Signs of a leak that cannot wait
Some leaks are slow and some are not. These signs mean water is escaping right now, and each one is worth a call at any hour.
- A meter dial or low-flow indicator moving while every fixture is off
- A water bill far above your usual months with no change in habits
- A ceiling stain that is growing, sagging or dripping
- A warm patch on the floor, or the sound of running water in a quiet house
- Soggy ground, a sunken strip or bright green grass in the yard with no rain
- A musty smell, peeling paint or baseboards that swell and bubble
If water is actively coming through a ceiling, shut the main valve first and switch off breakers for that room if light fixtures are wet. Set a bucket under the drip and photograph the damage for your insurer before anything is moved. Our after-hours dispatcher can talk you through finding the shutoff.
Meter running or bill jumped: start with a home meter test
A water meter is the most honest leak detector in the house. It counts every gallon that passes, so if it moves while nothing is using water, that water is going somewhere you cannot see. A higher bill points the same way, although a stuck sprinkler timer, a running toilet or a houseful of guests can explain it too.
How to run the test yourself
Turn off every tap, the dishwasher, the washing machine and the ice maker, and pause the sprinkler timer. Open the meter box lid and look for the small leak indicator, often a triangle or star, or read the dial. If it turns, write down the full reading, wait 30 to 60 minutes without using water, and read it again. Any change means a leak.
Then check the toilets, because a silent flapper leak is the most common cause. Put a few drops of food coloring in each tank, wait 15 minutes without flushing, and look for color in the bowl.
What the result tells us
If the meter moves and the toilets are dry, close the main valve on the house side and watch the dial again. A meter that stops means the leak is past the valve, inside the house or in the yard lines it feeds. A meter that keeps moving points to the buried line between the meter and the house. Telling the dispatcher which one you saw saves real time on site.
Meter still moving with every tap off? Call now and we will help you narrow it down.
Call (855) 575-2890Which leak-finding method fits which symptom
| What you notice | Method we use | What it can and cannot do |
|---|---|---|
| Meter moves, nothing visible | Pressure test on isolated sections of the supply line | Narrows the leak to a zone, then listening finds the spot |
| Hissing or running sound in a wall or floor | Acoustic listening with ground and wall microphones | Strong on pressurized leaks, weaker on slow drips and on noisy sites |
| Stain on a ceiling or wall | Moisture meter and thermal imaging | Shows wet material, but cannot always tell supply water from condensation |
| Drain or sewer suspected | Sewer camera or dye test | Sees the inside of the pipe, but not through a full line |
| Wet yard, buried line | Line locating and ground listening | Maps the pipe path first, and plastic pipe is quieter and harder to hear |
| Small leak other tools disagree on | Tracer gas | Gas rises at the leak and is read above ground, but needs the line emptied and filled |
No single tool finds everything. We often combine two methods, and we say so when a result is a best estimate.
Wet ceiling or stained wall: where is the water really from?
A ceiling stain has three common sources. A supply or drain pipe may be leaking above it, a roof or flashing may be failing, or the air conditioner may be sending condensate where it should not. In Florida the last one is very common, because the air handler often sits in the attic and its drain line clogs with algae.
We start with a moisture meter and a thermal camera to outline the wet area, then test the plumbing above it. That can mean running the upstairs shower and tub one at a time, pressure testing the supply lines, or dye testing a tub overflow gasket. We do not repair roofs or air conditioners, and if the water is not coming from a pipe we tell you so and point you to the right trade.
Under the house or in a crawlspace
Most homes around Tavares sit on a concrete slab, so there is no space underneath to crawl through. Older houses and some raised homes do have a crawlspace, and there a leak is often visible as dripping, stained joists or wet insulation. A spongy floor, a damp smell or a hissing sound under the boards are the usual clues.
If a crawlspace is wet, we check whether the water is plumbing or just groundwater after heavy rain. Closing the main valve and watching for new moisture is the quickest test. For a slab home, a leak under the floor is a different problem, and our slab leak repair page explains how those are located and fixed.
Buried leaks between the meter and the house
The water service line runs underground from the meter to the house, and it fails quietly. Signs include a meter that moves with the house valve shut, weak pressure at every tap, and a damp stripe or sinkhole-like dip in the yard. Soil can soak up a slow leak without it ever surfacing, so a dry yard does not rule it out.
We trace the pipe with a line locator, listen along its path, and mark the spot before anyone digs. Call Sunshine 811 before any excavation, because that line may share a trench with other utilities. Repairs on this section are covered under water line repair.
Sprinklers, pools and yard leaks
Outdoor leaks are easy to miss because the water disappears into the ground. Each type has its own signs.
