Long Beach · $150–$500
High water bill in Long Beach? Finding the leak
Long Beach Utilities combines water, sewer and gas on one bill, and sewer charges often follow water use. A hidden leak can raise two lines of the bill at once.
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Pinpoint locating
Acoustic, thermal, tracer gas
Price ranges up front
Know the range before they come
Read the statement first
Find the water usage figure (billing units of hundred cubic feet) and compare it with the same billing period a year ago. A gas increase in winter is normal; a water increase with no change at home isn't. Because sewer charges are commonly based on water use, a leak can push both up.
Long Beach-specific suspects
- Older crawlspace homes: a dripping joint under the floor, often on galvanised or early copper pipe
- East Long Beach slab homes: a slab leak on the original hot line
- Coastal homes: corroded hose bibs and water heater fittings that drip constantly
- Duplexes and backhouses: a long line to the rear unit, sometimes very old
- Condos: a leak in your unit's line inside a shared wall
The meter test, for crawlspace homes
- 1
Turn everything off
Taps, appliances, irrigation, any rear unit's fixtures.
- 2
Watch the low-flow dial
If it moves, water is leaving the system.
- 3
Check the crawlspace
With a flashlight, look along pipe runs for drips, wet soil or mineral deposits at joints. Don't crawl in if there's standing water near wiring.
- 4
Close the house valve
If the meter still moves, the leak is on the service line outside.
Asking for an adjustment
Call Long Beach Utilities customer service once the leak is repaired. Have the dates and the plumber's invoice ready; adjustments generally depend on prompt repair.
Rear units and older lines
Long Beach has many lots with a second unit at the back: a duplex, a converted garage or a small rear house. Often the water line to that unit branches off the main service and runs under the yard or driveway. These lines were frequently added years after the house was built and may be older galvanised pipe or have several joints.
If closing the main house valve stops the meter but closing the rear unit's valve doesn't, the leak is in the rear unit or its line. Many Long Beach plumbers start with exactly that test, and it can save a lot of searching.
Questions people ask
Why did my sewer charge go up too?+
Sewer charges are often calculated from water use, so a leak that raises water usage can raise the sewer line as well.
My duplex shares one meter. How do I know which unit is leaking?+
A plumber can close valves to each unit in turn and watch the meter to isolate the leaking side.
Is a crawlspace leak an emergency?+
Not usually, but standing water near electrical wiring is a hazard. Shut off the water and keep out of the crawlspace until it's checked.