Some leaks announce themselves. Others hide inside a wall, under a slab or in the yard for months, quietly running up the water bill and soaking whatever is around them. Leak detection means finding the exact spot before anyone starts cutting.
Check for a hidden leak yourself
- 1Turn off every tap, and make sure the washer, dishwasher and ice maker are not running.
- 2Look at the water meter in the box near the street. Most meters have a small dial or triangle that spins when water is moving.
- 3Wait and watch. If the indicator moves with nothing on, water is going somewhere.
- 4Narrow it down. Close the main shutoff at the house. If the meter keeps moving, the leak is probably in the line between the meter and the house. If it stops, the leak is inside.
- 5Check the toilets. Put a few drops of food coloring in each tank and wait 15 minutes without flushing. Color in the bowl means a leaking flapper.
Signs of a leak you cannot see
- A water bill higher than usual with no change in use.
- The sound of running water when everything is off.
- Warm spots on a floor, which can mean a hot water line leaking under a slab.
- Damp or stained drywall, bubbling paint or a musty smell.
- Cracked tile or flooring that lifts.
- A soggy patch of yard that stays wet in dry weather.
- Low water pressure throughout the house.
Why leaks happen in Longview homes
More than half of Longview's homes were built before 1980, and the median home dates to 1978. Pipes and fittings from that era have had decades of use, and joints, valves and supply lines wear out. Soft water is gentle when it comes to scale, so leaks here come more from age and wear than from mineral buildup.
Weather plays a part too. Longview sees about 48 inches of rain in a normal year, plus long hot summers, with a record high of 113 F. Wet and dry spells make soil swell and shrink, which can stress buried lines. A sharp freeze, rare here but down to minus 5 F on record, can crack a pipe in an attic or outside wall that then leaks out of sight.
How a plumber finds the leak
Plumbers use several methods depending on where the leak might be:
Pressure testing
sections of the system to see which one is losing water.
Listening equipment
that picks up the sound of water escaping under a floor or in the ground.
Thermal imaging
to spot warm or wet areas behind walls and in floors.
Camera inspection
for drain and sewer leaks.
The aim is to open the floor, wall or yard in one spot, not several.
Fixing it
Once the leak is found, the repair might be a single joint, a section of pipe, or rerouting a line through the attic or walls instead of under the slab. Ask the plumber to explain each option and price them, including any patching of walls or floors.
Permits and licensing
Check the plumber's Texas license on the state license search. For work in the City of Longview that needs a permit, the permit is pulled by a master plumber registered with the city.
Common questions
How do I know if I have a slab leak?
Warm spots on the floor, the sound of running water with everything off, cracked flooring and a meter that keeps moving are the usual signs. A plumber can confirm it with pressure tests and listening gear.
Who fixes a leak between the meter and my house?
The line from the meter to the house is usually the owner's to repair, so call a plumber. Leaks on the city's side of the meter are for the City of Longview.
Is a high water bill always a leak?
Not always, but it is the most common cause. Do the meter test above. If the meter moves with everything off, you have a leak.