Irrigation systems
A stuck valve, a cracked head or a broken lateral can waste water all night. Tavares provides reclaimed water for irrigation, so if your sprinklers run on reclaimed service, a leak there will not move your drinking water meter at all. Ask the City which supply your system uses before you read too much into the dial.
Pools and spas
A pool that drops faster than evaporation explains may have a leak in the fill line, the return piping or the equipment pad. We test and locate leaks in the plumbing that feeds the pool. We do not repair pool shells, liners or pool equipment, and a pool technician is the right call for those.
Yard and meter box
Check the meter box first. If it is full of water, the leak may be at the meter connection on the City side, or at the shutoff on yours. A running hose bib, a leaking backflow device and a cracked outdoor spigot are also common and simple to confirm.
How a leak-finding visit runs
- 01Talk and read the meter
We ask what you noticed, when it started and what the meter does with everything off. The reading you wrote down helps.
- 02Isolate with shutoffs and pressure
Closing valves in order splits the house into zones. A pressure gauge on each zone shows which one is losing water.
- 03Pinpoint with the right tool
Listening gear, thermal imaging, a line locator or tracer gas is chosen for the zone and pipe material, not used by habit.
- 04Confirm and explain options
Before any wall or floor is opened, we confirm the spot and explain the repair choices and the price. Same-day repair is possible when parts and schedule allow.
What affects the price of finding a leak
Leak detection is priced by the work involved, not a flat number, and we explain it before the work starts. Five things move the total.
A meter test and one pressure test is quick. A leak that needs listening, imaging and a camera takes longer.
Long pipe runs, outbuildings, pools and irrigation add zones to test.
Open garages and attics are easy. Finished walls, tile and slabs make listening harder.
Calls at night or on weekends can change the dispatch charge, and you hear about it first.
Finding a leak and fixing it are different tasks, and the repair is priced once we see the pipe.
Some homeowners policies cover the cost of tearing out and rebuilding to reach a leak, and a few cover the detection itself when there is covered damage. Read your policy or ask your carrier before work, and keep your meter readings and photos.
The fastest way to a real number is a call, because the price is explained before any work begins.
Tavares local note: city line or your line?
The City of Tavares maintains more than 134 miles of water lines, and responsibility often changes at the meter but varies by property. Water leaking on the street side of the meter may be a City matter, and the City lists emergency water and sewer lines on its Water Division and Wastewater Division pages. If the leak is on the house side, it is ours to trace.
We cover Tavares and nearby towns, including Eustis and Mount Dora. If a leak turns out to be a failed pipe that is spraying, see burst pipe repair. If the leak is in a drain, the sewer inspection camera is the tool that finds it.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Our dispatch line is open 24/7, and a plumber can be sent when water is actively damaging a ceiling, floor or yard. Close the main valve first, write down the meter reading, and tell the dispatcher what you see. Same-day appointments are offered when the schedule allows.
Turn every fixture off, including the ice maker and sprinkler timer, then watch the leak indicator on the meter. If it spins, or the reading changes after 30 to 60 minutes of no use, water is escaping. Toilets are the usual cause, so test them with food coloring before you call.
Usually, yes. Pressure testing, listening gear and thermal imaging narrow a leak to a small area, so any opening is small and in the right place. A very slow leak or noisy site can leave some doubt, and we tell you that before we cut.
Check the toilets, hose bibs and sprinkler zones, then run the meter test. A running toilet can waste many gallons a day without any sound. If those are clean and the meter still moves, the leak is in a hidden pipe and needs instruments.
Only if the sprinklers run on drinking water. Tavares provides reclaimed water for irrigation, and reclaimed service is separate from your house supply. Ask the City which line feeds your system, then test the zones one at a time.
Responsibility often changes at the meter, so water leaking on the street side may belong to the utility, and water on the house side is usually yours, though it varies by property. A full meter box or a wet strip near the curb is worth a call to the City. We can help you work out which side it is.
Sometimes. Policies often cover sudden water damage and may pay for access to the leak, but they usually do not pay to replace the worn pipe. Photograph everything, save the invoice, and ask your carrier before work begins.
A hidden leak gets more expensive every day it runs, so call before the wall gets wet.
Call (855) 575-2890Sources and standards
Where this page cites a local fact, it comes from a public City of Tavares page, another city's own web page or a published water quality report. Where a figure is not published, the page says so instead of guessing.
Plumbing work in Florida is governed by the Florida Building Code, Plumbing, which is the standard inspectors apply, and permit rules vary by city. The contact page explains how to reach us, and any plumber's license can be checked with the Verify a License tool at MyFloridaLicense.com.