Water coming up through the carpet

[Guit-jitsu]

I've figured out is going to be a headache, but I'm not sure what I'm looking at here.

A couple days ago we noticed damp spots in the dining room carpet. They won't dry up with towels, don't smell like the pets, and are getting bigger. This is on the ground floor of a townhome built on a slab. Along the other side of the nearest wall are both the dishwasher, AC unit and water heater.

I've inspected the drip tray and overflow pipes around the AC and water heater and haven't found any water ... what else do I need to be looking for? Really hoping to avoid pulling up the carpet ...

Advice from you more seasoned homeowners out there???

[Guit-jitsu]

Oh and a few weeks ago the AC unit had leaked in such a way that the air filter got wet, but it hasn't happened again. And none of that moisture got to the floor, so I'm perplexed ...

[janothebear]

Sorry to say, it sounds like that carpet is gonna have to come up. If an appliance was leaking, your carpet would be wet from under the appliance and spreading outward from there I would guess- Maybe you have a broken pipe under the slab and water is pushing up?

[telex76]

If it's more than just damp, you need to pull it up and turn fans on it to dry it out or it will rot.

[dented]

Sounds like a water line leaking to me. Pull the carpet up and look for the crack. If it is weeping then be prepared to call a plumber. Hope it is a left over spot from the A/C unit. What was the leak at the A/C from?

[scat4me]

It is one of 2 issues. The condensate line from the A/C is clogged and backing up. Get a shop vac and vaccuum first from the outside. After you have vaccuumed try this. Your a/c should have a pvc line with a Tee if so pour a 1/2 cup of clorox down the line and wait a few minutes. This will loosen up any gunk in the line. You may have to do this a few times. I would follow with some boiling water. Be very carefull. #2 If the condensate line is not clogged then you probably have a broken line under the slab. The way to test this is to turn off all faucets and close all supply lines to the toilets. Once everything is off go out to the water main / meter and check to see if ther is any movement in the dial. There should be none. If there is it means the supply line under the slab is leaking. ( happened to us 3 years ago). If you live in a Condo/ Townhome notify the association. The Condo is responsible in most cases. Contacr your home owners insurance and file a claim for the interior damage. Take lots of pictures of the whole process.

[Guit-jitsu]

Originally Posted by dented

Hope it is a left over spot from the A/C unit. What was the leak at the A/C from?

The past A/C leak didn't get on the floor, I just changed the filter and was surprised that is was soggy wet.

Originally Posted by scat4me

It is one of 2 issues. The condensate line from the A/C is clogged and backing up. Get a shop vac and vaccuum first from the outside. Your a/c should have a pvc line with a Tee if so pour a 1/2 cup of clorox down the line and wait a few minutes. This will loosen up any gunk in the line. You may have to do this a few times. I would follow with some boiling water. Be very carefull. #2 If the condensate line is not clogged then you probably have a broken line under the slab. The way to test this is to turn off all faucets and close all supply lines to the toilets. Once everything is off go out to the water main / meter and check to see if ther is any movement in the dial. There should be none. Of there is it means the supply line under the slab is leaking. ( happened to us 3 years ago). If you live in a Condo/ Townhome notify the association. The Condo is responsible in most cases. Contacr your home owners insurance and file a claim for the interior damage. Take lots of pictures of the whole process.

Very helpful, thank you. I will look for the pvc line, but the line seems to be several feet from where the damp spots are happening. So I'll check the water meter thing too.

UG! NOT HOW I WANTED TO SPEND MY WEEKEND!!!

[scat4me]

The condensate line from the a/c runs under the slab. ( assuming this is a central A/C). If the filter was soggy it means the coil most likely froze up and the pan filled with water. Check outside the house and see if you can find a pvc drain. It will most likely be an elbow or some times a curved pvc. Once you find it that is where you should vaccume with the shop vac

[sonserve]

Originally Posted by scat4me

The condensate line from the a/c runs under the slab. ( assuming this is a central A/C). If the filter was soggy it means the coil most likely froze up and the pan filled with water. Check outside the house and see if you can find a pvc drain. It will most likely be an elbow or some times a curved pvc. Once you find it that is where you should vaccume with the shop vac

In most cases the one outside is a secondary condensate drain. The shop vac is a good idea, better than pouring more liquid down a plugged drain, but start at the air handler.
That said, it sures sounds like the sound of a jack hammer will soon fill your home...
The sooner you get the carpet and pad up the better.

[scat4me]

So what was it ?

[Tred]

Could it be something outside the the townhouse, leaking in, or down from the roof?

[mr natural]

Has it rained hard recently? We had the same problem and it was the uphill neighbor's yard draining back toward their house and pooling behind the shared retaining wall. We're in adjoining townhomes, so... it runs downhill and seeps into our livingroom. My neighbor and I dug a drainage trench in the pouring rain on the uphill side of the shared retaining wall and filled it with stone, Talk about a miserable afternoon, knee deep in red clay mud. I'd suggest checking your perimeter to make sure it's not an outside drainage problem, in addition to all the other good suggestions here.
-Mr. N.

[kidmo]

Maybe his reverb is too wet...

[stxrus]

my 1st thoughts were condensate, supply or drain. none of which are good. best of luck with this

[John-By-The-Sea]

I had a similar problem, caused by a leak in a line to the refrigerator's ice maker. Water seeped under a kitchen wall into the living room carpet.

[scat4me]

still a mystery....

[sonserve]

Perhaps the OP drowned in his living room.

[tap4154]

Originally Posted by sonserve

Perhaps the OP drowned in his living room.

Naw, probably too busy being surrounded by huge loud blowers, jackhammers, a plumber waiting in the truck... arranging to have the trench filled, and carpet replaced.

Hasn't happened to me, but seen it often... slab leak.

[scat4me]

Has anyone verified that it's not a houseboat?

[sonserve]

Originally Posted by scat4me

Has anyone verified that it's not a houseboat?

That would explain alot!