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The water main is the plumbing that connects the Mansfield, TX city’s water supply to your home’s plumbing. It’s usually located outside and underneath your property. In most cases, the water main should be sturdy and durable; however, it is susceptible to physical damages and to tree root intrusions. Many homeowners don’t think about their water line often, and they really don’t think about whether they need to replace their water line at all.

However, all good things come to an end. If your water main is leaking, it might be time to replace it. If the damage is still mild and easy to deal with, it might be repairable. However, the key to less stress and headaches is to catch signs of a water main leak early on. You definitely don’t want to figure out that the water main is leaking when it’s too late. By then, you’ll need to deal with not only the plumbing, but also the landscape of your home and any water damage that the structural components of the home may have sustained.

In this article, we’ll look at 8 of the most common signs of a water main leak. If you suspect that you’re dealing with a water main leak, the first thing that you should do is call an emergency plumber in Mansfield, TX.

#1. Unexplained High Water Bills

If there’s a water main leak, the first thing that you might notice is that your water bills have skyrocketed despite there being no change at all to the way that you use your utilities. In fact, you’ll notice that the water bills will skyrocket to a point that seems almost impossible. No matter how you calculate your water usage, it will definitely not even appear to be close to what it could be at the high end.

If the main water line is leaking, a considerable amount of water is likely entering the water line and onto your property. At the beginning, the ground might soak up the water or it may find another avenue to drain from, so you might not necessarily notice that there’s a problem from the outside. However, when your water bills come, you’ll definitely notice a difference.

The first thing that you should do is get a plumber in Mansfield, TX to come take a look at the problem. The plumbing professional will have a lot of different equipment and tools at their disposal. They’ll be able to check the water usage of all of your appliances in order to determine what a reasonable range is. If the plumber suspects that you have a water main leak, they’ll also be able to use various types of equipment to check. Not only will they be able to tell you the extent of the leak, but they should also be able to tell you where the leak is located.

From that information, the plumber should be able to provide you with a game plan on what to do next. They’ll also be able to let you know whether repairing the water main will be a difficult job or a moderately easy fix.

Check Your Water Meter

One of the easiest ways that you can try to solve the riddle yourself is to look at your water meter. Your water meter should give you some answers as to how much water is being used by your home.

You can also turn off the water supply and then check the water meter to see whether it still says that water is being used. If no one in the home is using any water or if none of the plumbing appliances are on, then there’s a good chance that you have a main water line leak and should contact a professional. This is also one of the easiest ways to narrow down the culprit of a large water bill. If you notice that the meter says that water is still being used despite the fact that no one in the home is using any water, then there aren’t many other possible culprits.

#2. Low Water Pressure

Another early sign of a main water line leak is if you notice that the water pressure in your home has dropped significantly for no reason at all. Although you might have had great pressure coming from your sinks or shower heads just the day before, you’ll notice that only a trickle of water is coming out nowadays. It might not even be enough for you to comfortably shower depending on the extent of the leak.

Low water pressure can be a sign of many different things. It may not necessarily be caused by a main water line leak. For example, it can also be caused by leaks in other areas of the plumbing or even an obstruction somewhere in the plumbing. If there is a tree root intrusion blocking the flow of water, you’ll also notice that the water pressure may drop quite significantly.

Contact a plumber the moment that you notice that the water pressure has dropped, as it’s usually a sign that there’s something wrong. The Mansfield, TX plumber will be able to inspect your entire plumbing system in order to better determine what the cause of the problem may be. Depending on the area that has low water pressure, they might even be able to narrow down the cause to only several options.

In general, if you notice that the water pressure only affects one faucet or shower head, it usually means that there’s an obstruction or a problem somewhere nearby. However, if you notice that the entire home has low water pressure, the problem may be something much more sinister, like a main water line leak. Even if it’s not a main water line leak, the problem is likely somewhere near the main water line, as it affects the entire home.

#3. Weird Water Sounds

Although this may not always be the case, some people claim that they hear weird water sounds coming from their plumbing when there’s a leak in the water main. Depending on the extent of the leak, the sound may be a hissing sound or a gurgling sound. Naturally, a gurgling sound will be an indication that there’s something much larger at bay and that the main water line leak is probably going to be a handful to deal with.

