Month: October 2017

5 Steps to Hiring the Right Plumber in Lake Forest

When you’re looking for a plumber, it can be very tempting to just dial the first number you find in the phone listings. This is especially true if you have a plumbing emergency, but it is never advised that you go into any major decision without thinking through the steps carefully.

This plumber can make or break your home. This person can fix your problem quickly and efficiently or make it worse with a simple error most experienced plumbers would not mess up. And then you have the companies that operate on totally unethical standards, which is a whole other story. So how do you make sure that you don’t end up with a company that fits these less than positive descriptions? Follow these five steps:

  • 1. Start filtering out unethical companies by finding one that charges by the job rather than by the hour. You always want to ask this question up front because usually, the bill you see for a job that was charged by the hour is much higher than one that was charged by the job. A plumber who works by the hour is not motivated to get your job done quickly because he will get paid more for less work by simply taking as long as possible. Just skip the drama and hire a company that charges by the job instead.
  • 2. Verify their license number. Don’t be afraid to ask for their license number so that you can call and verify that they are actually licensed to do work in your area. There are very strict guidelines to follow in order for companies to be licensed, so this is a good indication of whether or not this is someone who follows the rules. If you are concerned about seeming too forward about asking for their license number on the phone, tell them that you need it to put it on your claim for your homeowner’s insurance.
  • 3. Ask if they offer a service warranty. Just as you wouldn’t buy major purchases that don’t offer a warranty, so you should not hire a plumber that does not offer a warranty on his work. That warranty may be for anywhere from six months up to a year. If there is no warranty offered, then just go somewhere else.
  • 4. Call around to get at least four quotes. Most homeowners have no idea what a fair price is for the work they need to be done, so the easiest way to figure it out is to call around and get several quotes. You should see a cluster around a certain price range, so beware of bids that seem far below that cluster. This will also give you a chance to speak with someone from the company and learn if this is one you can deal with.
  • 5. Find out what your wait time is. Different companies have different wait times according to how many jobs they have on hand at a given time. If you have an emergency, then you need one that offers 24 / 7 emergency service, and be sure to ask precisely what that means. Are you going to be waiting four hours just for someone to show up? Weigh the wait time against the cost of the job to determine which plumber is the best one for you right now.

Any homeowner can make a calm, collected decision when it comes to dealing with plumbing problems in their home if they just follow this plan. If you are looking for a plumber in the Lake Forest area, give Scott English Plumbing a call.

4 Reasons Homeowners Should Call a Plumber

Most homeowners who have found themselves in need of a plumber have, at some point, probably thought about just fixing it themselves. After all, plumbers are very expensive, and surely you could do just as good of a job, right? And when an emergency arises, you need a fix right away, so doesn’t that mean you should handle it? Certainly not! In most cases you will probably end up doing more harm than good. Here are four reasons you should call a plumber rather than just try to fix it yourself (with “try” being the operative word):

  • 1. Time – If the situation is just a minor plumbing issue, you may be tempted to put it off “until you have more time.” But what does that even mean? When are you going to have the amount of time necessary for that particular fix? Most people have their own jobs; it just doesn’t make sense to take time from your day to fix something that should be delegated to someone who actually knows what he is doing. Your lack of experience will actually cause the job to take you even longer than it would a professional, and you’ll be bumping your head against the pipes in frustration as you try to figure it out.
  • 2. Know-how – The average homeowner probably has no idea to fix pipes or leaks. Even if you have some basic knowledge about plumbing, you probably shouldn’t be poking around someplace where you don’t belong. It is far better to call in a professional who has seen problems of all kinds, from run of the mill to the extraordinary. You could have a bigger problem than you think, and even if you don’t, refer to number three
  • 3. Money – Fiddling around with something you don’t know how to fix will likely cost you a lot of money in extra repairs. Just consider for a moment how much it would cost you to get a basic problem fixed. Now multiply that according to what happens when you attempt to fix it, only to make the entire situation even worse.
  • 4. Loss of use – If you put off fixing the problem or try to fix it yourself and fail miserably, you will likely end up with the pipes in your home being down longer than they would otherwise. If you call a plumber with an emergency, he will come right away, but minutes count when you are talking about plumbing situations. The bigger the problem became while you were trying to fix it, the longer it will take a professional to fix it. Consequently, your home won’t be backing up and running at full capacity for a while.

Many homeowners sit on the fence when wondering whether they should call a plumber. Even those who really are qualified to fix a basic problem wonder where the line is. If there is a potential that you will do more harm than good, just call a professional right away. If time is of the essence, get one of our professional plumbers in there, pronto.

You just can’t be too careful when it comes to plumbing or pipe problems in your home. A house is an investment that should be protected and treasured. You don’t want to risk getting water damage because you thought you could fix something.

Scott English Plumbing is a trusted Dana Point plumber. They offer 24 hour emergency service, electronic leak detection, sewer and drain cleaning, and slab leak detection and repair. They also work on flat rates, so you know that you will not end up overpaying for a Dana Point plumber.

Time to Call the Plumber

Why Do You Need to Call a Plumber?

As a homeowner, it is only natural that you want to handle as many of the problems with your home as you can, but sometimes you just have to call in a professional plumber. If you aren’t sure exactly what’s wrong or how to fix it, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. But even for homeowners who are quite handy and have actually fixed minor plumbing issues in the past, there is a line in the sand that should only be crossed for professionals. Here are six situations when a professional plumber should be called in to handle it:

  • 1. Valve problems – This is one of those issues that sound much easier than it really is. A valve may be a tiny piece of the overall system, but its small size doesn’t mean that it’s not complicated. Simply trying to find the right valve can be challenging, and even something that seems like a small error can result in holes in your wall and major leaks that cause mold and mildew. This is a small job better left to a professional.
  • 2. Building permits required – In most cases when a building permit is required, something major is being done to the home. There is also a higher level of accountability here. Any time you’re going to be moving the plumbing around or changing out any major fixtures, you definitely need a professional.
  • 3. Bathtubs – Probably the biggest job in a bathroom remodel is putting in a new bathtub, and the sheer size of this job definitely requires a professional plumber. In addition to the simple size of the job, you could also face a nearly endless list of things that could go wrong.
  • 4. Water heaters or sump pumps – If you think dealing with leaky pipes is difficult, you can multiply that difficulty by about a thousand when dealing with major water appliances like sump pumps or water heaters. In addition to dealing with pipes and plumbing, you also have to know the darkest details about how these appliances work. This one is definitely better left to a professional.
  • 5. Gas lines – In most parts of the country, a licensed plumber is required in jobs that have anything to do with gas lines. Gas line problems can result in issues that are much more serious than damaged property. You could be talking about lives, so this is definitely a time to get a professional in.
  • 6. Big blockages -So there are small blockages and big blockages, and if you’re in doubt about what makes a blockage a big one, don’t worry. You’ll know it when you see it. In fact, you may not realize at first that there is even a blockage, but you will notice some very strange things going on. When the toilet starts backing up into the bathtub, you know that there is a big blockage that needs to be taken care of. Most homeowners can use a plunger or chemicals to clear a smaller blockage, but if you’re having trouble clearing one of any size, even if it seems small, get a professional to come in and take care of it. The plumbing throughout your home is connected, so if you push or pull a pipe the wrong way, you could damage the system elsewhere.

You just can’t be too careful when you’re dealing with any kind of plumbing problem, so when in doubt, get someone who knows what they are doing. Hire a plumber in Costa Mesa from Scott English Plumbing to handle all of your major plumbing problems.

Choosing a Plumber

Have you ever had that sinking feeling that you had to call a plumber? It’s never a good feeling, but that feeling is made even worse when you don’t know who to call. It is always best to choose a plumber before you actually need one and you’re at the mercy of whichever name you happen to pick out of the phone book listings.

