Run These Two Quick Checks First
Gwinnett County gives homeowners two simple tests to confirm a leak.
The water meter sits in the front yard under a metal cover. Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources suggests a two-hour test. Turn off every faucet and appliance that uses water, record the meter reading, wait two hours and read it again. If the leak-indicator wheel moves or the reading changes, water is escaping somewhere.
For toilets, add a few drops of dye to the tank, wait 30 minutes without flushing and look in the bowl. Color in the bowl means the flapper is leaking. The county notes that a running toilet can waste more than 200 gallons a day, and that leaks overall can waste more than 10,000 gallons a year.
Keep the meter box clear of objects within one foot so the meter can be read and reached.
Water Pouring Through a Ceiling? Do This Now
Active leaks need fast action.
- Shut off the main water valve: It is near where the line enters the house or in the meter box.
- Turn off power in wet areas: Use the breaker if outlets or fixtures are in the water path.
- Catch and redirect water: Buckets and towels protect floors and belongings.
- Photograph everything: Pictures support an insurance claim.
- Call (770) 214-4545: Dispatch answers nights, weekends and holidays.
How We Find a Leak You Cannot See
Several tools work together, so the opening is small.
- Pressure test the system: A drop in pressure with fixtures off confirms a leak and shows how large it is.
- Listen with acoustic gear: Sensitive microphones pick up the sound of water escaping from pressurized pipe.
- Scan with thermal imaging: Temperature patterns show wet material behind walls and under floors.
- Inspect by camera where it helps: A small camera can see inside drain lines and through small openings.
- Mark the spot: We tell you exactly where to open, so the repair is a patch and not a demolition.
Suspect a hidden leak?
Call the 24/7 line. We will test, locate and quote the repair before opening anything.
Signs of a Hidden Leak
Your house usually tells you before the bill does.
A water bill that rises with no change in habits is the most common sign. Others include the sound of running water when every tap is off, damp or warm spots on a floor, a musty smell and a meter that moves with everything shut.
The EPA says the average household wastes more than 9,300 gallons a year to leaks, and that about 9 percent of homes leak 50 gallons or more a day. Small drips matter because they run all day. A faucet dripping once a second can waste over 3,000 gallons a year.
Once the leak is located, any repair to the piping falls under Georgia's state minimum plumbing code, which uses the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) as its base. The detection report helps you decide on the repair with clear facts in hand.
Who Fixes What: County Line and House Line
The meter marks the dividing line.
| Location | Who is responsible | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Main and service line up to the meter. | Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources. | Call the county's 24/7 dispatch. |
| Pipes and fixtures on the house side of the meter. | The homeowner. | Hire a plumber. |
| Pressure reducing valve inside the home. | The homeowner. | We test and replace if needed. |
Gwinnett County offers a leak adjustment on water bills once every 12 months, so ask the county about it after the repair. A leak that runs under the yard between the meter and the house is often a water line repair. One that runs under a concrete floor may be a slab leak.
What Changes the Price of Leak Detection
Access and scope drive the work.
- Size of the propertyA small home is quick to test. A large house or multi-unit building takes longer.
- Leak locationA leak behind drywall is simpler than one under a slab or in the yard.
- Methods neededA simple pressure test costs less time than a full acoustic and thermal survey.
- Hour of the callEmergency calls at night or on weekends include after-hours labor.
You hear the price before we start, and the detection fee is separate from any repair so you can decide next steps.
Leaks in Peachtree Corners Homes
Local housing shapes where leaks hide.
Houses built in the 1970s are now over fifty years old, so original supply lines and fittings may be reaching the end of their service life. About 21 percent of homes in the city sit in buildings with two to nine units, and a leak in one unit can reach another. Condo and townhome owners should tell neighbors and their association quickly.
Our crews also cover Dunwoody across the county line, where DeKalb County Watershed Management runs a separate water utility, so the first call for a main line problem differs by address.
Leak Detection Questions in Peachtree Corners
Yes. The line at (770) 214-4545 is open around the clock, including holidays. Dispatch gives you the earliest window when you call.
Watch for a rising water bill, the sound of running water when everything is off, damp or warm floors and a meter that moves with all fixtures closed. A two-hour meter test is a good first check.
Not at first. We locate the leak with listening and thermal tools, then open only the small area that needs repair.
Yes. Gwinnett County treats pipes and fixtures on the customer side of the meter as the owner's responsibility.
Yes. Even a small constant leak adds up over a billing cycle. A running toilet alone can waste more than 200 gallons a day.
Yes. We handle the repair in the same visit when we can, or book the next available slot. For bursts under pressure, see burst pipe repair.