Leak Detection in Milton, GA

Signs to watch for

• A Fulton County bill that jumps with no change in use
• On a well, the pump kicking on with every fixture closed
• A long strip of soft ground along the line from the street or well to the house
• Barn or outbuilding lines that drip or freeze in winter
• Stains, warped flooring or a musty closet near a bathroom
• Irrigation zones that leave puddles days later

What is different in Milton

Milton is a rural, equestrian city with large-lot zoning, horse farms and upscale subdivisions. The city's Public Works page says residents get water either privately or through Fulton County. For county customers, Fulton County Water Services repairs the line from the main to the meter, and the owner is responsible from the meter to the house. On large lots, that private run can be long, and a leak in it may show up only as a soggy strip or a bill that creeps up. Drinking water emergencies in north Fulton go to 770-640-3040.

Many Milton homes are also not on municipal sewer and use private onsite wastewater systems, so a wet area in the yard is not always a supply leak. The housing is young, with a median build year of 2002 and roughly two-thirds built from 1990 to 2009, so most indoor leaks start at fittings, supply hoses and valves rather than worn pipe. Lines to barns, pastures and pools add more pipe to check.

What affects the cost

• Length of the buried line from the meter or well to the house and outbuildings
• Whether the leak is indoors, under a slab or somewhere on a large property
• Pressure testing and acoustic equipment to narrow a long run
• The repair, and permits through Milton's CityView portal, which handles all construction permits in the city

What happens when you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in Milton. Tell them whether the home is on county water or a private well, how long the service line runs, and whether there are lines to a barn or pool. On a well, have a note of when the pump has been running; on county water, bring two meter readings taken an hour apart.