In general, there are two types of plumbers: those who take advantages of homeowners in crisis mode and those who don’t. But whether you’re in crisis mode or not, there are several things you can do to help make the right decision about who to call. It all starts with simply asking the right questions:

  • Are you licensed? If the plumber isn’t licensed, you can hang up the phone right then and there. Of course, if he’s smart, he’ll tell you that he is, even if he isn’t. This is why it is just as important that you insist that he bring his license with him to prove that he actually is. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that people won’t hire you if you tell them that you don’t have a license.
  • Do you know what might have caused my leak? One of the easiest ways to get an idea of how knowledgeable a plumber is by simply asking about the common causes of the type of leak you have. The benefit of hiring someone who knows what caused the problem in the first place is also being able to avoid doing whatever caused it again.
  • Have you ever fixed a ____? Fill in the blank with whatever the plumbing problem happens to be. Some plumbers spend a lot of time fixing toilets, while others have all the fancy equipment needed to detect leaks in hard to find places in your home. You definitely want someone who deals with your type of issue each and every day.
  • What does your fee schedule look like? Make sure that you get a complete rundown of the expected charges before he even steps his foot in your door, and when he does arrive, make sure that you get that estimate solidified in writing so that you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. You’ll want to avoid plumbers that charge by the hour and instead opt for one that offers a flat fee for the job. This will ensure that the job gets done quickly and efficiently.
  • What kind of insurance do you have? You definitely don’t want to hire someone who doesn’t have insurance on their work. In this case, having insurance means that if the person causes a bigger problem than what he started with, the cost of repairs will be covered by his insurance. This protects you from having to foot the bill because the person you hired made a bad situation even worse.

Every homeowner will probably need a plumber eventually, so it is definitely worth your time to put together a short list of the companies you think would do a good job in the event that you have to call them. One of the easiest ways to get a short list going is to ask your local friends and family members who they call. Of course, there is always a chance that they’ve not yet had to call anyone either, but there is nothing better than a personal referral to a company from someone you know. Let Scott English Plumbing, plumber in Aliso Viejo help you solve all of your plumbing problems.

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4 Ways to Enjoy Noiseless Plumbing

There is value in enjoying the quiet moments in life; would you agree? Sometimes we simply want to get home and enjoy some peace and quiet, but what happens if noise seems to populate all around you? Noise usually makes use of gaps, cracks, as well as lightweight materials to travel around your home, which includes your plumbing that can serve as a noisy highway. Read on and learn how to create a noiseless home plumbing system.

Wrapping Pipes

Normally for homes with copper pipes, running water through them can cause the pipes to expand and eventually grind against the joists and pipe hangers. This creates a squeaky, scratching sound that can be irritating especially when you are trying to rest or sleep. The good news is that a few rolls of adhesive-backed felt can quiet these noisy nuisances.

Head on to your local hardware store and buy adhesive-backed felt. Cut strips of ample length, enough to wrap around the diameter of your pipes. This takes a bit of patience though since you need to remove each hanger and carefully wrap the pipe before reinstalling the hangers. The time will be well spent because of the quiet environment you will create.

Secure Mounting Straps

Water hammer is a very annoying situation that can create loud, pounding noises in your home plumbing system. One of the reasons that this happens is when you have loose mounting straps. Usually, mounting straps make use of plumber’s tape, hooks, and hangers that are attached to the plumbing pipes.

When the pipe strap is loose, the pipe vibrates freely and brushes against the framing when water runs along its length. Tightening loose mounting straps on all accessible and visible pipes can be fairly easy, but when it comes to pipes behind drywall or concrete, the whole process can become more challenging and require professional plumbing help.

It is equally important to take steps to arrest the water hammer by replenishing the air in the chambers. You need to shut off the main water supply first before proceeding to do anything. Make sure that you open only the faucet in the highest point in your home. Next, completely turn on the faucet at the lowest point in your home and drain all the water from your pipes; to allow air to replace the water. Once water is completely drained, turn off the lowest point faucet and open your main valve. Close the only open faucet in your home once all the sputtering has stopped.

Did you know that using galvanized straps or plumber’s tape with your copper pipe can cause plumbing leaks? Keep away from this costly combination!

Expanding Foam

Who says plumbing repair is boring? Here is a chance for you to play around a bit using expanding foam. In case you are not aware of it, expanding foam is an excellent material to use to fill the spaces between stainless steel sink basins.

As the foam begins to expand it eliminates the gong effect and deadens any vibrations coming from your stainless steel sinks. You do not have to remove the sinks to use the expanding foam but completing the process before it is installed will make things easier with the final work appearing neater. After the foam hardens simply use a knife to trim the excesses.

