Cartersville runs its own water utility, drawing from Lake Allatoona, and its housing runs older than the I-575 suburbs. A plumber can confirm a leak with a meter test, separate the yard line from indoor plumbing and pinpoint the source. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Cartersville.
The Bartow County seat has an older housing stock than most of the northwest metro: the median home was built in 1990, and about 33% predate 1980. The City of Cartersville Water Utility draws from Lake Allatoona, taking water from one of three elevations on the face of Allatoona Dam, and collects wastewater through more than 170 miles of sewer lines.
What to do now
- Turn off every faucet, appliance and irrigation zone.
- Read the city meter, wait an hour without using water, and read it again.
- If it moved, close the main shutoff at the house and recheck. If the meter still moves, the leak is likely in the yard line.
- Check each toilet with food coloring in the tank, and look under sinks and around the water heater.
- If water is surfacing at the meter or in the street, call the city water utility at 770-387-5607.
- If water is spreading indoors, close the main and keep it off until help arrives.
Symptom and likely cause
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Meter moves with the main closed | Service line leak between meter and house |
| Rusty water at the first draw | Aging galvanized pipe in older homes |
| Damp crawl space with no rain | Supply or drain leak under the floor |
| Color in the toilet bowl after a dye test | Worn flapper |
| Warm spot on a tile floor | Hot water line in the slab |
Cost factors
- How quickly the leak can be isolated, especially in homes with older valves
- Crawl space, slab or basement access
- Detection equipment needed
- The repair, and a city permit through the Cartersville Building Department's CityView portal
We did not find a published Cartersville rule on exactly where the city's part of the service line ends, so call the utility first if the wet spot is right at the meter. Cartersville also runs its own natural gas system. If a leak search turns up a gas smell, leave the house and call the City of Cartersville Gas System at 770-387-5642, or 911, from a neighbor's home. Some outlying addresses may be on Atlanta Gas Light instead, so check your gas bill.
Leak Detection questions in Cartersville
Can a plumber help if I smell gas?
Are hidden leaks more common in older homes here?
Who do I call if water is coming up in the street or sidewalk?
Should I shut off the water while I wait for the plumber?
More plumbing services in Cartersville
Leak Detection nearby
Helpful guides
Sources
Last updated: