Leak Detection in Corona, CA

Clues that point to a leak

• Usage on your Corona Utilities bill climbing month over month
• The meter turning with all fixtures and the sprinklers off
• Sound of trickling water after everyone has gone to bed
• A warm or damp area in a slab floor
• Rust-colored or white mineral stains around valves and supply lines
• A toilet that refills by itself every so often
• Cracked grout or loose tile in a bathroom or kitchen floor that seems damp underneath

Leak conditions in Corona

The City of Corona Utilities Department runs the water system, and its Consumer Confidence Report rates the water as hard, averaging 146 mg/L (about 8.5 grains per gallon). Hard water leaves deposits that can keep faucet cartridges, shower valves and toilet fill valves from sealing fully. The water is disinfected with chloramines, which can wear some rubber parts, such as flappers and washers, faster than older chlorine-only water did.

Pressure is the other local factor. The city says pressure regulators are the customer's responsibility to replace when needed. A regulator that fails lets street pressure into the house, which strains every fitting and appliance hose, so a plumber checking for leaks will often put a gauge on a hose bib too.

The Utilities Department reports its service line inventory found no lead lines and no galvanized lines requiring replacement, and it asks customers to notify the utility before altering or replacing their service line.

Cost factors

• How much testing it takes to isolate the leak
• Where it is: slab, wall, ceiling or a buried line in the yard
• Whether the pressure regulator also needs to be replaced
• The repair method and any permit through the City of Corona Building Division, which takes applications online through eTRAKiT

When you call

You'll be connected with an independent plumber serving Corona. Expect the visit to start with a meter check and a pressure reading, then a quick look at toilets, faucets and the water heater before any section of pipe is tested. Tell them what you've noticed and whether the meter moves when the water is off. If you know your home's age or whether it has a pressure regulator, mention that too, since both shape where the plumber starts.