My water bill is high or the meter will not stop
Most people reach us with a symptom, not a diagnosis. A bill that keeps creeping up, a meter that turns when nothing is running, a sound of trickling in the walls, a damp spot on a ceiling, a patch of lawn that stays soggy. Each of those points to a different part of the system.
A simple test helps. Turn off every fixture and appliance. Find the meter, usually in a box near the street, and watch the leak indicator. If it spins, water is escaping. Then close the main shutoff at the house. If the meter stops, the leak is inside the house. If it keeps moving, the leak is in the line between the meter and the house, which we cover under water service line repair.
Meter moves with all water off
Confirms a leak. The next step is to isolate which side of the house shutoff it sits on.
Warm spot on the floor
A hot supply line may be leaking under the floor. This often points to a slab leak.
Stain or bubbling paint on a ceiling or wall
Water is traveling inside the wall cavity. Moisture mapping finds its source.
Lawn spot that stays wet
A buried supply line may be leaking, or an irrigation line has failed.
How we find a leak without opening the wall
We begin with a pressure test of the supply system to confirm whether it holds. Then we narrow the zone using acoustic listening equipment, which picks up the sound water makes as it escapes under pressure. Thermal imaging shows temperature differences on surfaces, such as a cool wet area on a warm wall. Moisture meters read dampness in drywall, subfloor and plaster.
The goal is a mark on the surface, within a short distance of the leak. That keeps the repair opening small. A repair you can see on the wall is a small patch. A guess that opens three walls is a bigger bill.
| Leak type | How it shows up | Our approach |
|---|---|---|
| Supply line in a wall | Stain, bubbling paint, high bill | Acoustic and moisture mapping |
| Drain line leak | Musty smell, wet cabinet floor, no pressure loss | Dye test and camera |
| Service line to meter | Meter moves with house valve off | Pressure test and ground microphone |
| Under a slab | Warm floor, sound of running water | Thermal and acoustic, then slab leak repair options |
| Fixture or appliance | Slow drip at a toilet, tub or ice maker | Visual check, replace the failing part |
Ceiling, wall and crawlspace leaks
A wet ceiling stain is not always above the leak. Water travels along joists before it drips. We follow the moisture to its starting point, which could be a supply fitting, a tub overflow, a failed shower pan or a roof penetration. If the source is the roof or flashing, we say so, because the right fix is a roofer, not a plumber. Where the source is plumbing, our repairs range from a fitting replacement to a short run of new pipe.
Irrigation, pool and yard leaks
A sprinkler zone that loses pressure or a soggy lawn patch often means a broken line or valve. We can test the irrigation supply and tell you whether the leak is in the sprinkler system or in the house supply feeding it. Pool and spa leaks are a different specialty, and we will say if yours falls outside what we do.
What to do while waiting
- Photograph the water meter and write down the reading so we can track movement.
- Place a bucket or towels where water is dripping, and move belongings out of the wet zone.
- If the leak is active and the source is unknown, close the house main shutoff.
- Note when you first noticed it and any changes in water pressure or bill amount, which helps narrow the zone.
What affects leak detection cost
Size of the area
A single bathroom wall is quicker than an entire house or a long yard line.
Equipment needed
Acoustic work, thermal imaging and tracer gas are applied as the case demands.
Access to the pipes
Open crawlspace or basement access speeds the work.
Repair afterward
Detection and repair are priced separately, so you can compare.
Emergency timing
After-hours dispatch is on the same line, and the price is stated before we start.
Many homeowners policies cover sudden and accidental water damage but exclude long-term seepage, and a detection report can help document the cause. Ask your insurer before repairs, and for your real number call (770) 214-4545.
Suspect a hidden leak?
Call the line. We can book a leak detection visit the same day when available.
Leak patterns in Tucker houses
Tucker is a DeKalb County city sitting on Piedmont bedrock, where several creeks including Burnt Fork Creek and Henderson Mill Creek begin. Water-supply pressure arrives through DeKalb County Watershed Management's system. In the cold snap of late December 2022, DeKalb County reported a series of water main breaks and issued a boil water advisory for parts of the county. That event taught many homeowners where their main shutoff is, and a good habit to keep is testing that valve once a year so it turns when you need it.
Houses of different ages leak in different ways. Older supply lines made of galvanized steel can corrode and pinhole from the inside. Copper can develop pinholes where flow is fast. Plastic lines can fail at fittings. We examine your specific house rather than assume.
Standards and sources
Plumbing work in Georgia follows the state minimum plumbing code, which is built on the International Plumbing Code (IPC) with Georgia amendments. Ask the City of Tucker permit team which edition and which local rules apply to your address. Plumbers are licensed through the Secretary of State's Division of Master and Journeyman Plumbers, and you can ask for a license number.
Written by Tucker Express Plumbing for homeowners in the Tucker area. We name standards where they apply and tell you when a rule depends on your address.
Questions we hear from homeowners
Yes. The line answers 24 hours a day, every day. For an active leak we advise closing the main shutoff and schedule a detection visit the same day when we can.
Close all fixtures, find the meter and watch the small leak indicator or low-flow dial. If it moves, water is leaking beyond the meter. Closing the house main and watching again tells you which side of the house shutoff the leak is on.
Usually we can narrow it to a small zone using sound and thermal tools. A small opening is typically needed for the repair, but not several.
Some policies cover the cost of finding the leak when there is covered damage, and others do not. Ask your insurer before work starts and keep the detection report.
Yes. We work with landlords and property managers. Send the unit address and we will schedule access with the tenant.