In floor heating has a leak and using infared heat camera i think ive found the leak. Now i need to cut out the concrete without disturbing the surounding floor , not damage any existing pipe. Anyone had any experience they can pass along when doing this job. If i get the leak exposed i can hire a pipe fitter to fix it. thanks! ken P
Car Wash Forum
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anyone had experience cutting out concrete floor to expose a leaking pipe?
- Thread starter partonken
- Start date
I have not used an infared camera to find my leaks so you are one up on me. I had a location which constantly was having leaks. I just rented a jackhammer and started to break out concrete where I believed the leak to be. Luckily I was within 2 feet on most of my endeavors. I had one where it took me 5 feet to get to the leak.
You should have an idea of the layout of the tubing and the spacing. Just start inbetween your runs carefully and work towards the leak. Work from either side of the tubing. Yep- you probably will hit the tubing too. Just try to go slow and not get in a hurry.
I didn't do any concrete cutting until I have found the leak and confirmed it is the only one. I then cut the concrete to get a straight"seam" being cautious not to go too deep and cutting the tubing. Then hammer and chisel out around the tubing to get a fairly vertical joint. I installed a fiber expansion joint around the perimeter, poured the concrete and after cure - sealed the expansion joint with caulking.
It is easy to get in a hurry and be careless with the jackhammer. you may be able to do a cleaner job with an air chisel after removing the big chunks. hope this helps.
You should have an idea of the layout of the tubing and the spacing. Just start inbetween your runs carefully and work towards the leak. Work from either side of the tubing. Yep- you probably will hit the tubing too. Just try to go slow and not get in a hurry.
I didn't do any concrete cutting until I have found the leak and confirmed it is the only one. I then cut the concrete to get a straight"seam" being cautious not to go too deep and cutting the tubing. Then hammer and chisel out around the tubing to get a fairly vertical joint. I installed a fiber expansion joint around the perimeter, poured the concrete and after cure - sealed the expansion joint with caulking.
It is easy to get in a hurry and be careless with the jackhammer. you may be able to do a cleaner job with an air chisel after removing the big chunks. hope this helps.
Thanks stuart!!!!! this really helps in getting me started. I guess the big thing is dont get in a hurry. My thoughts were to try and cut a verticle cut right around the leak which is in a corner i think. It was the only spot were the infared camera caught an abnomality. Then jack hammer in this 4' square piece nice and easy around the piping. If i can pull it off it will save me alot of $$$ and a couple of years profit. Thanks for helping me out stuart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PaulLovesJamie
rural 5 bay SS
I had to do a small repair to the floor heat tubing when the excavator&plumber cut out part of the concrete to replace my water main.
I used chisel attachments on a rotary hammer ( here's a link to the one I have) to clean out the concrete around the cut end of the PEX. Then I used shark bite fittings to patch in new pex where the damaged section was.
And in case you dont know, rotary hammers are a significant improvement over hammer drills for drilling in concrete & block - my hammer drill hasnt been used once since I bought the rotary hammer. I'm not sure if you could use one to avoid renting a jackhammer, but if you saw-cut the concrete first then I think you could.
I used chisel attachments on a rotary hammer ( here's a link to the one I have) to clean out the concrete around the cut end of the PEX. Then I used shark bite fittings to patch in new pex where the damaged section was.
And in case you dont know, rotary hammers are a significant improvement over hammer drills for drilling in concrete & block - my hammer drill hasnt been used once since I bought the rotary hammer. I'm not sure if you could use one to avoid renting a jackhammer, but if you saw-cut the concrete first then I think you could.