High Water Pressure

It is reasonable to assume that a water pressure regulator is installed in your home plumbing system. However, if there is none, it is better to have one installed; why? Excessive water pressure is one reason you hear banging from your water pipes.

For just a couple hundred dollars, you can have a professionally installed water pressure regulator that will arrest any wasted water as well as quiet down your noisy plumbing system. For homes, the normal water pressure should be in the range of 30 to 55 psi only. Are you aware that some appliance warranties can be voided if you have extremely high water pressure?

To take away all the aggravations, irritations, and start enjoying a peaceful home life, simply call on a professional plumbing service to have your pipes checked regularly. Scott English Plumbing can provide all your plumbing needs 24/7 at a cost that will not shatter your peace of mind. Call them today!

Neighbors’ Noisy Plumbing is a Nuisance

Q. I live in an older (1908), wooden duplex with neighbors on one side of me. Every time my neighbors turn on their water, I hear a loud, persistent noise, much like a foghorn. This has been going on for several years, ever since my neighbors had the pipes in their kitchen, bathroom, and crawl space replaced. In the three years since the work was done, the noise has varied from nonexistent, to loud, to soft. They have had the plumbing checked out by two different plumbers. One plumber claimed that there was nothing he could do. The other plumber said that the pressure regulator was the problem, and he replaced that part. For a few weeks, there was no noise, but then it came back. On another occasion, a plumber came out to repair a leak under their kitchen sink. Again, the noise went away temporarily, but then it came back.

These noisy pipes have become quite a nuisance. At the front of the house, the pipes for both sides of the duplex enter the crawl space from the main. The pipes touch each other in that location, which I believe contributes to the volume level. The pipes then run under the center of the duplex. What can I do?

A. This is a tricky situation. Here are some suggestions.

  • First, try to put some insulation between the two supply pipes at the front of the house. This will help to minimize any noise produced by vibration. Place a thin piece of rubber between the two sets of pipes.
  • Sometimes pipes will moan because there is a valve that is not fully open. Check under your sinks, toilets, and washing machine, and make sure that all of the valves are all the way open. Ask your neighbors to check theirs, too. Check the main water supply valve to the house, too.
  • A faulty rubber washer in a faucet can also cause a moaning noise in the pipes. Over time, the rubber begins to disintegrate, and little bits of the rubber can impede the flow of water and cause the moaning sound. Replace the rubber washers in your faucets, and ask your neighbor to do the same.
  • The new pipes that were installed in your neighbor’s home several years ago could be rubbing against wood where they attach to floor joists or run through the walls. Climb into the crawl space and take a look. Ask someone to turn the water on and off while you are in the crawl space so you can check it out.
  • Water hammer could also be the culprit. Typically, water hammer sounds like a rattle or bang, but in some cases, it can also cause the moaning sound that you described. The fact that the sound temporarily ceased after plumbing work was performed indicates that water hammer could potentially be the problem. When the work was performed, the water was turned off. Turning off the water relieved pressure in the system. You can check this out by draining the water from the system and listening for the noise to abate or recur.

If you are having noisy plumbing problems, call the experts at Scott English Plumbing. We can help you find the source of the problem and resolve it quickly. Nobody wants to lay awake at night listening to the pipes moan and groan, and there is no reason that you should have to endure that. Get in touch with Scott English Plumbing today, and let us resolve your noisy plumbing nuisance.

How to Find Hidden Plumbing Leaks and Fix Them Fast

Hidden plumbing leaks are bad news. They’re wasting water, which means that they’re wasting your money. They could be doing serious damage to the structure of your home and causing mold to grow, as well. This guide will help you to find hidden plumbing leaks and get them fixed in no time.

Finding Splash Leaks in the Tub and Shower

Around the shower door is a common place for leaks to happen. If everything isn’t sealed up around the tub or shower door, water can leak out when you take your bath or shower. Even an inadequate shower curtain can allow water to leak in the bathroom and cause damage. The water can soak into the floor, causing damage to the flooring and even the subfloor. If the subfloor gets wet, it can start to rot. It will have to be replaced, which means tearing out the floor and subfloor to lay new, dry plywood. That’s a hassle and a big expense. Instead of going through all that, check for leaks now.

