What to do first: confirm a leak in five minutes
The meter test
Before anyone arrives, you can check whether water is moving through the house when it should not be.
- Turn off every tap, the ice maker and the irrigation system, and stop the washer and dishwasher.
- Find your water meter, usually in a box near the street, and lift the lid carefully.
- Look at the small leak indicator, a dial or triangle that spins when any water moves.
- If it keeps moving with everything off, water is leaking somewhere after the meter.
- Write down the reading, wait 30 minutes and check again.
How a plumber locates a hidden leak
| Method | What it finds | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure test | Whether a line holds pressure | Isolating supply lines from drain lines |
| Acoustic listening | The sound of water escaping | Pressurized lines in slabs and walls |
| Thermal imaging | Temperature differences from a leak | Hot water lines and wet building materials |
| Sewer camera | Cracks and joint leaks inside a drain | Drain and sewer line leaks |
| Tracer gas | Gas escaping through tiny openings | Hard-to-find leaks |
Quiet signs of a leak in El Reno homes
Hidden leaks show themselves slowly. A musty smell in a closet, a stain that grows after rain or without rain, warped flooring, peeling paint, or a patch of lawn that stays green and soggy all summer are all worth checking.
Bills help too. If your utility statement is high and your habits have not changed, the leak could be in the house, in the service line between the meter and the house, or in an irrigation system. Ask the City of El Reno utility billing office at 405-262-4070 about your usage history, then compare it with the meter test.
Pressure testing of supply lines follows the test methods in the International Plumbing Code (IPC), which is why a plumber will hold a set test pressure for a set time instead of guessing from the meter alone.
High bill, no explanation?
Call the 24/7 line. A licensed plumber can be scheduled the same day when available.
The places leaks usually start
Toilet tanks
A flapper that does not seal leaks quietly into the bowl and can waste a great deal of water.
Under slabs
Copper lines in older slab homes can pit and pinhole. See slab leak repair.
Service line
The pipe from the meter to the house can fail underground. See water line repair.
Irrigation and hose bibs
A sprinkler valve stuck open or a failed outdoor faucet can run all day unnoticed.
Documenting a leak for a claim
Homeowner policies vary. Many cover sudden and accidental water damage but not long-term seepage or the cost of finding the leak. Ask your agent which applies, and take photos and video before anything is dried or removed.
A written note from the plumber that names where the leak was and what caused it helps an adjuster. Ask for it when you book.
What affects the cost of leak detection
Leak detection questions
Yes. The line is open 24/7. If water is running now, close the main valve and call. A licensed plumber is scheduled the same day when one is available.
Detection uses sound, heat and pressure to narrow the spot, so any opening is small and in the right place. A plumber will tell you before cutting.
The meter test with every tap off shows a leak after the meter. Closing the house main and watching the meter then separates the house from the service line.
Yes. A toilet that refills on its own, or hisses, is leaking from the tank into the bowl. A repair is often a cheap flapper. See toilet repair.
The customer is generally billed for water that passed through the meter. Ask the City of El Reno at 405-262-4070 whether any adjustment policy exists for leaks.
After the leak is found
Under the slab
Slab leak repair covers reroutes and spot repairs.
Outside the house
Water line repair fixes the service line.
Pipes failing everywhere
If leaks keep returning, ask about repiping.