Better Call a Plumber

 A few months back we got a water bill that nearly knocked me off my feet.  It was SEVEN times higher than normal! 

I called the water department right away.  She did some sort of 'check' and chirped "It's on your side of the meter.  Better call a plumber." 

I was truly sick to my stomach envisioning a middle 4 digit repair bill.  You see, the idiots who built this house have the water meter set about 300 feet up the hill and thru the WOODS from our house (where it should have been about 50 feet if it had been placed intelligently).  In case you don't know, YOU are responsible for any problems on 'your side' of the meter.  And digging up a water line is a specialty plumber too.

I found a plumber who had good reviews and called to set an appointment.  BUT since monsoon season had just started they couldn't get to it for a week IF the rain stopped soon.  You can't find leak mud when everything is rain muddy.

The secretary did say hopefully that most leaks are right at the meter box...

... which is exactly what they found.  Thank you Jesus!!  That knocked a zero off of what I was afraid the bill would be.

And the last few bills have been about $10 lower than our previous averages for about a year.  It must have been dripping for a while and we just thought the price had gone up.

 

Muddy messy leak site.

Non-moving water meter shows the leak is fixed.

The job done!