Mysterious leak - foundation issue?

[Bjp91]

Hi. Last evening, after a good rain, the rug in front of our bathroom cabinet was soaked. The inside of the cabinet and wall is dry, as is the area around the toilet and tub. There is no visible issue on the outside wall/ground where the sink is located. The only thing in that area is an outside water faucet, and no visible dampness/wetness there either.

I recently had a neighbor who had a foundation issue that was also in one of her bathrooms and was only discovered after she had plumbers out to look for a leak - hence the reason for me wondering about my situation.

I live in FL, the house is 42 years old, no basement, and was replumbed probably 20 or so years ago, so all plumbing is now overhead.

Other possibilities? Thanks.

 

[Shaggy]

Hi. Last evening, after a good rain, the rug in front of our bathroom cabinet was soaked. The inside of the cabinet and wall is dry, as is the area around the toilet and tub. There is no visible issue on the outside wall/ground where the sink is located. The only thing in that area is an outside water faucet, and no visible dampness/wetness there either.

I recently had a neighbor who had a foundation issue that was also in one of her bathrooms and was only discovered after she had plumbers out to look for a leak - hence the reason for me wondering about my situation.

I live in FL, the house is 42 years old, no basement, and was replumbed probably 20 or so years ago, so all plumbing is now overhead.

Other possibilities? Thanks.

That’s a weird one. If it only happens after rain, I’d bet on water sneaking in through the foundation or pooling near that corner. Even if the wall looks dry, it could be creeping in underneath. I had something similar once, it turned out to be poor grading outside. Might be worth watching it during the next rain to see where it’s really coming from.

 

[Bjp91]

That’s a weird one. If it only happens after rain, I’d bet on water sneaking in through the foundation or pooling near that corner. Even if the wall looks dry, it could be creeping in underneath. I had something similar once, it turned out to be poor grading outside. Might be worth watching it during the next rain to see where it’s really coming from.

Thanks. Right now, watching what happens during the next rain is my only plan. The grading outside hasn't changed from what I can tell, but I will be honest, we don't have gutters. So, I go out occasionally and make sure any 'divet' created by the rains is re-graded (if you will).

 

[Bjp91]

Thanks. Right now, watching what happens during the next rain is my only plan. The grading outside hasn't changed from what I can tell, but I will be honest, we don't have gutters. So, I go out occasionally and make sure any 'divet' created by the rains is re-graded (if you will).

 

[Crumpler4]

You may have found the solution by now but wanted to add some unusual ones I have experienced.

Rainwater intrusion through walls or slab. Heavy Florida rains can force water under exterior walls or through cracks in stucco/caulking. This can flow under resilient flooring and surface where it does. During heavy rains, groundwater can be forced up through slab cracks or cold joints, particularly if water pools near that side of the house. I have seen rain water enter through old termite treatment holes drilled through slabs.

Splashback or leakage at the exterior faucet. Rain rmay splash against the wall where the hose bib penetrates. It can also follow wires into the wall. Any gap around that penetration can let water track inside

Freezeproof outdoor faucets are a special case: if the internal body or seal fails (often due to age, cracking, or past freezing damage), water can leak inside the wall even if nothing shows outside. The actual valve is further inside the wall, so failures there can drip indoors. If you turn on the this type of faucet and there is a crack, it will leak into the wall.

Plumbing vent stack leaks from the roof. Roof boots or flashing around vent stacks often degrade after decades. Rain can also enter the vent stack itself. If there are horizontal runs, seals in elbows or joints may allow rainwater to escape indoors. This is especially true of older cast-iron vent systems, where joints are more prone to leakage.

Condensation on cold surfaces. AC + humid Florida air can cause water to condense on pipes, tile, or even the toilet tank. Usually this produces dampness rather than a sudden soaked rug.

 

[Bjp91]

Thanks. No resolution, but am leaning toward a boot or flashing leak around the vent stack to be the culprit, just by virtue of where the water was found, with no water on the outer or inner wall, just on a place on the floor. Hasn't happened again, so we are kind of waiting to see if it was a fluke.