Atlantis Leak Detection | Leak Repair Atlanta GA

PEX Pipe Problems in Georgia?

Recent reports and lawsuits have raised concerns about recurring leaks involving certain PEX plumbing systems in Georgia homes. Learn how to identify PEX piping, what warning signs to watch for, and what to do if your home develops a leak.

Learn About PEX Pipe Problems ⟶

Red and blue PEX plumbing running through the attic of a Georgia home.

Types of Leaks You Could Have

A house will typically have a lot of piping in it, and the larger the house, the more pipes you are apt to have in it. Here are some of the various types of leaks that can occur in your home:

A leak between the meter and your house – this common problem may very difficult to detect because there may not be any indication of a leak inside the house.
A leak in or under the slab – This one is even harder to detect because the water may never come to the surface of the slab. What makes it worse is that you do not know where to make a hole in the slab to start looking for it.
A leak in the crawl space under your home – You might be able to see this one if you are willing to look under your house for water on the ground. Fixing it is another story.
A leak in a water line in a wall – water lines often run in the walls in order to be kept out of sight. This includes water lines going to your kitchen, shower, bathrooms, etc. Water may be able to be detected along the lower part of the walls, and possibly on the floor.

A leak in water lines under the floor – at some point, water lines will often run under the floor. On the first floor, these may be hard to detect. On the second floor, water may be seen rather easily.
Water leaking from heating systems – When this happens, you may see water on the floor, dripping from one of the pipes leading to the furnace – but maybe not. You may also see steam.
A leak in your pool – This kind is often hard to detect, because the leak could be anywhere. It could be from the wall or bottom of the pool itself, or it could be from a line going to the pool.
A leak in lines running under your driveway – Some homes have water lines that run under their driveways. This could be difficult to find, but it helps if you know where the line is under the driveway.
A leak in your toilet – It may be surprising how much water could be lost in a toilet leak. This occurs if it does not seal properly at the bottom of the tank, causing water to continually drain out – and constantly refill.

Whenever you have any kind of leak, it is going to cost you more money than you really need to pay. Taking care of it quickly avoids letting the problem become worse and end up costing you considerably more money.

Symptoms of Plumbing Leaks

If you have a plumbing leak, there will often be some evidence of it somewhere. Being able to identify where the problem is will be half the battle. Getting to it is something else. Sometimes, it can be very frustrating when trying to find it, and you are well aware that it is costing you money while it is still leaking. Here are some things to look for:

High Water Bills

One of the first things that might tip you off is the size of the water bill. If it is unusually higher than normal, then you can either assume the water company made a mistake, or you might have a leak. You may want to call the water company first to verify that it was an actual reading of your meter, and not an estimate. Many water companies will only actually read your meter every other month, and average it in between months. Of course, averaging your bill should not result in an abnormally high bill.

It is in your best interest to try and find a leak – if there is one – or you may easily end up with two high water bills. Of course, an alternative would be to call an Atlanta leak detector, in order to help you find and fix the water leak faster.

When it comes to water leaks, it is generally the responsibility of the home owner to pay the bills for any water leaks on the house side of the meter. The water company will usually pay for damage on the other side.

Water in the Front Yard

If you have not seen any water leaking inside your home, it is quite possible that there is a water leak between the meter and your house. Check the ground over the pipe that leads into your house and see if it is damp or soft – and it has not been raining recently.

Reduced Water Pressure

Homes that are in areas that have a high water table are often built on top of concrete slabs. When a leak occurs under it, it can be difficult to find or know where the leak is actually located. One indication you might have a leak under your slab is reduced water pressure. It was good before, but now your water pressure is noticeably lower.

Sounds Like Running Water

Sometimes, even a leak under a slab can be heard if the leak is large enough. This may let you know that water is running – somewhere. This could be all the proof you need that water is leaking and that you need to find it and get it fixed. A leak under a slab, however, should be left to the Atlanta leak detector experts who can use high tech tools to detect its exact location and then only need to remove a small part of the slab – rather than making multiple holes at random.

If you are not sure whether there is a leak or not, you can do the following simple test. Make sure that no water is running in your home. Then look at your water meter and write down the number. Come back in 30 minutes to an hour and see if any water has been used. If it has moved, then you have a water leak; but you may want to turn off the water to your toilet tanks and then check it again. If they are the cause, then you should not find any movement of the meter after doing that. If there is still some movement of the meter, then you have a leak and need a professional leak detector to help you find it.

