided to get a grip of it ourselves, and install a tank/pump. Problem there was where to actually put it. I'm not a fan of water tanks unless they're hidden away, and in our case it would have to be quite prominent next to a shrine alongside a car port at the front of the house. A couple of large trees would need to be removed, and the area concreted.

    Couple of guys in clearing the area.





    A lot of graft (not by me) and the area levelled.



    The steelwork installed for the concrete.



    The pour and smoothing.





    Tank and pump lead time from Bangkok was 7 days, which gave the base plently of time to cure out.



    The day arrives, and the tank is delivered. That's the delivery truck in the background that brought it from Bangkok.



    A few days later, a couple of guys did the installation. The tank location is adjacent to the mains water supply so that was a plus.



    We'd got some filters to be installed at the same time. The first is a cartridge type, the second and larger is full of filtration medium.



    Installation complete, doesn't look too bad.





    Pump is a 305hp Mitsubishi. Tank is 1500 litres.



    Our joy as having good pressure and clean water was short lived, as various leaks started to happen, principally with the hot water system pipework. We've basically had to decommission the hot water, and plug off hot water pipe to all faucets and showers. Lack of hot water isn't actually an issue, as where the new tank is situated gets sunshine virtually all day, so the water tends to be tepid and actually ideal for showering.

    Various other leaks that couldn't be traced without digging into concrete floors and walls meant we ran a new supply externally to the house. We've just finished painting all of the blue pipework grey to blend in with the rest of the house and walls.





    Not surprisingly, I've noticed a few other houses in the village with newly installed tanks and filters. I wish that I'd installed our own water years ago when it wouldn't have been as much hassle. True to form, M'Sahib has been watching closely what the guys who installed and repaired the system, not so much for quality control, but to learn how to do the basics herself in the future. She's amassed a mix of fittings and tools that a plumber would be proud of!

  16. #16
    CCBW Stumpy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by PAG View Post

    A few days later, a couple of guys d







    We'd got some filters to be installed at the same time. The first is a cartridge type, the second and larger is full of filtration medium.



    Installation complete, doesn't look too bad.





    Pump is a 305hp Mitsubishi. Tank is 1500 litres.
    Nice set up PAG. Very clean and functional. We set up two 2000 liter tanks, 1 for house use and filtered similar to yours and 1 for yard watering. We live close to municipal water so it has never been a problem for us ever running dry and the city pressure has always been OK but the Hitachi pumps and both tanks just offer higher pressure for the house and sprinklers etc.

    I see in the the pic above they used those nice quick release couplers. I love those things and use them on all my plumbing around here. Sure makes service and repair nice and not cutting and splicing plumbing. As a note, be careful when tightening them. The plastic seems to want to gall a bit. I remedied that issue by spraying a little silicone lubricant on the threads before screwing them back together.

    On the tall polishing or carbon filter I noticed they ran a 90 out to the back towards the wall but it is not quick release and is hard glued to the 90 at the bottom. Will make taking that filter out for clean and refill some work. I guess the first time they come they can just cut half way down and add a quick release coupler if space allows. If space is an issue they make those pipe repair couplers that are not much larger in diameter to the piping. I keep a couple around here in case a pipe cracks and they hand tighten up nice and can be used like a coupler.

  17. #17
    Making people dance. :-)
    Edmond's Avatar
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    Should be adequate if there are ever violent riots outside the front gate.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stumpy View Post
    Nice set up PAG. Very clean and functional. We set up two 2000 liter tanks, 1 for house use and filtered similar to yours and 1 for yard watering. We live close to municipal water so it has never been a problem for us ever running dry and the city pressure has always been OK but the Hitachi pumps and both tanks just offer higher pressure for the house and sprinklers etc.

    I see in the the pic above they used those nice quick release couplers. I love those things and use them on all my plumbing around here. Sure makes service and repair nice and not cutting and splicing plumbing. As a note, be careful when tightening them. The plastic seems to want to gall a bit. I remedied that issue by spraying a little silicone lubricant on the threads before screwing them back together.

    On the tall polishing or carbon filter I noticed they ran a 90 out to the back towards the wall but it is not quick release and is hard glued to the 90 at the bottom. Will make taking that filter out for clean and refill some work. I guess the first time they come they can just cut half way down and add a quick release coupler if space allows. If space is an issue they make those pipe repair couplers that are not much larger in diameter to the piping. I keep a couple around here in case a pipe cracks and they hand tighten up nice and can be used like a coupler.
    You'll notice the tee at the bottom of this photo, with the 3/4" pipe with a small isolation valve, that's rawvillage water to a tap/hose for the front garden, obviously unfiltered and not pumped.





    There are two pipes, one from the tank/pump, one raw village water, going round the perimeter to the rear of the house.





    I clean the filters once a week, rinsing the cartridge one, and doing a backwash on the carbon one. You're right, when I need to change the medium I'll have to cut the pipe and put a coupler into that backwash pipe.


  19. #19
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    Nice San Phra Phum spirit hose PAG, If it was me I'd tile roof to disguise and protect the err waterworks or at least paint the plastic pipes to blend in a bit?

    I hate the way every Fridge washer tv box is plastered i 10 ered in stickers with info that could be on the box . warranty or users manual but won't lose any sleep over it, keep enjoying your excellent cuisine and allow the rest to wash past, as Lloyd George said to my father, I'm going for a LEEK
    Quote Originally Posted by Latindancer View Post
    I just want the chance to use a bigger porridge bowl.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by david44 View Post
    Nice San Phra Phum spirit hose PAG, If it was me I'd tile roof to disguise and protect the err waterworks or at least paint the plastic pipes to blend in a bit?
    Finished painting the pipework yesterday, apart from a couple of small areas where we may re-configure it.


  21. #21
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    That is a very tidy job there PAG. Isan is like another planet.
    When you backwash, where does the outflow go?

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shutree View Post
    That is a very tidy job there PAG. Isan is like another planet.
    When you backwash, where does the outflow go?

    It's piped from the filter to outside, flowing between our bins to an adjacent drain. You see the pipe ^^ at the bottom above the small isolation valve, that makes a dog leg under the railing.

    From outside:




  23. #23
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    You have an actual drain in your street! Very posh. My backwash goes through a hole in the wall and out to the lane. To be fair, it is just a soakaway of sorts, it doesn't flow far enough to impact the neighbours.

  24. #24
    Thailand Expat Fondles's Avatar
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    Thread is about leaking pipes so some stupid fuck posts up a tank install !!

  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fondles View Post
    Thread is about leaking pipes so some stupid fuck posts up a tank install !!
    Guess that I'm the stupid fuck. However, if you read my first post on this, you'll discover that a water supply issue necessitated the installation of a tank and pump, and that installation caused a succession of problems i.e. nightmare with leaks from the aged pipework, and installing a new water supply network external to the house instead of the original buried in concrete one. I'm not the first that this has happened to, and sure won't be the last.

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