Recent Job: Re-Routing a Damaged Water Pipe at a Paddington Home

Service: Water Leak Detection
Location: Paddington, Sydney

A Damaged Copper Water Pipe Beneath the Concrete

A section of copper water pipe at a Paddington home was damaged or faulty.

The pipe ran beneath a concrete slab near the garden tap. This made the damaged section difficult to reach and repair.

The job required a water service re-run. This meant removing the old section and installing a new cold-water line around the damaged pipe.

Leaving the faulty pipe in place could have led to a hidden leak beneath the concrete. Water may have escaped for some time before the problem became easy to see.

Removing the Concrete and Old Pipework

We first told the residents about the work and prepared the area.

A section of concrete at the front of the home was removed near the existing garden tap. This allowed us to reach the cold-water pipe below.

We isolated the water supply near the side gate before cutting and removing the old cold-water pipework connected to the garden tap.

Removing the faulty section gave us a clear path for the new water line.

Installing a New Cold-Water Line and Garden Tap

We installed a new garden tap and ran new copper cold-water pipework.

The new line was connected to the existing pipework beneath the timber floorboards. We secured the copper pipe to the timber joists under the home so it would remain supported.

Once the new pipe and tap were connected, we turned the water back on and tested every new join.

The tests showed that the new pipework was holding correctly, with no leaks found.

Protecting the Pipe and Reinstating the Concrete

The copper pipework passing through the opened area needed protection before the concrete could be replaced.

We covered the copper pipe with PVC to help protect it from damage. The opened area was then backfilled and prepared for new concrete.

We reinstated the concrete slab, cleaned the work area and removed the rubbish from the site.

A New Water Line Tested With No Leaks

Our final checks confirmed that:

• the damaged section of old pipework had been removed
• a new copper cold-water line had been installed
• the new garden tap was connected
• the new pipework was secured beneath the home
• all new joins had been tested
• no leaks were found
• the exposed copper pipework had been protected
• the concrete slab had been reinstated
• the work area had been cleaned

The home was left with a new cold-water line that no longer relied on the damaged section beneath the slab.

If the faulty pipe had been left in place and later failed, water could have leaked unseen below the concrete. This could have wasted a large amount of water, kept the ground damp and eventually required a much larger section of the slab to be broken up.

Worried About a Hidden or Damaged Water Pipe?

Unexplained dampness, water sounds, low pressure and rising water bills can be signs of a hidden plumbing leak.

Learn more about our water leak detection services, or contact the Friendly team to arrange an inspection.