With that said, many things can make weird water sounds, which is also why you’ll need to find a plumber to diagnose the problem. At times, older plumbing may naturally make weird sounds even though nothing is technically wrong. The weird sounds are, however, an indication that the plumbing is getting older and that something may go wrong in the future. In some cases, some plumbers may recommend that you repipe your entire home. This is also a great opportunity for you to switch to some newer plumbing materials if you live in an older home. Some newer plumbing materials may be more durable and sturdy, so they’ll last longer. They’ll also improve the overall resale value of your home if you ever put it on the market. Potential buyers love knowing that the home has been re-piped. This will usually mean that they are less likely to have to deal with any plumbing problems in the near future.

#4. Water and Puddles in the Street or in Your Yard

If there’s a main water line leak, the water has to go somewhere. In the beginning, the ground may soak up some of that water and you may notice that some areas of your yard seem to be thriving. This could be because the plants and trees that are directly on top of the leak are getting more water. However, as time goes on, the soil will no longer be able to soak up all of that water. Instead, you’ll start to notice water and puddles either in your yard or leaking out onto the street.

This is usually a good sign that there’s a main water line leak, and the plumber will usually look for the leak nearby. For example, if there is a very obvious puddle in your yard that never seems to go away even when it’s sunny, there’s a good chance that the leak is located directly underneath that area. Most plumbers will just drill directly downward in order to see where the leak may be located. Even if the leak is not directly underneath the puddle, it’s likely somewhere very close.

By the time that you notice water and puddles in the street or the yard, it may be an indication that the main water line has been leaking for some time. It really depends on the extent of the leak. if the main water line burst out of nowhere, puddles could appear within several days. However, if the main water line has a little leak, it could take some time for the water to accumulate and become noticeable.

It’s important that you fix the leak as soon as possible by calling a plumber. By the time that you notice water and puddles in your yard or in the street, the problem is considered to be quite substantial. You should call an emergency plumber who can drop everything that they’re doing to come fix your situation. Depending on the extent of the leak, the repairs can also be rather costly. After all, you might need to hire a landscaper to come fix your yard and a contractor to rebuild some parts of your home.

#5. Puddles in Your Home

If the main water line leaked at an area that’s close to your home, the water may even seep into the foundation of your home and into your home. You might start to notice puddles in your basement that seemingly come from nowhere. This is a huge problem and you’ll need to call not only a plumber, but also a contractor. The main concern is that the water may have seeped into the foundation and substantially damaged it.

Water damage is one of the worst problems that you’ll ever have to deal with. Not only is the damage extensive, but, in some cases, it may be irreversible. In some severe cases, the water will have completely ruined the foundation of your home, so it has nothing to support it. It might not even be safe to continue living on your residence, and you might have to tear it down and get a contractor to rebuild the foundation.

If you’re not sure who to call, ask the plumber. Most plumbers are quite well-connected and will be able to connect you to the right professionals who can assess your situation to determine whether your home is still habitable or not.

Our Plumbers Can Help!

A water main leak is considered a plumbing emergency. If you don’t get the water line repaired immediately, the water that’s flooding out of the water line can do a substantial amount of damage to your property. In fact, depending on how long the problem persists, some of the damage may be beyond repair. You might need to find a contractor to tear down some structural components of your home, as the water may have critically impaired the structural integrity of these areas.

When you’re looking for an emergency plumber in Mansfield, TX, time is of the essence. You want to find a professional who can drop everything and get to you immediately. You also want to ensure that you’re working with a reputable plumbing company that knows what they’re doing. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth won’t let you down. Our plumbers have dealt with a wide range of plumbing issues and problems, and you’ll be happy to see that we’ve had a lot of customers rave about our service!

For more information, give us at Benjamin Franklin of Fort Worth a call at 817-983-7876! You can also schedule an appointment online if you’re dealing with a minor plumbing issue like a clogged drain. Our plumbers in Mansfield, TX will get to you right away!