Thinking you might need water line repair in Duluth, but not sure where to start? Here’s our complete guide.
It’s a joyous day when you wake up and realize you probably need water line repair in Duluth. Hooray! You were wondering how to spend that bonus check anyway. And who doesn’t love standing around in a suit when the boss is waiting at the office?
Ahem, sorry. If your ability to digest sarcasm went out the window with a well-functioning plumbing system, we don’t blame you. The truth is, while water lines are typically pretty sturdy structures and tend to be long-lasting, everything breaks down eventually. Hopefully, if you are experiencing a leak or other issue, the problem is minimal and easily handled.
To find out, it’s time to perform some quick triage on your water line: Is it broken? Does it need repair, or possibly replacement? What should you do about it, and how can you get your life back as quickly as possible?
Let’s take a look at those questions now.
Signs and Symptoms of a Water Line Leak
It’s not always easy to tell whether you have a leak in your water line just by assessing the situation from the outside. Even a trained plumber may have a hard time with that, though they’re certainly more attuned to the signs than the average homeowner is. The short answer is, if you’re not sure whether or not you’re dealing with a leak, it’s important to have a plumber look at it.
The longer answer is there are a few signs that point to needing plumbing repair. These include:
- Unexpected hikes in your water bill, even though you’re using the same amount of water you always have
- Unexplained loss of water pressure in your faucets and showers, and even in outside faucets
- A swampy effect anywhere in the yard
- Smaller soggy patches in the yard
- Greener patches in the yard, indicating they have a water source the rest of your lawn and garden does not
- A rusty tinge to water coming out of your faucets
- Hissing sound where the water enters your house, especially apparent when the tap is on
- Damp spots on brick or paver walkways
If you notice any of these problems, it’s time to whip out your magnifying glass and sleuth hat right away. Before you call a plumber, you’ll want to go ahead and perform some additional checks. If you find further evidence, you can let the plumber know and save them some time. And if you don’t, that’s information too.
Plumbing Triage Part II: What to Look For
First, turn on all the taps inside and outside your house to check how they’re running. Is the water pressure normal? Do you witness stuttering in the flow, spurting, redness in the water or any other sign that all is not well in Plumbing Land? Run your eye over the floors, walls, shower lining and anywhere else near pipes. Look for warping or bowing, bubbling or other signs that water has entered where it should not.
Check the outside taps as well. Turn them on and wait long enough to get a true idea of their performance. Is water emerging rusty and slow, or does all appear well?
The meter is a very helpful tool as well. If your inspection has proved fruitless, and aside from one or two signs above you can’t pinpoint whether anything is actually wrong, check the meter. Go to the meter and write down the number, then wait for an hour without using any water. If necessary, warn the other members of your household away from it so they don’t mess with your readings. An hour later, take another reading. If water has been “used,” that’s a very good sign you have a leak in your water main or one of your larger pipes.
If you see any of the signs or symptoms of water line breakage, chances are it’s time for repairs.
While this isn’t the biggest plumbing fix on the block, it’s also not the smallest. Chances are good your plumber will have to dig up the yard to make the repairs. They might have to replace a whole pipe or part of one, put in new fittings or change out components where the water line enters the house.
Moreover, if they do suspect a leak, they will probably have to dig up a patch of ground to check for it. However, before you freak out and decide to just “wait and see,” know that there are several good reasons to make the repair or replacement right away.
Why You Should Get Help Right Away
Did you know that 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons of water or more per day, says the Environmental Protection Agency? That’s a lot of water and can amount of tens of thousands a year, which can make a measurable difference in your water bill. Even if you could look the other way as you walk over the soggy ground to and from your car each day, it’s not good for the environment or your bank account.
More to the point, though, eventually a small problem will become a big one. That rusty water will start staining your sink and fixtures, or the swampy patches on the yard will become true bogs, ruining grass and landscaping. With enough moisture, you may even attract pests or rats to the yard, allow mold to grow on your grass or plants, or turn an ankle in your new wetland. All the while, the potential charges will be mounting.
Bottom line? Call. Get help early in the game. Don’t wait to find out whether or not “you really need to call a plumber.” We assure you, we have not seen many plumbing situations in which it seemed bad at first but then was totally okay. If it seems bad, it usually is.
Call Your Duluth Plumber for Help Today
If you see any warning signs or think you need help, it’s time to pick up the phone and call your trusty local plumber. Don’t wait for the leak to become a “true” emergency before you do something about it. Instead, get in touch today, so we can help you avoid significantly larger bills later. With decades of experience helping homeowners just like you with problems just like this, we can confidently tell you that your best bet is to contact us immediately.
We serve Social Circle, Athens, Monroe, Conyers, Loganville, Lithonia, Covington, Lawrenceville and McDonough, and would love to offer our services to you as well. If you live in Duluth, any of the areas listed above, or in nearby locales, please don’t hesitate to give us a call today. We’re happy to help you keep that plumbing in check, stay on top of that water bill and generally rock at homeownership.
If you think you need water line repair in Duluth, please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call today.
The longer you wait, the bigger the trouble in which you might find yourself. Go ahead and email us for a free quote if you prefer, or give us a call at 770-385-5660 for our Social Circle location and 770-415-8133 for Lawrenceville. We look forward to hearing from and helping you soon.