Dunwoody water comes from DeKalb County, which maintains the line through the meter; from the meter into the house, a leak is the owner's to fix. With so many homes from the 1970s, a plumber usually confirms the leak at the meter and then checks the aging valves and fittings first. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Dunwoody.
Dunwoody's neighborhoods took shape fast in the 1960s and 1970s. About 44% of homes were built before 1980, with roughly 28% from the 1970s alone, so many houses around Dunwoody Village and Georgetown still run on original supply piping and valves that are 45 to 55 years old. DeKalb County Watershed Management provides water and sewer; the city does not run its own system.
What to do right now
- Shut every tap, appliance and irrigation zone.
- Read the DeKalb meter and its leak indicator, wait an hour, then read again.
- If it moved, close the house shutoff and check again to split yard-line leaks from indoor ones.
- Check the water heater, under sinks and around toilets for drips or damp cabinet floors.
- If water is coming up at the meter or in the street, call DeKalb's 24-hour emergency repair line, 770-270-6243.
- If a ceiling is bulging or water is spreading, close the main and keep it off until help arrives.
Symptom and likely cause
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Meter turns with the house valve closed | Leak in the service line from the meter |
| Stain below an upstairs bath | Shower valve, drain joint or supply line |
| Main shutoff will not close fully | Worn original valve that may also weep |
| Damp basement wall near the front of the house | Service line leaking where it enters |
| Bill climbs every summer | Irrigation lateral or zone valve |
Cost factors
- Time to isolate the leak, which depends on how many shutoffs still work
- Access through a basement, crawl space, finished ceiling or slab
- Detection equipment such as acoustic sensors or thermal imaging
- The repair, which in Dunwoody falls under a single-trade component permit for stand-alone plumbing repairs; work may not begin until the permit is issued
- Any backflow work: homes with a separate irrigation tap need an assembly tested every year under DeKalb's program
When you call, you'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in Dunwoody. Have your meter readings and recent bills ready. If the house still has its original 1970s shutoff valves, mention it; replacing a valve that will not close is often part of the job.
Leak Detection questions in Dunwoody
Who pays to fix a leak between the meter and my house?
Will the plumber need to open walls or floors to find the leak?
Are hidden leaks more common in older homes here?
Do I need a permit to repair a leaking pipe?
More plumbing services in Dunwoody
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