Water collecting on main cold water pipe under kitchen sink

[Neemos]

Hi.

Just found this forum and hope someone can help.

I've just moved in to a new house a few months back and have found that under the kitchen sink water is collecting on the mains water pipe. A plumber from Homerserve said that its condensation since he could not find a leak. He's told me to get some lagging and wrap it around the affected areas.

Water droplets gather on the pipe and just hang there. I did place a container below and after a few days there was a bit of water in it.

Can someone explain whether this is just condensation or something else. If it is condensation I don't understand why its there and what should be done about it.

Thanks

 

[zzzjim]

Try opening windows(turn on cooker hood fan-if fitted) when cooking , see if it happens less .
Put a plastic bottle of water 3/4 full in freezer for a few days , then leave it out stood on a plate on the work top about 6 ft away from stove ,if interested in home experiments !
The days it gets soaking quickly , are the days you may need a cooker hood / windows open or
if a shower cubicle is near by a bit more ventilation .

 

[Alert]

If you are not running off any water, check your water meter to make sure it has stopped as if it is still turning then you will have a leak somewhere which is why you have condensation with cold water running through mains pipe constantly

 

[jtsplumbing]

If a new house the pipes under your sink unit should have the Hot pipe above the cold pipe, Pipe insulation will help, cheep to do available from DIY outlet or local Plumbers cost you about £2.

 

[Neemos]

If you are not running off any water, check your water meter to make sure it has stopped as if it is still turning then you will have a leak somewhere which is why you have condensation with cold water running through mains pipe constantly

I don't have a water meter but thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Neemos]

If a new house the pipes under your sink unit should have the Hot pipe above the cold pipe, Pipe insulation will help, cheep to do available from DIY outlet or local Plumbers cost you about £2.

I will be getting some lagging but thought I'd try and find the cause ie, leak or condensation. I have left the kitchen and cupboard doors open all day today and I've managed to isolate the affected area. There's no visible leak, no drips just wetness on about 10cm of the pipe (reduced from about a meter). Perhaps the nearby joint is weaknening slightly. Will need to keep an eye on it.

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Alert]

In that case switch stopcock off for around one hour within the hour do not use any water, turn stopcock back on if you hear water wooshing through valve then this will also indicate a leak

 

[Neemos]

Try opening windows(turn on cooker hood fan-if fitted) when cooking , see if it happens less .
Put a plastic bottle of water 3/4 full in freezer for a few days , then leave it out stood on a plate on the work top about 6 ft away from stove ,if interested in home experiments !
The days it gets soaking quickly , are the days you may need a cooker hood / windows open or
if a shower cubicle is near by a bit more ventilation .

Over the winter months the windows have been closed but the cooker hood is always used as well as the separate extraction fan. Perhaps I need to get both looked at to ensure they are operating properly. Many thanks for the experiment I may give it a go.

 

[Neemos]

In that case switch stopcock off for around one hour within the hour do not use any water, turn stopcock back on if you hear water wooshing through valve then this will also indicate a leak

Thanks. I'll give it a go.

 

[Dotty]

You noticed the ambient temperature lately?

Lag it and keep an eye on it.