Watch for these symptoms of a splash leak around the shower or tub:

  • 1. Your vinyl flooring begins to curl.
  • 2. Ceramic tiles start to come loose around the tub.
  • 3. There are water stains on the ceiling below the bathroom.
  • 4. The floor joists below the bathroom have water stains.
  • 5. There are visible patches of mold on the floor or wall near the bathtub.
  • 6. There is standing water on the floor after you get out of the shower.

All of these things are signs that you have a leak somewhere around your tub or shower.

Locating the Leak

Now that you know you have a leak, you need to find out exactly where it is located. First, check the shower door by splashing water on it, especially around the edges of the door and the frame. Wait a few minutes and watch to see where it is leaking. Check any gaskets or door sweeps to see if they are leaking. Be sure to inspect the caulk, too. Inspect all the way around the tub or shower where the unit meets the floor and the wall; are there any cracks in the caulk or areas where there are missing bits of caulk? This will show you where the water could be leaking.

Fixing it Fast

If there are missing bits of caulk, you’ll need to remove the old caulk and replace it with fresh caulk. Be sure to caulk thoroughly and let it dry sufficiently before you use the shower again. If the shower frame is leaking, you can seal it by adding a bead of caulk around it. Check the unit for leaks again after the caulk is dried so that you know for sure you found and fixed the problem. If you have a leaky gasket or door sweep, you can replace that accessory. Just take that piece with you to the hardware store to find the correct replacement piece. Of course, make sure to always close shower curtains completely and sliding shower doors correctly to avoid splash leaks.

Shower Drain Leaks

Sometimes water leaks around the outside edge of the drain, so it’s not actually going down the drain. If you have a shower pan or tub that is made of plastic or fiberglass, the floor will bend a little bit when you stand on it. This can cause the seal around the drain to break, and allow water to leak. A leak around the drain can cause rotting of the floor joists or ceiling below. If your home is on a slab, a leaky bathtub drain can even damage the flooring in attached rooms.

Locating the Leak

To test for a leak around the drain, plug the drain and fill the tub or shower with a couple inches of water. Then wait an hour or so, and go back and check the water level. If the water level is lower than it was before, then you have a leak around the drain.

Fixing it Fast

To fix the drain in your tub, start by unscrewing the drain flange. Clean up the flange, and add some silicone caulk. Replace the rubber gasket under the drain hole with a new one. With the new gasket in place, screw the drain flange in again. For a leaky shower drain, you’ll have to replace the drain assembly.

Tile Leaks

Your bathroom can develop a tile leak when water seeps through cracks in the caulk or otherwise gets behind the tile. This can cause serious damage, including tiles falling off the wall and rotting of the drywall, studs, subfloor, and joists.

These are some symptoms of tile leaks:

  • 1. There are tiles that are loose.
  • 2. There is mold in the bathroom that keeps returning.
  • 3. The paint around the shower is peeling.
  • 4. The ceiling below the shower has water stains.

Locating the Leak

To find the leak, inspect the caulk around the tub or shower. Look for cracks or gaps; these areas will probably have mold, too. If the tile is loose around the faucet, check inside the access panel to see if there are stains or moisture.

Fixing it Fast

To fix a tile leak, start by removing the old caulk or grout and any loose tiles. If the wall behind the tiles is dry, you can replace the tiles with new grout and add new caulk. If the wall is moist, you’ll have to replace the board there before replacing the tiles, grout, and caulk.

Toilet Leaks

A toilet flange leak is a leak that occurs in the area where the toilet meets the drainage pipe underneath it. If you have a toilet flange leak, water will leak out every time you flush. This kind of leak can cause the floor, subfloor, joists, and ceiling below to rot. Look for these symptoms of a toilet flange leak:

  • 1. There is visible water leaking from the base of the toilet.
  • 2. The floor around the toilet is loose.
  • 3. There are water stains on the ceiling under the toilet.
  • 4. The toilet is a bit loose from the floor.

