Where is the Water Leak? 6,000 Gallons missing

[EggRaid]

Hello,

I have noticed my water bill reflecting increased consumption the past few months, but now it has peaked and I know that we aren't using 11,000 gallons between two people. The past year I was barely breaking 5,000 except in June when I used the built-in sprinklers.

I turned off all water devices in the house and checked the main--the meter is still turning. I also shut off the sprinkler supply at the main--still turning.

Certainly I would notice 6,000 gallons of water if it were leaking in my house so it would have to be being drained or leaking into the ground. I have checked everything in the house and there are no leaks.

What are your suggestions as next steps? How do I test if the pipe from the main to the house is leaking? Should I call a pro, etc?

Thanks,

ER

[m Ransley]

A leaky toilet flapper would do it

[Andy Hill]

Geez...200 gallons a day? I'd think if it was an underground leak, the part of the yard where you sink up to your armpits would be a good hint.

You sure the meter isn't bad? There's not much to them, but gremlins are tricky devils.

Do you have a crawlspace? Does it look a bit wetter than usual?

[Speedy Jim]

Sure, there are ways to test for that leak.

But...I would start with a call to the utility to see if they have suggestions or will come out and investigate for you.

At the same time you can ask what requirements you must meet when replacing the lateral service.

Jim

[EggRaid]

Here is some more info in response to some of the posts:

I called the water service and they said that they can send someone out to investigate. I turned off all devices in the house---meaning the cut-off valves to toilets and anything else, and the meter still turns.

There is an area around where the main is that is a little greener than the rest of the yard, but I don't know if it is significant enough to be b/c of the leak, or coincidence since that part of the yard has a tree that protects the grass better during the hot texas months. Also, does this matter in "winter" anyway?

[Andy Hill]

Texas, eh? Slab foundation? Water lines in slab? If so, might need a plumber with the equipment to "listen" for the water leak hiss.

[larrybud2002]

What kind of bill does 11,000 gallons generate?

[Kathy]

My last bill was double.I called the water company and they said it had been estimated due to the snow and that I should just send the regular amount. Something you might want to check.

[EggRaid]

Thanks! I did call them however and they are the ones that told me it was accurate, etc.

[EggRaid]

$55

[Alan]

11,000 for three months for two people is probably about right. 122 Gallons per day. For example, from =lang_en

"A typical household in Connecticut uses 200 gallons of water a day, said John Mullaney, an East Hartford-based USGS hydrologist who worked on the report."

Better yet, go here:

I used it and came up with the 120 gal per day that we do indeed use.

[Kathy]

I have 2 grownups and 2 teenagers(think 2 showers a day!)in the house and we use 6-7 thousand gallons a month.

[SQLit]

I had this happen once, only reason we figured it out was that the water heater (gas) never shut off.

You should have a valve at the house that will shut off the whole house. For get about what is inside. Shut it off and if the meter is still turning then the problem is from the meter to the house. Time for some trenching. If the problem goes away then it is inside. Now turn off the valve at the water heater. Hopefully it will hold, if not fix it. If the problem goes away now you know it is a hot water line. your almost there.

[Rick Shaw]

I had two pampas plants in both sides of my drive in San Antonio, Texas. Ran into the same thing, Water folks said the meter was accurate and upon some investigation noted that the pampas plant on the meter side was somewhat bigger than that other. Had an excellent plumber who stood outside my garage and found the leak in a matter of minutes by listening. I couldn't hear niagara falls if I stood on the edge! Fortunately the water company agreed that upon getting it fixed they'd split the bill......

Dennis

[John B]

Washing machine! "Kathy" wrote

[John B]

Yes, that's it. Divide and conquer.

"SQLit" wrote >

[John B]

Turn off all faucets, appliances, etc. Listen for toilet leak. Use "stethoscope"; big screwdriver pressed to ear on handle end, to toilet body on other end. Observe water meter; assuming the meter is moving, you might want to verify that the meter isn't nuts. It's pretty hard to imagine how a meter could move, in the absence of water current, but you can listen to the meter. Use a broom handle that has no broomhead on it. Push one end of handle against meter, and the other end against your ear. You should hear a click, click, click. Some people can hear the water meter beating, while they sit in their houses, when their sprinklers are running. You might also try this stethoscope method at various locations on the premises, by pressing against pipes. You might thus "vector" your way to the proximity of the leak. Commercial leak detection is available for fresh water (pressure) plumbing. It senses sound. Appropriate for tiny leaks. Do you guys flush the toilet a lot? Take long showers? Use clothes washer a lot?

"EggRaid" wrote

[Unknown]

One way to see if you have water leaking is to take a stethoscope and listen to the main water line. You can try and compare with the water on and off. Most likely the break is with the line coming in the house, not after its in your house. You most likely see water problems or moisture problems with an extra 6,000 gallons.

If you dont ahve one of those, just grab the pipe and listen closely. This is not a loose toilet flap. Check the main water as it goes into the ground or into the wall. Is it copper or is it black or grey. In the cases of a broken water main you can get someone to insert a copper pipe into the plastic tube and you will be good forever.

[Ross Mac]

I had this problem in my last house. The water bill went from $80 to $350 (roughly). When I called I was told that they noticed the difference and reread the meter. Yeah, thanks for the phone call / post card I never received. In any event, all I did was shut off the main to the house and noticed the meter still turning. So as another poster said....It's time to trench and replace the line from the meter to the house. By the way this also happened to me in winter during a cold snap. I suspect that finished off a 55 year old pipe pretty well......Good Luck, Ross

[EggRaid]

The 11,000 gallons was for ONE month.

Thanks,

ER