epoxy lining to repair water pipe leak under slab

[cjccmc]

My cold water supply line goes from 63 to 40 psi in 10 minutes so pretty sure there is a leak. House is a two story on a slab and I have light moisture damage to brick fireplace hearth and wood floor planks that butt to it on ground floor.

Having a free leak detection done by a reputable company tomorrow and I know from their website that they typically recommend epoxy coating or pex re-pipe instead of busting out the slab for leak repairs.

What is the current opinion on epoxy coating as a permanent repair? I know the early ones had lots of skeptics but is the current technology better to the point of making it a viable option?

 

[RickFlorida]

I didn't know they do epoxy linings for supply lines (pressurized water supply). I am just a DIY guy but very interested in plumbing stuff and at least here where I live in Florida, I've only heard of epoxy lining to help with waste pipes (cast iron lateral lines). And the county or cities will do epoxy for main sewer lines in some occasions.

Are you sure the company knows you want the supply lines looked at? Perhaps I just didnt' know it was a thing you can do.

Supply lines are like 60 to 80 PSI. I don't think epoxy lining supply line problems is a real fix for highly pressurized lines but I could be totally wrong and just am clueless on this.

How old is the house? Does it have an attic you can walk around in or a super duper small sealed attic?
The wood flooring is over concrete slab you say? Yeah if the leak is in the concrete slab, you may have to do a re-pipe so you are on the right track.

If it were my house I would only do this: First... find where the leak is. Even if you have to pay two or 3 companies until they just find the leak. Then decided how to fix it. But I would never epoxy supply lines. You will pay hundreds or thousands and then just have to fix it again soon I bet.

Re-piping is expensive and thus a last resort. (When they find the leak, see if it can be repaired). But if the leak is under concrete slab, I've heard of the repair just to one area to be about the same price to re-pipe.

The sick and twisted thing about having a leak under the concrete slab is this: From what I understand, insurance companies will only want to repair the leak itself, and not pay to re-pipe. Now why am I bringing this up? The cost to demolition just part of you concrete slab inside your house and repair that leak can cost up to 15,000 dollars! But a re-pipe might be cheaper depending on how they do it and how the house is set up.

I'll be curious to hear where the leak is. Go from there.