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The fastest way to find out if you have a hidden leak is a water meter leak test: turn off every fixture in the house, look at the meter, wait, and look again. If the numbers or the leak indicator moved while nothing was running, water is going somewhere it should not. Any homeowner in Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or anywhere in Baldwin County can run this test with no tools. It will not tell you where the leak is, but it tells you whether you have one, and that makes your call for professional leak detection faster and more useful.
The meter counts every gallon that comes into your home, whether you use it or not. A leak under a slab, inside a wall or out in the yard still runs through that meter. That is why a high water bill with no change in how you live is often the first sign of trouble.
Checking the meter first keeps you from guessing. You do not have to pull up flooring or cut into drywall to find out if there is a problem.
Here is the simple version we walk customers through on the phone:
If you have a smart meter or your utility has an online portal, your water provider may also show hourly use. Check with them if you are not sure how to read your meter.
If the leak indicator moved or the reading changed while nothing was on, you almost certainly have a leak somewhere past the meter. A fast spin usually points to a bigger leak. A slow creep can still waste a lot of water over a month.
If nothing moved, that is good news. You may not have a hidden leak right now, and a high bill could be from something else, like irrigation, a pool fill or a billing issue worth asking your utility about.
Before you call, a few checks can help narrow it down:
If none of that turns it up, the leak may be under the floor. A slab leak can hide for a long time before it shows up as a warm spot, a crack or damp flooring.
Call a plumber when the meter test shows a leak and you cannot find it with the simple checks above. Our leak detection services use equipment made to locate leaks inside walls, under slabs and underground without tearing things up to guess. Finding the spot first means a smaller repair.
Tell us what you saw on the meter when you call. That one detail helps us plan the visit. If you want a few steps to take while you wait, read what to do when you have a plumbing leak before you call us.
Some leaks should not wait for a regular appointment. Shut off your main water and call our emergency plumbing line if you see:
We serve homes across Baldwin County, including Gulf Shores plumbing customers, Foley and Orange Beach, 24/7.
About an hour with no water use is a good test. A spinning leak indicator can show a leak in just a few minutes.
Most homes have the meter in a ground box near the street or sidewalk. If you cannot find it, your water utility can tell you where it is.
The leak may be under the slab, in a wall or in the yard. That is when professional leak detection makes sense, so the leak is found before anything gets opened up.
Yes. A leaking flapper is one of the most common causes. Do the food coloring test before you call.
It is if water is showing up inside the house, near electrical or the pressure drops suddenly. Shut off the main and call right away.
If your meter is moving and you cannot find out why, let us find it. Gone Coastal Plumbing & Air is family owned, licensed (Master Plumber MP-3978, AL License #20169).
Call or text (251) 979-9396 or book online. At Gone Coastal, nothing is beyond our reach.
We offer 24/7 emergency services! Our team is ready and eager to assist you with any inquiries you may have. At Gone Coastal, nothing is beyond our reach.
