Leaks in new build

Osbornehouse

Hi, we have recently built a new house. I have had 3 leaks in last 6 weeks in pipes between ceiling n upstairs. Plumber says its mice. He has used pvc pipes with no cover/insulation wrapped round it. We have done everything we can to get rid of mice but now have another leak. I find it hard to believe that the pipes were installed correctly. Im sure were not the only new build property with mice.

Can anyone advise me in what pipes should have been used and how they should have been installed? Worried now we will have to replumb whole house.

Thanks

S1oane

I would contact Pest Control at your local Council if you suspect the problem is vermin - I found their advice very useful previously.

motorguy

Osbornehouse wrote: »

Hi, we have recently built a new house. I have had 3 leaks in last 6 weeks in pipes between ceiling n upstairs. Plumber says its mice. He has used pvc pipes with no cover/insulation wrapped round it. We have done everything we can to get rid of mice but now have another leak. I find it hard to believe that the pipes were installed correctly. Im sure were not the only new build property with mice.

Can anyone advise me in what pipes should have been used and how they should have been installed? Worried now we will have to replumb whole house.

Thanks

Leaks almost always occur at joints. Has he shown you exactly where the mice have nawn through the plastic pipes themselves and burst them?

Surely there would be teethmarks, etc?

Gettingtherequickly

I would contact the NHBC for their advice. Explain the situation and they should hopefully point you in the correct direction for resolution. I would be very surprised if mice were the cause.

KiwiCoop

There's nothing unusual about using uninsulated hep pipework in a floorspace between internal floors so assuming the joints aren't popping (three times in six weeks would be beyond even the most dubious plumber) I would concentrate on finding out how rodents might be getting in. Pathways into the wall cavity or service penetrations the most obvious. Although I'd have thought you'd have heard them scurrying about by now? Plus was there no evidence in the floor void i.e. droppings?

Wookey

If it is something chewing thru pipes then it's probably something a bit bigger than a mouse, a rat or squirrel would be more likely. There is no need to insulate plastic pipework in a floorspace in a domestic dwelling and insulation would make zero difference to something that can chew thru plastic pipe. I would be looking to find out how and where the vermin are getting in and easily accessing the floor void, if it is mice and you have breeding ones then expect up to several dozen. At the very least you should be able to hear something scuttling around when it's quiet.

I would defo expect to see evidence of the damage that your plumber says is occurring by these vermin rather than taking his word for it that it isn't negligent installation.

firefox1956

Inspect the damage yourself.
Vermin damage will be obvious even to the untrained eye.