In Austell, whether your water comes from the city or from Cobb County depends on the address, so the bill tells you who to call about the meter. A plumber handles everything on the house side: confirming the leak, isolating it and finding the exact spot. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Austell.
Austell runs its own water system, buying wholesale from the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority and serving about 3,300 customers in an area bounded roughly by Clay Road, the Douglas County line, Noses Creek and Buttermilk Creek. Many homes with an Austell mailing address sit outside that area in unincorporated south Cobb and are likely on Cobb County Water System instead. Housing in the city is older than the metro average for Cobb, with about 41% of homes built before 1980.
What to do now
- Look at your water bill to see whether it comes from the City of Austell or Cobb County.
- Shut off all fixtures and take a meter reading, then check it again after an hour of no use.
- If the meter moves, close the main valve at the house. Movement that continues points to the buried service line.
- Check the obvious spots: under sinks, around the water heater, behind the washer and at each toilet.
- For a street-side break on city water, call the city Water Division field office at (770) 944-4336; City Hall is (770) 944-4300.
Signs and likely causes
| What you notice | Usual cause |
|---|---|
| Puddle at the base of the water heater | Leaking relief valve, fitting or a failing tank |
| Musty crawl space with damp insulation | Drip from a supply line or drain under the floor |
| Stain spreading on a ceiling | Leak at a tub, shower valve or upstairs supply line |
| Meter turning with the house shut off | Break in the yard line from the meter |
| Toilet refilling on its own | Worn flapper or fill valve |
What drives the cost
- How the house is built: slab, crawl space or basement
- Time spent isolating branches and listening for the leak
- Whether the source is in a wall, a floor or the yard
- The repair, and whether it needs a city permit; Austell requires permits to install, alter or replace plumbing, gas or drain piping and water heating equipment, applied for through its online portal
Older Austell homes near Sweetwater Creek also carry a history of flooding, notably in 2009, and past water damage can hide new leaks. Tell the plumber if the house has flooded before.
Leak Detection questions in Austell
How do I know which water utility serves my address?
Are hidden leaks more common in older homes here?
Can a plumber help if I smell gas?
Will the plumber need to open walls or floors to find the leak?
More plumbing services in Austell
Leak Detection nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: