Finding a Water Leak in Alpharetta

01Signs you may have a leak

Fulton County's conservation page says that if you notice a sudden spike or a steady rise in your water bill without explanation, a leak may be to blame, and it names the toilet as one of the most common culprits. Other signs are the sound of running water when nothing is on, damp patches on walls or ceilings, a soggy spot in the yard between the meter and the house, or a water heater that drips.

The County's leak checklist, built on EPA WaterSense material, suggests starting with your winter bills: it says a family of four probably has a serious leak problem if its winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month. EPA WaterSense estimates the average family can waste 180 gallons per week, or 9,400 gallons per year, from household leaks.

02Fulton County's meter test

The County's water services FAQ gives a simple method. First, make sure no water is being used inside or outside the house. Find your meter; if you do not know where it is, call Water and Sewer Billing and Collections Customer Service at 404-612-6830. Check the leak indicator, which on many meters is a small triangular dial that rotates when water flows. If it is moving, chances are you have a leak.

If your meter has no indicator, take a reading, wait one or two hours without using any water, and take another. The County says that if the reading has changed, you have a leak. Write the readings down; they are useful to a plumber and to a later leak adjustment request.

03Inside or outside?

Next, the County says to close the home's main shut-off valve, which is typically in the basement or garage behind an outdoor faucet, or outside below an outdoor faucet. Repeat the test. If the indicator stops or the readings do not change, the leak is inside the house. If the indicator keeps moving or the readings change, the leak is outside, between the meter and the house.

Both of those locations are on the owner's side. Fulton County says the property owner owns the service line from the meter to the building. A leak in that yard line is the owner's responsibility to repair, and the County's lateral flyer notes that many homeowners do not realise this until they get the bill. If the County's test points to the yard line, a plumber will usually need to dig, and Georgia 811 asks anyone digging to contact 811 first.

04Common inside leaks

Inside the house, the checklist points to worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets and leaking showerheads as easy-to-correct leaks. A running toilet can waste a large volume without making much noise. Other sources include a water heater relief valve that drips, a slab or wall leak in a supply line, an ice maker line behind a refrigerator, and irrigation zones that do not fully close.

If you cannot find the leak after the meter test, the County says you may need to call a plumber. A plumber can trace leaks inside walls, under floors and underground. We do not publish leak detection prices, because there is no primary source for them; a Free Quote Request lets independent licensed plumbers contact you with their own quotes.

05What a leak costs at Fulton County rates

Leaked water goes through the meter and is billed like any other water. From April through October Fulton County uses three residential tiers based on your winter average, and sewer volume is charged per 1,000 gallons. Our leak cost calculator uses the County's 2026 rates to estimate what a measured leak adds to a summer bill, and the high bill guide explains the tiers.

Fixing a leak quickly matters for the bill as well as the house. Fulton County's leak adjustment policy covers leaks classified as non-routine and not preventable by proper maintenance, and a credit usually reduces rather than eliminates the charge.

06Monitoring and prevention

Fulton County's conservation page suggests smart leak detectors for continual monitoring, from point sensors near appliances to in-line flow monitors that can alert you to a leak and even shut off water in an emergency. The County also offers a Water Efficiency Assessment with personalised recommendations for residential and commercial customers.

In Roswell, Roswell Water Utility customers can use the City's AquaHawk water monitoring service, which the City links from its water utility page; see Roswell plumbing help. For burst lines and emergencies, start with our emergency steps.