Questions Boise Homeowners Ask About Hidden Leaks
Grouped by where people usually are when they call: still deciding whether it's a leak, trying to find it, sorting out whose problem it is, or dealing with the bill.
Is it a leak at all?
My bill doubled but nothing looks wet. What else could it be?
Check the irrigation schedule, a toilet that runs, a water softener stuck cycling, extra people in the house, and whether the bill used an estimated read. Then do the overnight meter check to see if water is moving with everything off.
What does a blue tag from Veolia mean?
It's a Veolia leak check notice. Run the meter check and keep the tag with your bills; the City of Boise asks for Veolia readings or a blue tag showing no leak with a leak adjustment request.
How long should I watch the meter?
Thirty to sixty minutes with no water use, or overnight for a slow leak. Watch the small leak indicator as well as the numbers.
Finding it
How does a tech find a leak under concrete or a lawn?
By splitting the plumbing into sections with valves, then listening with a ground microphone, scanning with a thermal camera, pressure-testing, or using tracer gas on buried plastic lines.
Will they have to cut my drywall?
Usually only a small opening at the spot that's been marked. The search itself happens from the outside.
Can a leak be found in winter with the ground frozen?
Frozen soil makes listening and digging harder, but isolation tests and thermal imaging still help narrow it down. Ask the company how they handle it.
Whose problem is it
The leak is between the meter and my house. Will Veolia fix it?
No. Veolia's tariff puts the line from the meter box to the building on the customer, to install and keep in repair at the customer's expense.
Can I turn off the valve in the meter box?
That valve, the curb stop, is Veolia's to operate except in an emergency. Use the shutoff where the line enters your house.
I'm renting. What should I do?
Tell the landlord or property manager in writing, with photos and dates. The owner usually arranges the repair. Keep copies.
Money and paperwork
What affects what leak detection costs?
The size and layout of the house, the type of leak, access to the pipe, how many sections need testing, and whether the repair happens on the same visit. There's a full post on cost factors.
Can I get part of my sewer charge back?
The City of Boise considers adjustments for increases between October 15 and April 15 caused by a leak, with Veolia readings or a blue tag and a repair invoice as proof.
Does homeowners insurance pay for finding a leak?
It depends on the policy. Many cover access and damage from a sudden leak but not slow leaks or the pipe itself. Ask your insurer early.
After it's found
Spot repair, reroute or replace the line?
It depends on the pipe material, its age and how many times it has failed. Galvanized lines are often replaced rather than patched.
Should a crawl space be dried after a leak?
Yes. Wet insulation and soil need to dry or be replaced. That's water damage work, usually a separate company.
Your call is handed to a Boise plumbing office, and the hand-off can leave a short silence. Leave the call open until a person comes on.