Some leaks are obvious. Others drip quietly inside a wall, under a slab or out in the yard for weeks before anyone notices. In Fayetteville, where many homes are thirty to fifty years old, aging supply lines, fittings and shutoff valves are common sources of hidden leaks. Finding one early keeps a small repair from turning into new drywall, flooring and mold cleanup.
Signs you may have a hidden leak
- Your water bill rises without any change in your routine.
- A stain, bubble or soft patch appears on a wall, ceiling or floor.
- A musty smell lingers in a closet, cabinet or crawl space.
- You hear water running when nothing is on.
- A patch of yard stays wet even in dry weather.
- Water pressure drops across the house.
A simple meter test
Fayetteville PWC customers can check for leaks with their water meter:
- 1Turn off every faucet, appliance and fixture that uses water, indoors and out.
- 2Find the meter, usually in a box near the street, and note the reading or watch the small leak indicator.
- 3Wait 15 to 30 minutes without using any water.
- 4Check again. If the numbers changed or the indicator moved, water is leaking somewhere.
Then close the main shutoff at the house and look once more. If the meter stops, the leak is inside the home. If it keeps moving, the leak may be in the service line between the meter and the house.
Common leak spots in Fayetteville homes
Supply lines and valves
under sinks and behind toilets, many of them as old as the house.
Water heater connections and relief valves,
especially on older units.
Toilet flappers and fill valves,
which can leak silently into the bowl all day.
Crawl space piping,
where a leak can run for a long time unseen.
Outdoor spigots
that froze during a cold snap. Fayetteville's record low is minus 5 F, and a cracked spigot may only leak when the hose is on.
The service line in the yard,
where a wet patch or sinking ground is often the only clue.
How a plumber finds it
A plumber begins with the basics: the meter test, a check of every fixture and the most likely spots. From there they may take moisture readings, listen for the leak with acoustic equipment, or pressure test parts of the system to narrow it down before cutting anything open. The goal is a small access hole in the right place rather than a wall torn out on a guess.
Ask the plumber to explain what failed and why, and whether nearby parts of the same age are likely to fail next.
Renters and landlords
If you rent, report any sign of a leak to your landlord or property manager right away and follow your lease. If you are a landlord, a meter test between tenants is a quick way to catch a leak in an empty unit before the next family moves in. More than half of Fayetteville households rent, so this is a common situation.
What it costs
We have not found a published Fayetteville price for leak detection. The cost depends on how hard the leak is to find and what it takes to reach it. Ask for the price of finding the leak and the price of fixing it as separate items. Our Fayetteville plumber cost guide has more.
Common questions
How can I tell if I have a water leak?
Turn off all water use and watch the meter for 15 to 30 minutes. If it moves, water is going somewhere. A rising bill, stains and musty smells are other clues.
Who fixes a leak between the meter and my house?
The line on your side of the meter is usually the property owner's to repair, so call a plumber. Problems on the utility side of the meter are for Fayetteville PWC.
Can a leak be found without opening walls?
Often a plumber can pinpoint it with a meter test, moisture readings and listening equipment first, so only a small opening is needed to make the repair.