Your water main brings clean water into your home from your city’s public water supply. This main line runs underground, and if a crack or leak occurs in this main line, it can be difficult to identify immediately. These lines run at least 3 feet below ground, which means unless you know what you’re looking for, you won’t find the problem unless you dig deep to view the line. If you’re worried you might have a leak in your main line, we’ve put together this list of 8 symptoms that your water main is leaking.

1. Water Bill Increasing

A top symptom of a water main leaking is the increase in your monthly water bill. Unless you’ve had visitors staying in your home or you’ve started doing more laundry or taking more showers, you should typically see the same range of charges each month on your bill. If that amount has increased, especially if it’s by a substantial amount, you should contact your local friendly plumber to help detect if your main line is leaking.

2. Mold and Mildew

If a leak in your water main is small, the water will slowly seep from the pipe, and that water can soak into drywall, wood, or plaster in your home. When moisture like this accumulates in one area, mildew can develop as well as mold spores. You may be able to see obvious signs of a water leak which include bubbling wall paint, discolored spots on ceilings or walls, or damp floors or trim. Contact your professional plumbing company for help.

3. Odd Smells

Mold and mildew have a distinct smell, and it can hide under floors or behind walls. Because of this, it’s important to pay attention if you notice any strange smells in your Sandy home. It’s also important to keep an eye on the water coming from your faucets, because if the main line is broken, contaminants could be entering your home’s water supply. If your drains are clogged, a plumber can help you with drain cleaning. But, if the water coming from your taps start to smell odd, contact a plumber immediately to investigate.

4. Changing Water Color

As we mentioned above, if you have main line water leak, contaminants can enter the water that comes into your home through your plumbing. When the color of the water coming from your taps is a murky yellow or brown, or there’s debris that’s visible, these are indicators that you need a plumber immediately. A trustworthy plumber can identify the leak and help to advise you whether you need a water line flush or a line repair.

5. Foundation Cracks

If your water main is leaking, water can begin to seep into the porous materials that form your home’s foundation. This can cause your foundation to crack, eventually leading to crumbling, which could be dangerous and expensive. If you see your foundation of your home has cracks or splits in the concrete, contact an emergency plumber as soon as possible to correct the issues before this causes structural problems and can cause expensive damages to your house.

6. Low Water Pressure

Occasionally you may notice dips in your water pressure if you’re doing laundry or someone is showering at the same time you’re running your faucet in your home. But, if you notice you’ve lost water pressure overall in your home, even when no one else is using a water source at the same time, you likely have a water main leak. A skilled plumbing professional can help you stop the leak quickly and examine your water main to determine if a leak is the cause.

7. Puddling Water

One of the easiest ways to see if you have a plumbing leak is when you find dampness or puddles of water in or around your home. If you find the same areas continuing to show wetness such as around your sinks, water heater, washing machine, or outside of your home, without an explanation, it’s a sure sign your water line has a crack in it, and you should call your Sandy plumber immediately.

8. Recurring Clogs

The drains in your home can tend to clog over time, due to the mineral build up and drain debris. This is typical and can require drain cleaning to keep the lines running clear. But if you’re finding your drains in your home clogging constantly, even after you’ve cleaned the drains thoroughly, it can be a sign that water is leaking somewhere inside your home. Contact your plumber for drain cleaning immediately.

One option to help you as you investigate whether you have a water leak is to contact your local water company and request that they turn off the water at the curb valve outside your home. They may send an emergency team to assist you, or they might give you instructions on how you can shut off the water for your home. This will give you time to assess a few things.

If you’d rather seek professional help after you’ve noticed any of the above symptoms or indications of a water main break at your home, rest assured that your local trustworthy plumber can also help you. The expert plumbers at 1^st American Plumbing, Heating & Air can not only help you identify the leak, but they can help you repair the leak as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Contact 1^st American Plumbing, Heating & Air at (801) 477-5818.