Leander Plumbing FAQs: Straight Answers on Leaks, Hard Water, Licensing and City Rules

In an emergency

What should I do right away if a pipe bursts or water is running where it should not?

Close the main shutoff, usually where the water line enters the house, in a garage or utility closet or beside the water heater. Turn it clockwise until it stops. Then open the lowest tap to drain the pipes and relieve the pressure.

Keep away from wet outlets and light fixtures, photograph the damage, and call. If you cannot close your own shutoff, the City of Leander Public Works number is 512-259-2640. The full sequence is in the step-by-step burst pipe guide. If you smell gas, leave the house and call the gas utility or 911 from outside.

How do I find my main shutoff and read my water meter?

The main shutoff is where the line enters the house. Check the garage, a utility closet and the area around the water heater. The meter usually sits in a ground box near the street, under a lid you can lift carefully.

To test for a leak, turn off every tap, appliance and the irrigation system, read the meter, wait 15 to 30 minutes and read it again. If the number moved or the leak indicator spins, water is going somewhere. The test cannot say where. The full meter test and what comes after it explains the next step.

Leaks, drains and toilets

What are the most common signs of a hidden slab leak in Leander homes?

A floor spot that is warm to bare feet is the strongest sign, because it points to a hot water line leaking under it. Other signs are the sound of running water with every tap off, a water meter that moves while the house is quiet, damp carpet or baseboards on a ground floor, and a sudden rise in the water bill.

Most of these have other causes too, so the pattern matters more than any single sign. A moving meter plus a warm floor spot is a strong combination, while a moving meter alone could be a toilet. See slab leak signs and what to do first, and run the meter test for a hidden leak before you call.

When is trenchless pipe lining recommended over digging up the sewer line?

Lining fits a sewer line that is still continuous. Cracks, small holes and root intrusion can be lined, while a collapsed or crushed section cannot. The line also needs small offsets, no major sag that holds standing water, a way to be cleaned first, and access at each end.

Only a camera can tell which side your pipe falls on, so ask for the footage and ask the plumber to explain why your pipe does or does not qualify. See whether your sewer line qualifies for lining for the full list.

How often should drains be professionally cleaned?

There is no schedule that fits every house. One slow sink is usually a fixture problem you can try to clear yourself. A drain that clogs again within weeks, or several fixtures that gurgle or back up together, is a reason to call, because the cause is probably still in the pipe.

Grease in kitchen lines, hair and soap in bathroom lines, flushable wipes and tree roots in outside lines are the usual causes, and a camera inspection shows which one you have. See why a clog keeps coming back and when a cable is not enough.

Why does my toilet run on its own without being flushed?

Usually the flapper at the bottom of the tank is not sealing, or the fill valve is not shutting off. Add a few drops of food coloring to the tank, do not flush, and wait 15 minutes. If color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is leaking.

If the tank refills by itself every few minutes or hisses, the fill valve or flapper needs attention. If the toilets pass the dye test and the meter still moves with everything off, the leak is somewhere else. See how to test a running toilet for the steps.

ZIP codes and your street address

Which ZIP codes does this number cover?

The ZIP codes covered for calls to this number are 78641, 78645 and 78646. One listing describes 78646 as a post office box ZIP, so a street address normally uses another ZIP.

Call with your street address and ZIP code and the person who answers will confirm whether a plumber serves it. A page for a nearby place describes that place and does not promise service at every address in it.