Locating the Leak

If there are stains on the ceiling near the toilet, it is most likely a leaking toilet flange. You’ll have to remove the toilet, and check for cracks in the flange, broken bolts, or any loose space between the flange and the subfloor.

Fixing it Fast

If you have broken bolts, you’ll need to use a metal repair flange. If the floor isn’t level, you’ll need to add some shims so that the toilet sits level. Then you can install a new wax ring and put the toilet back in place.

These steps will help you to find hidden plumbing leaks and fix them easily. If you have a leak that needs repaired or you need help finding a leak, call Scott English Plumbing today. We can help you with any project, large or small, and we’re available 24/7 to deal with emergencies. Whenever you have a plumbing problem, call Scott English Plumbing.

Plumbing Leak Repair Guide

A plumbing leak doesn’t have to be big to be a big problem. We are so dependent on having running water; we don’t think about it often, but most of us would feel quite lost without having constant access to running water. How many times a day do you turn on a faucet? As soon as you get up in the morning, you probably flush the toilet, wash your hands, brush your teeth, and take a shower. Next, you make a pot of coffee. Maybe you turn on the dishwasher or throw a load of laundry into the washer before you head out the door to work. In just the first hour or two of the day, most of us have used running water at least five times. Could you get by for even a day without access to running water?

If you get a plumbing leak, your running water will suddenly be running everywhere. In many cases, addressing the leak isn’t as simple as just placing a bucket underneath it. It can turn into a serious problem and damage your walls, floors, and even the foundation of your home. If a water leak is allowed to continue, either because it has not been detected or just not repaired, mold can start to grow in the home. This can damage the structure of your home, contaminate your belongings, and harm your health.

Clearly, a plumbing leak is bad news. Use this plumbing leak repair guide to help you identify and eliminate leaks in your home.

Detecting Leaks

For many homeowners, the first sign of a water leak comes in the form of the water bill. They open the monthly billing statement and find that their water usage has suddenly doubled or tripled. This is a pretty clear sign of a problem. Before you go tearing your house apart, though, ask yourself whether your water usage has changed. If you have started using your lawn irrigation system or fill your swimming pool, this could account for a sudden increase in your bill. If you haven’t had any significant change in your usage, though, then you should check the water meter. Verify the meter reading against the reading on the bill. Also, check to see if your meter has a leak indicator. Many meters have a leak indicator which will display a red flag if your usage changes drastically.

Check it Out

You can test for plumbing leaks on your own. Go to the meter, and write down the reading. Next, go around the house and turn off everything that uses water. Make sure that you don’t miss anything. Shut off the water line to the refrigerator, turn off the washing machine, and don’t flush the toilet. To be on the safe side, you can turn off the main water supply valve to the whole house. Wait for an hour or so, and then check the water meter again. If the water meter shows a different reading than it did before, then you have a leak somewhere.

If this test reveals that there is a plumbing leak, then the next step is to locate the leak. Do a careful walkthrough, and look for wet or damp spots. Then call Scott English Plumbing. We’ll help you locate the leak and get it fixed right away. Scott English Plumbing offers the top quality plumbing service in Orange County, and we’re on call for you 24/7. Give Scott English Plumbing a call today to find your plumbing leak and get it repaired promptly and properly.

Water Leak Detection Case Studies

We all know that it’s important to conserve water, and we do our best to do our part. We turn off the water while we brush our teeth, and we don’t run the water in the shower until we’re ready to step in. What many people don’t realize, though, is that undetected water leaks can use an astronomical amount of water. That drip that you hear coming from the faucet can waste over 3,000 gallons of water a year. That’s enough water to shower 180 times. Those little bits of wasted water can really add up. That’s just one reason why it’s important to detect water leaks. There’s another important reason to be aware of water leaks, too. Even if you aren’t concerned about wasting water, the damage caused by leaks – including small leaks – can be extensive. It can amount to thousands of dollars in repair costs. To find out more about the importance of water leak detection, check out these case studies.

