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#1
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Damp hardwood floor question/advice?
I'm working on a house for resale. After removing the entryway carpet
I found hardwood floors in pretty good skape. However, the are two strips where the seams and butt joint are damp to the touch and the only water source close by is a hot water baseboard heating register. But the copper pipe from the heater goes down under the floor. I can only assume that there might be a pin hole leak in the copper that when under pressure releases some water. Problem is... the ceiling below is completely finished in so there is no access to the heating pipes. In fact I can't even be sure this is the cause but its my assumption. I'm writing for suggestions as to what the best method for repair would be? I'm thinking if I cut one end of the wook strips which are in a hall closet I might be able to pull up the two wood stips. But, there's got to be a subfloor unther the flooring stips. I supposed I could cut out a section of that to see if I can see the pipes, etc., etc., etc. You get the picture b now. Any suggestions as to how I could approach this problem? Thanks |
#2
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Damp hardwood floor question/advice?
On Mar 29, 9:29*pm, wrote:
I'm working on a house for resale. *After removing the entryway carpet I found hardwood floors in pretty good skape. *However, the are two strips where the seams and butt joint are damp to the touch and the only water source close by is a hot water baseboard heating register. But the copper pipe from the heater goes down under the floor. *I can only assume that there might be a pin hole leak in the copper that when under pressure releases some water. Problem is... the ceiling below is completely finished in so there is no access to the heating pipes. *In fact I can't even be sure this is the cause but its my assumption. I'm writing for suggestions as to what the best method for repair would be? I'm thinking if I cut one end of the wook strips which are in a hall closet I might be able to pull *up the two wood stips. *But, there's got to be a subfloor unther the flooring stips. *I supposed I could cut out a section of that to see if I can see the pipes, etc., etc., etc. *You get the picture b now. Any suggestions as to how I could approach this problem? Thanks My first thought would be to determine if it is coming from the baseboard heating. It seems a bit odd that you'd have wet wood flooring but no evidence of a leak on the ceiling below. From the description the pin hole leak would have to be on the pipe where it passes through the floor. In which case, you'd think the water would more likely drip down the pipe and show up downstairs, not on the wood floor. If inspection of what is there doesn't show a leak, then I'd put a fan there and dry it out. When it's dry, get the water circulating for a day and see if it reappears. If it does and there is no visible leak, then I guess it's time to open the ceiling below for access. You said entrance-way. Is this an outside wall too? If so the water could be coming via penetration from the outside. |
#3
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Damp hardwood floor question/advice?
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#4
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Damp hardwood floor question/advice?
On Mar 29, 6:29*pm, wrote:
I'm working on a house for resale. *After removing the entryway carpet I found hardwood floors in pretty good skape. *However, the are two strips where the seams and butt joint are damp to the touch and the only water source close by is a hot water baseboard heating register. But the copper pipe from the heater goes down under the floor. *I can only assume that there might be a pin hole leak in the copper that when under pressure releases some water. Problem is... the ceiling below is completely finished in so there is no access to the heating pipes. *In fact I can't even be sure this is the cause but its my assumption. I'm writing for suggestions as to what the best method for repair would be? I'm thinking if I cut one end of the wook strips which are in a hall closet I might be able to pull *up the two wood stips. *But, there's got to be a subfloor unther the flooring stips. *I supposed I could cut out a section of that to see if I can see the pipes, etc., etc., etc. *You get the picture b now. Any suggestions as to how I could approach this problem? Thanks There are 'leak detectors' available. From memory, they are expensive sono microphones that listen for the 20+kHz scream of a leak. Again, from memory, used in the oil industry. Nondestructive testing instrumentation. Name Halifax, or Halligen comes to mind. [too lazy to do search] |
#6
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Damp hardwood floor question/advice?
On 3/30/2012 10:49 AM, Robert Macy wrote:
On Mar 29, 6:29 pm, wrote: I'm working on a house for resale. After removing the entryway carpet I found hardwood floors in pretty good skape. However, the are two strips where the seams and butt joint are damp to the touch and the only water source close by is a hot water baseboard heating register. But the copper pipe from the heater goes down under the floor. I can only assume that there might be a pin hole leak in the copper that when under pressure releases some water. Problem is... the ceiling below is completely finished in so there is no access to the heating pipes. In fact I can't even be sure this is the cause but its my assumption. I'm writing for suggestions as to what the best method for repair would be? I'm thinking if I cut one end of the wook strips which are in a hall closet I might be able to pull up the two wood stips. But, there's got to be a subfloor unther the flooring stips. I supposed I could cut out a section of that to see if I can see the pipes, etc., etc., etc. You get the picture b now. Any suggestions as to how I could approach this problem? Thanks There are 'leak detectors' available. From memory, they are expensive sono microphones that listen for the 20+kHz scream of a leak. Again, from memory, used in the oil industry. Nondestructive testing instrumentation. Name Halifax, or Halligen comes to mind. [too lazy to do search] I actually own an ultrasonic leak detector. It can detect the sound of the ridges on the skin of my fingers rubbing together lightly. My keys being barely shaken sound like wind chimes in the headphones of the detector. My detector was designed for find refrigerant leaks but has many other uses. Dye that glows under UV light is used to detect leaks in refrigeration and cooling systems. I wonder if the products designed to stop leaks in vehicle cooling systems could be effective in stopping leaks in hydronic heating systems? http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/am...FQXonAod6RufLw http://preview.tinyurl.com/867c9dj http://www.amazon.com/Tracerline-TRA...888104-4299906 http://preview.tinyurl.com/7ht2yzx TDD |
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