Some of Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I know if my house has a water leak?
A: Common signs include a suddenly higher water bill, the water meter spinning even when every faucet and appliance is off, warm or damp spots on floors (especially with hot-water slab leaks), the sound of running water when nothing is on, loss of water pressure, hot water coming out of the cold tap, or discolored and warped flooring from hidden moisture.
If you notice any of these, shut off the main water valve and check the meter again—if it still moves, you almost certainly have a leak (often under the slab). Professional non-invasive detection can find it fast before damage spreads.
Q: Why does the smell in my bathroom never go away?
A: Persistent sewer or musty odors usually point to one of these: a failed wax ring under the toilet (water leaks out when you flush, or sewer gas escapes), a dry P-trap under a sink, shower, or tub (water evaporates if the fixture hasn’t been used in weeks), a broken or clogged waste vent pipe in the wall, or a cracked/separated drain line under the floor.
Quick check: Pour water down unused drains to refill P-traps.
Q: Why is my gas or electric bill so high?
A: If there’s no actual gas leak, the most common hidden culprit is a leak on the hot-water side of your plumbing. The water heater runs nonstop trying to keep up with the constant water loss, burning extra gas (or electricity) the whole time.
A slab leak on the hot line is especially sneaky because the heat also makes floors warm in spots. Check your water bill also, they often rise together.
Q: Why is my toilet running all the time?
A: Almost always a worn-out flapper or a faulty fill valve inside the tank. The flapper lets water slowly leak into the bowl, so the fill valve keeps turning on to top it off.
Lift the tank lid and look: if the water level is dropping when nothing is being used, or you hear a constant hiss, that’s it.
Q: Why is my pool pump not priming?
A: If the pump itself is working, the usual cause is a broken or cracked suction line underground. When the pump turns on, it creates negative pressure, sucking air in through the break instead of water. You’ll see air bubbles, cavitation (loud rattling), or the pump losing prime repeatedly.
The same break can also lose pool water when the system is off..
Q: Why is water running out of the drain at the front of my property?
A: Several possibilities: a main water line leak between the meter and the house, a slab leak under the foundation working its way forward, an irrigation leak (pressure side before the valves, a stuck-open valve, or a break on the low-pressure side), or, if you have a swimming pool, water escaping the pool that travels through soil or deck drains and exits at the street drain.
Turn things off one by one (house water, then irrigation, then pool) and see when the flow stops, that narrows it down.
Q: Why is my water pressure low in my house?
A: Could be a leak in the pressurized plumbing system (water is literally escaping before it reaches your fixtures).
Other common causes: old galvanized pipes clogged with rust and minerals, a failing pressure-reducing valve (PRV) not allowing enough flow, or a partially closed shut-off valve somewhere in the line.
A quick test: if pressure is low everywhere but normal at an outside hose bib, the problem is likely inside the house.
Q: Why is my house humid?
A: Excess moisture can come from poor ventilation (long showers, cooking, many people breathing), groundwater or rainwater getting past moisture barriers, hidden plumbing leaks or drain-line leaks, or a hot-water slab leak (hot water under the slab turns to steam and rises into the house).
If you’ve ruled out lifestyle factors and still have condensation on windows or musty air, a concealed leak is very likely.
Q: Why is my plastered pool losing water?
A: Pools lose water for many reasons. Normal evaporation is about ¼ inch in 24 hours (more in hot, windy, or low-humidity weather).
Beyond that, leaks can occur in plumbing lines, the tile line, lights, skimmer throat, cracks in the plaster/shell, or around any fitting.
Simple ALD bucket test can determine water loss between evaporation and a pool leak
Q: Why is my well not working?
A: If the pump and well have water but you still lose pressure or the pump runs constantly, the most common hidden issue is a broken main line between the pump and the house/storage tank. The pump can’t keep up with the constant loss.
Q: Why is water dripping from my ceiling or why is my carpet/floor wet?
A: In a two-story home, anything on the second floor can leak downward: supply lines, drain lines, shower pans/valves, tub enclosures, toilet wax rings, AC condensate lines in the attic, or even roof/gutter intrusion.
Start by checking the room directly above the wet spot. Water travels surprisingly far along joists before it shows up below.