Plumbing · Today

Leak? Here’s what to do.

Stop the water first, then find where it comes from. Once the water is off, most leaks can wait a few hours. Water near anything electrical can’t.

Ask Vora about this Who would you send?

First, this

Close the main shut-off valve. Close your home's main water shutoff valve, on the main line where it enters the house. Find and tag it before you ever need it. Source
Leave the city’s valve alone. Do not turn the city's valve at the meter or curb. Longview allows only city employees or licensed plumbers to operate water valves; Tyler's service agreement forbids tampering with meters and valves. Source
Can’t stop it? Call the city. If you cannot stop the water yourself, call the city water line after hours: Tyler (903) 597-6541; Longview 903-236-3030. Source
Shut off the fixture before you touch it. Before working on a dripping faucet or fixture, turn off its water line first. Source
Hidden leak? Read the meter twice. To confirm a hidden leak, read your water meter, use no water for two hours, then read it again. If it changed at all, you probably have a leak. Source

Photo: Marco Palumbo, Unsplash

Usually a job for today.

Call nowWater you cannot stop with the house valve, or water reaching outlets, the electrical panel, or appliances.

TodayA leak you have stopped by closing a fixture valve or the main, a spreading ceiling stain, or a wet floor with no obvious source.

Can waitWorn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. EPA says these common leaks are often easy to fix with a few tools.

Before you call

Safety first

Never turn power on or off, or use an electric tool or appliance, while standing in water. Source
If you would have to step into standing water to reach the main power switch, call an electrician to turn it off instead. Source

What to tell the plumber

Where the water shows up (under a sink, ceiling, wall, floor, yard) and when you first noticed it.
Whether you shut off the main or a fixture valve, and where your main shutoff is.
Photos of the leak and any stains, and the result of your meter test if you did one.
Approximate age of the home and pipe type if known (copper, galvanized, plastic).

What it costs

Your plumber quotes before starting; we don’t publish plumbers’ prices. City fees we can source: Longview emergency water cut-off at customer request: $50; Longview after-hours water service request: $50; Longview meter test fee, charged if the meter is found within AWWA tolerance: $75.

Asking Vora is free. The plumber pays us a referral fee.