Think I Have A Leak Somewhere?

[Monkey Wrench]

Wife called me today all in a tizzy. Said the water company called her today to ask if we had noticed any unusual water usage or been using more water than usual over the last three months.

She said the only additional thing we've done is turn the irrigation system on for the lawn, but that we only run it for two hours, twice a week.

Water company says their records indicate a three month usage of 160,000 GALLONS of water!

So, I've got the sprinkler servicing company coming out next week to hunt for a leak, as that has to be the place it is.

I about fainted when I heard 160,000 gallons! Like I need this headache!

 

[dougc]

lol that is funny. I am a service tech for a sprinkler company. If I am well to bet that you would save a ton of money if you tryed to find the leak yourself and then repaired it. IT is easy to find a leak cause you will see a TON of water coming out from the ground. The leak could be from the heads or even a PVB... The thing that comes out of the house. Once you find the leak home depot or lowes will have everything you need.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

That's the problem, there is no standing water anywhere in the yard or where the water line exits the house and enters the lawn. All the valves are in the basement, so I have no clue where it could be leaking.

 

[beason]

I'm sorry bro but 160,000 gallons? cmon man you would notice that!!!! they bust have a glitch! your house would have floated away (or sank in a sink hole) by now!

 

[HeartBreak]

Agreed - that much water, you'd have Lake Monkey Wrench. Even over three months time, that's 53,333 gallons a month, 1,777 gallons a day, 74 gallons an hour, or 1.25 gallons a minute. That's a VERY big leak.

With that much water flowing, over that much time, you'd have nothing short of a small lake in your yard.

 

[NvNitro]

Water companys have been known to make mistakes, thats right..a mistake. They won't admit it, but its worth a shot. Make them prove you have been using that much water, and not just by the meters either, they can send false readings too. Sounds like they made a big mistake, They will try and slip ( no pund intended ) the responsibilty to you, to prove them wrong.

 

[vbgagnon]

either that or this is your cave....

 

[Greyryder]

Sounds like the leak might be before the water actually gets to your house.

We have a confirmed leak. The drain line for the toilet in our main bathroom, is leaking into the ceiling in the half bath in our basement. We've tried replacing the wax seal, but it didn't help. We're about to pull down the soggy drywall, and see where the leak is. Then, we're probably going to call in a plumber.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

I'm with ya, fellas! They are sending someone out to check the meter and I am having a lawn irrigation servicing company visit to pressure test the system (and do a few maintenance items to boot) so we'll see.

I closed the valves to the system just to be sure, but I'm stumped!

 

[Revo Rancher]

Go to the street, pull the lid on your water meter cover and see if the meter is running. Then, turn off water at the house main. Check meter, if still running, then turn off water a street at meter. If it still runs, meter is jacked up. If it stops, then leak is between street (meter) and house. Otherwise, leak is after house main valve (your sprinklers or house plumbing).

I got a bill once for 4800.00. Called county and asked for ending meter reading from prior month. Then told them to come read the meter again as they added a few digits. They did, corrected bill.

 

[WoodiE]

LoL - I'd pass out if I got a bill for $4800.

 

[Revo Rancher]

It's kinda like in the old days of analog cell phones when three times I got my cell phone in a large manila envelope with 500 pages in it. Damn cell number cloning pirates!

MW, let us know if my test reveals anything.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

I'll give it a shot tonight, thanks for the tip! Wife talked with the water company this morning and so far, we're on the hook for about $1500.00 water bill. They said they'll "eat" some of it, but we need to supply all this documentation, blah, blah, blah. Still don't know if they've come to inspect the meter.

The upside is, the lawn system attaches right into the main after it enters the house (it's the first splice off the main) and it has it's own valve. Last night, I turned the valve for the system closed, then opened again and could feel the water flowing through the pipe, even thought the system was not on. Granted, not a scientific method of determining, but I checked all the toilets, showers, sinks and bath tubs in the house an none were leaking or on. Also checked the two exterior faucets and none were leaking or on either.

Has to be the lawn system, but I'll be damned if I can find any pooling or puddling anywhere! There's almost have to be as the soil around the house is more or less clay, wouldn't you think?

One more thing I need to check is where I attach the air hose to blow the system out. Maybe the one-way valve is stuck open or something.

I'm just pissed because this cost was not in the budget and it may poop-can my East Coast bash plans!

 

[Revo Rancher]

In CA our lawn sprinkler systems typically work in multiple stations, and each station has it's own electric or manual valve, with anti-siphon valves in each (required by code) If you have such a system, then a simple leak would keep the valves closed as it would create a vacuum.

Anyhow, my test will at least tell you if it is a leak at the house end, between the main water valve and your house, or the WC valve is fubar and is the responsibility of the WC.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Leak is definitaley a result of the lawn sprinkler system. Meter was constantly turning when I opened the valve that fed the system and would not move when the valve was closed. Just to double check, I had my wife turn a faucet on inside while I watched the meter. Meter moved when the faucet was on and stopped when she turned it off.

I'll be checking the valves over the weekend, see if I can at least find the culprit.

 

[Revo Rancher]

Oooouuuucccchhhhh!!!!!!!! That means the bill is yours. Remember, everything in life is negotiable.

 

[Karl M]

I don't doubt that you have a leak in the system but 160,000 gallons? Your yard should be looking like a lake of at least a very soft spot. Are you certain they didn't add an extra zero?

 

[dougc]

I could not even begin to think what 160000 gallons of water would look like. Like I said if you find out where it is leaking I bet you could fix it for half the money a sprinkler would.

 

[jetmechG550]

Hey Monkey, do it yourself and don't say anything to the water company. let em think it was a glitch or something but if you don"t provide them with any proof of replacement parts or service orders they can't prove you had the leak. 160K is pretty high, someone would have noticed at the first reading if it occurred over a couple months. if it was one month, your neighbors houses would have floated away as well as yours.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Well, I figured out both where the leak was coming from and why I never noticed it.

Turns out the one-way valve that is used to blow the system out in the winter had failed, allowing water to leak out the valve. Fairly easy fix, but I have to find out the right part because there are no part numbers on the failed valve. I think it's a Rainbird valve, but I'm going to have to visit a few irrigation part houses and see what I can find.

Now, as to why I never noticed. The valve sits right outside the foundation wall, just about at the footer. When I turned the water on to verify the valve leaked, the water seeped straight down and no doubt, hit the sump troughs and worked its way to the sump pump/pit.

So, that's where I stand! Now, I need to work with the water company to work out a way of paying it off in installments without them turning my water off!