Leak Detection in Dacula, GA

Warning signs

• A Gwinnett water bill that stays high for more than one cycle
• The meter dial moving with everything off
• Water collecting in the pan under the water heater
• A strip of grass that stays greener or softer than the rest
• Stains or soft drywall around tubs, showers and laundry rooms
• A faint hiss in a wall when the house is quiet

Local conditions in Dacula

Dacula is a small historic town in eastern Gwinnett that has grown quickly, and the 30019 ZIP also takes in the large Hamilton Mill area. The city's median home was built in 1999, and about 12.5% predate 1980. Most leak calls in houses this age involve fittings, connectors and valves rather than failing pipe. The city's own rough-in inspection checks that water piping is strapped every five feet and that waste lines pass a water test, so newer homes generally start out sound; the trouble comes later at the joints.

The City of Dacula's non-city utilities page lists Gwinnett County for water and sewer. The county is responsible for the pipes that bring water to the meter, and everything from the meter to the home is the homeowner's. Gwinnett's 24-hour dispatch is 678.376.7000. Some Dacula properties are not on municipal sewer and rely on private onsite wastewater systems, which matters if a wet yard turns out to be drainage rather than a supply leak.

What affects the cost

• How quickly the plumber can isolate the branch that is leaking
• Slab, crawl space or basement construction
• Distance from the meter to the house for a yard-line leak
• Equipment for pinpointing the spot
• The repair, and whether a city permit applies; Dacula issues permits at City Hall on Harbins Road and does its own inspections

What happens when you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in Dacula and Hamilton Mill. Have your meter readings and a recent bill ready. The plumber will start at the meter and work inward, and can tell you whether the repair calls for a city permit. If the house is on a private onsite system, say so; a soggy yard over the drain field is a different problem from a leaking supply line, and the plumber will want to rule one out before chasing the other.