Water Line Leak Detection in Arlington, TX

Water line leak detection finds a leak in the buried pipe that carries water from the city meter to your house, and in yard lines that feed sprinklers or a pool. A technician confirms the leak at the meter, traces the pipe and uses ground microphones to mark the spot within a foot or two. In Arlington it usually costs about $200 to $500. Call (817) 285-5426, 24/7.

Most Arlington homes have a service line that runs 30 to 100 feet under the front yard, the driveway or a sidewalk. Clay soil that swells after rain and shrinks in a drought puts steady stress on that pipe. Older galvanized and polybutylene lines crack first, but copper and PVC can fail at fittings too.

What are the signs of a water line leak?

The most common signs are a meter leak dial that moves with every tap off, a wet or extra-green strip of lawn between the street and the house, water pooling near the meter box, lower water pressure, a hissing sound at the main shut-off, and a water bill that jumped with no change in use. Sinking soil or a cracked sidewalk over the line can also point to a leak.

• The small leak dial on the meter keeps turning with everything off
• A soggy or bright green strip of grass in a dry week
• Water standing in the meter box after you empty it
• Pressure dropped at every faucet at the same time
• A hiss at the main shut-off valve near the front wall
• A bill from the City of Arlington that is much higher than last month

Is the leak in my line or the city's?

In Arlington, the city usually owns the meter and the pipe on the street side of it. You usually own the line from the meter to the house. If the leak is between the meter and your home, the repair is yours. If water bubbles up on the street side of the meter box, call Arlington Water Utilities first.

To check, close the main shut-off at the house and watch the meter's leak dial. If the dial stops, the leak is inside the house, often under the slab. If it keeps moving, the leak is in the buried line outside. Our waterline leak detection arlington guide walks through the full test.

How do you find a buried water line leak?

We start at the meter to confirm the flow, then find the path of the pipe with a line locator. Next, we pressure test the line on its own. Ground microphones listen for the sound of water escaping, and the loudest point marks the leak. On quiet plastic pipe, a tracer gas test can be used. The goal is one small dig, not a trench across the yard.

How much does water line leak detection cost in Arlington?

Water line leak detection in Arlington usually costs about $200 to $500. The price depends on how long the line is, whether it runs under a driveway or slab, and whether tracer gas is needed. Repair is priced separately once the leak is found. You get the price before any work starts.

Approximate ranges. Your exact price is confirmed before work begins.

Repair or replace the water line?

A single leak on a newer line is usually repaired in one small dig. If the line is old galvanized or polybutylene pipe, or it has leaked more than once, replacing it is often the better choice. Trenchless pulling can swap the line with little damage to the lawn or driveway. Our water line replacement guide compares both options.

What should you do while you wait?

1. Find the main shut-off near the front wall or garage and close it if water is pooling.
2. Take a photo of the meter reading and the wet area. It helps with a leak adjustment request.
3. Keep people and cars off soft ground over the line.
4. Turn off the sprinkler controller so you do not confuse a broken head with the leak.

If the meter box itself is full of water, see our guide on a water meter box leak to tell whose side it is on.