Leak Detection in Highlands Ranch, CO

How the call works

You will be connected with an independent plumber who covers Highlands Ranch. Tell them how long your water use has been up, whether the meter moves with everything off and where you have noticed damp spots. Since most homes here were built from the 1980s on, the plumber will likely start with connections and appliances before suspecting the pipe itself.

The visit usually begins at the meter, then moves to closing valves so each part of the house can be checked on its own. Once one branch is losing pressure, acoustic equipment, moisture meters or thermal imaging can narrow the spot so any opening in drywall or flooring stays small.

What moves the price

• Time spent isolating the leaking branch
• Access in finished basements, which are common here
• Whether the leak is under a slab, inside a wall or along the yard line
• The repair itself, from a fitting to a replaced length of pipe
• Any Douglas County permit the repair calls for

Local conditions

Highlands Ranch is a master-planned community developed from the 1980s onward and is unincorporated, so Douglas County, not a city, issues building permits. The Highlands Ranch Metro District says its own approval is required before Douglas County will issue building permits.

Highlands Ranch Water, run through Centennial Water and Sanitation District, serves every property in the Highlands Ranch and Solstice communities. The district owns the meters and maintains the service line from the main through the curb stop; the customer maintains everything from the curb stop through the building, except the meter. The district says it has no lead service lines. During a private plumbing emergency it will help shut off water at the curb stop, and its emergency line is 303-791-2185.

In newer construction, common leak points include water heater fittings, PEX connections, washer hoses, ice maker lines and sprinkler valves. Freeze damage to hose bibs and pipes in garage walls also shows up after cold snaps.

Short checklist before the visit

• Note a meter reading, then recheck after an hour with no water used
• Find the main shutoff inside the house
• Turn the sprinkler controller off so it does not skew the test
• Clear space around the water heater and any basement access panels