A leaking water main or service line can waste thousands of gallons before it ever surfaces. We trace the line from the meter to the house with acoustic listening and line-locating equipment, then mark the exact leak point. You get one small dig, not a trench across the yard. Call (123) 456-7890.
Signs your service line is leaking
The meter is the witness. If every fixture is off and the meter dial still moves, water is leaving the system somewhere between the meter and the house. Other signs: a soggy strip of lawn that never dries, water pressure that dropped for no reason, the sound of running water when nothing is on, or a bill that climbed without any change in usage.
How we trace the line
We start at the meter box and work inward:
- Meter isolation test. Shut the house valve, watch the meter. Still moving means the leak is in the service line itself.
- Line locating. A signal on the pipe maps its exact path and depth from the street to the foundation.
- Acoustic listening. We walk the traced path listening for pressurized water escaping, and mark the loudest point.
Three steps, one marked spot, no guessing.
Inside the line or outside it
Where the leak sits matters for who fixes what. A break between the meter and the house is on the property side; a break at or before the meter usually belongs to the water provider. Our tracing documents exactly where the leak is, so you are not arguing about location with anyone. You have a marked point and a report to show.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my water main is leaking or if it is something inside?
Turn off the main house valve and watch the meter. If the dial stops, the leak is inside the house plumbing. If it keeps moving, the leak is in the service line between the meter and the house. That two-minute test tells us where to start.
Can a service line leak without any visible water?
Yes, and most do at first. Water follows the path of least resistance underground and may surface far from the break. Or drain into soil and never surface at all. The meter test catches these invisible leaks.
Do you mark the leak location for the repair crew?
Yes. We mark the surface directly above the leak point and note the pipe depth from the locator, so the repair crew digs once, in the right place.
How long does water main leak detection take in Sacramento?
Most residential service lines are traced and marked in a single visit. Older properties with unclear pipe routing can take a little longer because the line path itself has to be mapped first.
My water pressure dropped suddenly. Is that a main leak?
It can be. A sudden pressure drop with no visible cause is worth checking with the meter test right away. If the meter moves with everything off, call us before the leak undermines soil near the foundation or walkway.
Related
- Sacramento Leak Detection Services
- Water Main Leak Detection in Citrus Heights
- Sewer Line Leak Detection in Sacramento
- High Water Bill Investigation in Sacramento
Think you have a leak?
Call AquaTrace Leak Detection to describe what you are seeing in Citrus Heights and get a plan to find it.
Call (123) 456-7890Last updated: October 25, 2026.