How to find a water leak in my front yard?
Question:If I have a leak somewhere in my front yard...I think...how do I find it? My water usage skyrocketed this past month and I have nothing to explain it. Also I can see the water draining from my front yard and running down the street. We have had a ton of rain so I thought it was just runoff, but now I cannot explain the water usage.How can I identify where the leak is? Is there a tool I can get to help narrow the leak in my front yard?
Any help would be appreciated.
Tim
Answers:
Locate the shut-off valve (or meterbox) at the property line. Determine where the water enters the house. The water line should be fairly straight between these two points. You can buy or make a metal probe. Most are just a tee handle on a piece of 3/8 or 1/2" rod. Probe the ground inline with where the water line is. When you withdraw the probe it will leave a hole temporarily and running water should follow the hole to the surface. I am assuming you have a meterbox outside since any leak before the meter would not be on your bill. Look at the meter. There is normally a leak detector (small red triangle) that moves with even small flow of water.
Do you know if you have terra cotta under ground? If it's broken either due to pressure or roots you will need to start digging and locate the spot.
Sorry, best possibility is that you find it before you dig up the whole yard.
Boy, I feel for you.. you know, it's just a thought.. call your local water company and kindly ask if there is a water/sewer tech that could call you and discuss possiblities with you. These people work on breaks and pipe leaks all the time. Otherwise I can only think to call a plumber. Most have a pretty good idea what pipes are where. If you have an older home, I'd try someone who's been in his prof for a long time.
I also have good luck with a website www.bobtheplumber.com to ask questions. Free.
Follow the water back to the pipe.
Call a reliable plumber with a scope to locate the break/leak (it'll cost you a little more and save you the expense of tearing up your yard and then having to landscape it)
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