Aaagh! leak in the wall! HELP!

[id10t]

Woke up this morning to a leak coming from under the kitchen sink. None of the hoses, etc. that I can get to without removing either under-sink-drywall (gonna have to be done...soaked) or outside siding (probably should be done to fix the inside issue).

Tried turning off power circuit to pump and running bathtub to reduce available water/pressure, no joy.

Should I start from inside or outside? If inside, I plan to go with a screwdriver, it is that soaked, it should just pull down. If outside, what is my best method? Not a lot of tools or ability, but I do have a circular saw.... (I use it once a year to cut a 2x4 down or similar.... )

And yes, the wife is calling for a plumber right now. This is just emergency leak access/control until someone who knows wtf they are doing shows up

Thanks!

[javadog]

Turn off the water supply to the house, where the water line comes into the house, if you have a valve there, or at the meter.

I would remove the sheet rock under the sink first, to investigate.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by javadog

Turn off the water supply to the house, where the water line comes into the house, if you have a valve there, or at the meter.

I would remove the sheet rock under the sink first, to investigate.

No meter, I'm on a well/pump - I've turned off power to the pump and ran the bathtub for 10 minutes to try to reduce pressure/available water but it hasn't seemed to help. No valve to access that I'm aware of, other than at the water heater (to disconnect it) and the typical under-sink last-3-feet valves (all of which are closed under there)

[javadog]

If your well requires a pump to deliver water, sooner or later you should see an end of the leak if you get rid of all the water that's in the pipes. I don't know if you have a two-story house or a one story, my advice would be to go ahead and open all of the water outlets to drain the water in the system. This would include the lowest positioned outlets which would probably be the hose bibs outside.

[id10t]

Turned bath tub back on, went outside, heard the pump kick on.

GD mislabled breakers! Found it though... now to wait for a plumber to call back

[javadog]

Well, that explains that. I would still open the exterior hose bibs, as they are likely to be the lowest point in the system.

[wswartzwel]

Turn off electric water heater before draining pipes or you will roast the heating elements