Question about a neighbor’s water leak

[LBrandt]

Hello,

For several days, we have noticed a small pool of water standing in a flower bed at the front corner of our neighbor’s house. The house is single story and on a concrete foundation. We have never met the neighbor, and we feel that the neighbor might resent us attempting to interfere in her business, so we haven’t said anything about it to her. We don’t know whether she has noticed the leak or not.

The water seems to be always there in the morning, and we think that the leak may be directly outside one of the bathrooms in the house, so we assume that it could possibly be due to a leak from the neighbor’s bathtub or shower. From time to time, the water seems to dry up, but it always comes back later.

The neighbor’s yard drains toward the front of the house, so the water never gets more than a foot or so beyond the front of the foundation.

And we haven’t had any rain lately.

Question: If this leak were due to a broken underground or under slab pipe, which would be under pressure, wouldn’t it leak constantly and not dry up intermittently?

Thanks,
Louis

 

[Reach4]

Sprinkler system or soaker for the flower bed maybe? Controlled by a timer to water at 4 AM.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[LBrandt]

Sprinkler system or soaker for the flower bed maybe? Controlled by a timer to water at 4 AM.

No, she has no sprinkler system, and there is no garden hose connected to the front of her house.

 

[Dj2]

As a responsible neighbor, it's important that you alert your neighbor about the leak. Let her investigate the leak and take care of it. By fixing it she'll avoid further damages and save water, the most precious commodity in the USA.

One thing about a leak: it never gets better with time.

 

[LBrandt]

Yes, I agree with you, but I'm still puzzled about the source of the leak. My question was, if the leak is from an underground pipe and under pressure from the main, wouldn't it leak constantly and not start and stop from time to time?

 

[Gary Swart]

Drains are not under pressure. They rely on the pipes being sloped to the main. I suggest you go over and meet your neighbor and tell her that you have noticed this water are concerned that she may be unaware of it. This is no more interfering with her business than letting her know her house was on fire...perhaps not as serious and/or urgent, but just be a good neighbor. If she knows about it, fine, you've done all you need to do. If she doesn't know about it, then the ball will be in her court.

 

[LBrandt]

Thanks to all.

Louis

 

[DonL]

Thanks to all.

Louis

However you tell tell her make sure she does not think that you only want to lay some pipe. Or do You ? lol


Just because she does not have a hose connected to her houses hose bibs, does not mean that a watering system is not installed.



Good luck.