Causes of Plumbing Leaks

Sooner or later, most everyone that owns a home is going to have some kind of plumbing leak. Why this happens may not always be able to be determined, but plumbing systems are going to develop leaks at some point. Some of the causes may include:

Not Put Together Correctly – The materials used may be good, but if they are not made of the right materials or joined together with the right glues or other material, leaks can develop.
Water Contains Corrosive Minerals – In some places, the water contains minerals that simply eat away joints or pipes faster. This can include a lot of oxygen in the water or the pH level. These minerals do not necessarily mean that the water will taste bad. Pipes in the soil may also be exposed to various minerals that can eat away at pipes.
Houses Will Shift - Shifting of the land underneath a house can put stress on joints or pipes, and a crack may result.
Temperature changes – The ground under a home can freeze or expand, and so do pipes. This shifting in size can lead to cracks or holes eventually.
Faulty Materials – Older homes in particular may have used pipes that do not last as long as current materials. Today's pipe and plumbing materials will last a long time – but not forever.
Roots Getting Into Piping – Roots from trees and bushes can widen cracks in pipes and grow into them, causing even greater damage over time.

Problems with Polybutylene Pipes in the Southern States

Homes that were built in the South from 1978 until 1995 often used polybutylene piping throughout. It was believed to have been put into as many as 6 to 10 million homes. At the time, it appeared to be a choice material because it was somewhat flexible and that enabled plumbers to more easily install it than other materials.

The polybutylene pipes were used both inside and outside the house. They are stamped with the code "PB2110". The problem with the pipes is that it is believed that chemicals and oxidants in the water cause the pipes to corrode on the inside, which leads to it flaking apart. It seems that the leaks most often develop near the joints – and there may be many of these pipes in or near a house.

There has been many lawsuits over this issue, and in some cases, there still is not a resolution. Unfortunately, if you have polybutylene pipes in your home, this may lead to many water leaks throughout the house over the course of a year or more. Finding them quickly and fixing them is imperative to avoid high water bills.

Why You Need a Licensed Plumber Who Also Does Leak Detection

Fixing your water leak takes more than just being able to find it. You want someone who will not only find your leak, but also someone who can fix it, and do it right so that it lasts for years to come. You also want someone who will guarantee the work so that a costly repeat is not needed.

Professional licensed plumbers know the best materials to use when fixing a leak, and will fix it right the first time. Contact us for your Atlanta leak detector services today and let us put a stop to that leak right away.

SERVICE AREA

Atlanta
Marietta
Sandy Springs
Roswell
Alpharetta
Johns Creek
Smyrna
Decatur
Lawrenceville
Duluth
Douglasville
Woodstock

A map of Georgia with counties around Atlanta Metro and North Georgia highlighted.

QUICK LINKS

Our Services

Expert leak detection and repair services for homes and businesses throughout Greater Atlanta.

Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement

We Find Leaks.
We Fix Them.That's the Atlantis Difference.

Local. Family-Owned.
Experts You Can Trust.

Decades of Experience. Real Solutions.

Our Services Expert Leak Repair Services

Leak Detection

Water Leak Repair

Slab Leak Repair

Polybutylene Leak Repair

We Strive for 100%
Customer Satisfaction

24/7 Emergency Leak Detection

PEX Pipe Problems in Georgia?

Types of Leaks You Could Have

Symptoms of Plumbing Leaks

High Water Bills

Water in the Front Yard

Reduced Water Pressure

Sounds Like Running Water

Causes of Plumbing Leaks

Problems with Polybutylene Pipes in the Southern States

Why You Need a Licensed Plumber Who Also Does Leak Detection

SERVICE AREA

QUICK LINKS

Our Services

We Find Leaks. We Fix Them.That's the Atlantis Difference.

Local. Family-Owned. Experts You Can Trust.

Decades of Experience. Real Solutions.

Our Services Expert Leak Repair Services

Leak Detection

Water Leak Repair

Slab Leak Repair

Polybutylene Leak Repair

We Strive for 100%Customer Satisfaction

24/7 Emergency Leak Detection

PEX Pipe Problems in Georgia?

Types of Leaks You Could Have

Symptoms of Plumbing Leaks

High Water Bills

Water in the Front Yard

Reduced Water Pressure

Sounds Like Running Water

Causes of Plumbing Leaks

Problems with Polybutylene Pipes in the Southern States

Why You Need a Licensed Plumber Who Also Does Leak Detection

SERVICE AREA

QUICK LINKS

Our Services

We Find Leaks.
We Fix Them.That's the Atlantis Difference.

Local. Family-Owned.
Experts You Can Trust.

We Strive for 100%
Customer Satisfaction