Montebello, CA 90640
Leak detection in Northridge Tract
In a Northridge Tract home, an unexplained rise in usage on the water bill can be an early clue to a hidden leak. Here is how that clue can be followed through.
Step one: is usage really up?
Look at the quantity used, not the dollar total. Divide by the days in the billing period and compare with the same time last year. A longer period, an estimated read or a new rate can make a bill look worse without any change in use.
Step two: meter, then inside or outside
With irrigation off and nobody using water, a meter that keeps moving suggests water is going somewhere. It doesn't say where. The next question is whether the loss is between the meter and the house, or inside the home.
Wet ground between the street and the house points toward the service line; indoor signs like a warm floor or damp wall point inside. Many cases have no visible sign at all, which is when tracing and listening matter most.
Step three: locate, then decide
Once the area is narrowed down, a finding should explain the suspected location and confidence. Repair and restoration are decided after that, not before.
Where to go next
- High water bill guide — for the meter observation
- Underground water leaks — for meter-to-house lines
- Leak detection in Montebello — how the whole process works
- Service area — Montebello neighborhoods, surrounding communities and supplier notes
- Contact — what to have ready when you call