January -
In January we got a large water bill for $156 (normally ~$80). We also had some leakey toilets and so we figured that was the culprit so we rushed to fix them. We used 23,000 gallons that month, which is actually a reasonable number if you have 3 leaky toilets.
Monday -
Then came February's bill last Monday night (I check it online) and we had used 30,000 in month, and that was from 1/17 - 2/16, and we fixed the leaky toilets on 2/4 or 2/5, so it was still possible that it was the toilets.
After speaking to the city Utility Manager we were told that yes it could be the toilets, but they would send someone out to check the meter in person and verify it's operation. In cedar Park they have a transmitter inside the meter box that allows the meter reader to literally drive by the house to pick up the reading.. It's pretty cool actually.
Sure enough they left the infamous note from the city "May have a possible leak." ::Chandler Bing voice:: Could you BE any more helpful?
Then began the STRESS... the most stress I've ever faced as a homeowner. Is it in the slab? is it outside? Where is the water going? Is someone stealing it? Can we use the water have now paid for to put in a pool?
Wednesday
I had a plumber come out on Wednesday night to see if he could find it, and his lack of equipment and knowledge prevented him from doing so, but he didn't charge me so it could've been worse, so the stress did not lift, if anything it got worse. However, with his help we did narrow it down to the cold side. Which didn't really help much in terms of locating it, but it was something. At this point, I felt it was between the meter and the house outside, or at least I was hoping it was.
Saturday
Saturday morning came and another plumber came with really nice listening equipment and was able to rule out most of the house and the loudest he heard the noise was in the laundry room, and that was because that is where the main comes into the home inside the wall.
So he decided to rule out the exterior portion of the home by digging out the portion of the line by the meter and the portion where it first comes to the home. The leak was FOUND right where the main line switched from PVC to copper just before it T's off for the first water spigot outside. $500-$600 later... we have water.
Here are some photos.
The broken pipe
They had to tear out some bushes.. I replanted them later that day.
The final repair.
3 comments:
Well glad it didn't end up being too expensive. One of the benefits of being a home owner I guess :)
I am surprised PVC is legal for this under ground use. It is not in Utah, but we have winters you don't. I am surprised you could not find without the plumber being that sallow. To tap into my main line for asprinkler, I had to dig down 3.5 feet and 3.5 feet around it. But $500-$600 is why you should do the diggin yourself when possible.
Thanks Tony... easy to say when you aren't here and it's not your house.
PVC is more stable than copper.. I'd rather have that than copper or some other metal. The PEX piping would be better still.
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