Case Study #1 – Long-Term Undetected Water Leak

A 250 unit building had no signs of a water leak. However, 16 of those units incurred water and sewer charges in excess of $38,000 in a two-year period. The charges raised a red flag, but the property managers didn’t know where to begin because there were no symptoms of a leak. They called a plumber to help identify the problem. Water consumption was assessed based on a review of the water and sewer bills. This review showed that the 16 units in question had much higher water usage than the remainder of the 250 units in the building. In fact, those 16 units were using 200% more water than the average for the county. It was clear that there was a leak. With no symptoms of a leak, though, it was difficult to figure out where the leak was located. A trench was dug, and the leak was located. It turned out the leak was flowing toward a nearby creek, which was able to obscure the problem. After repairing the leak, the water consumption dropped by more than 3,350 gallons of water per day. The repair led to a savings of more than $1,000 per month.

Case Study #2 – Underground Pipe Damage

An apartment building saw its water bills rise dramatically from $23,000 per month to $74,000 per month. There were no obvious signs of a water leak. They contacted a plumber, who analyzed the water bills and placed water monitoring devices on the property. They discovered a catastrophic leak on the property. After further investigation, it was discovered that a huge quantity of water was running through the sewer system. The approximate location of the leak was determined. After uncovering the water lines, they found that grading in the area had caused rock and debris to settle in a manner that damaged the water line. A nearby junction box was damaged as well, so the water from the leak was flowing directly into the sewer. The damage was repaired, resulting in a savings of over 160,000 gallons of water and $45,000 per month.

You may not have a large apartment building, but even in a small home, lost water adds up. It costs money on your water and sewer bills, and it can damage the foundation of your home. If you notice that your water or sewer bill is increasing, call Scott English Plumbing. We’ll help you detect any leaks and get them repaired promptly. Get in touch with Scott English Plumbing for more information today.

How to Find a Water Leak in Your Home

Water leaks can be sneaky, expensive little problems. You aren’t aware that you are using any extra water, yet suddenly you have a big water bill on your hand.

I recently experienced this problem myself. My water bill arrived in the mail, and it said that I had used 42,000 gallons of water in the two-month billing cycle. During the previous two-month billing cycle, I had used just 16,000 gallons of water. I called the water company, sure that there must be a problem with the meter. The company sent a representative out to my home, who compared the indoor and outdoor meters and confirmed that my reading was correct. We walked through my house together in search of the problem.

We hadn’t filled a swimming pool or used an irrigation system on our lawn. We hadn’t even had guests staying with us. There was no clear explanation for this sudden increase in our water use. We went downstairs and checked the sump pump. We discovered that both the main sump pump and the backup pump, which was a water injection system, had failed. We had record amounts of snow over the winter. When the spring came and it started to melt, the water ran into our yard drains. The defective backup sump pump – a water injection system – was running nonstop, pulling water from the city water line and sending straight into the sewer line. We found the problem, and the cost of the repair was a new sump pump and the $300 water bill.

The final kick in the pants came the following month when we received the sewer bill. It cost another $300 to pay for treatment of the water that our sump pump kicked out into the sewer, but we never even used. That was an expensive and irritating lesson.

Fortunately, you can easily check for water leaks in your house and avoid these kinds of expensive problems. Follow these simple steps.

  • 1. First, find your water meter. Some houses have one inside and one outside, while others only have one meter, which is usually located on the outside of the house.
  • 2. Turn off anything in your house that uses water. Don’t forget the dishwasher, washing machine, and icemaker.
  • 3. Check the meter. If it is moving, then you have a fast leak. If it is not moving, wait for 10 – 15 minutes and check again. If the meter has moved at that point, then you have a slow leak.
  • 4. Use the main water shutoff valve to turn off all the water to the house, and check the meter again. If it is still moving, then you have a leak in the service line. Call your water company.
  • 5. If the problem is not the service line, then you can check around your home for leaks. Check your irrigation system for broken sprinkler heads. Check your toilets for a faulty flapper. Common sources of water leaks include compression faucets, swimming pools, washing machines, icemakers, showers, and hot water heaters.

If you suspect that you may have a water leak but you can’t find it, call Scott English Plumbing. We can help you locate the leak and fix it. We provide water leak detection services.

If you know where the leak is but need help repairing it, call us, too. We’ll take care of your leak promptly before your water bill skyrockets. Call Scott English Plumbing for help with all of your plumbing needs.

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