If you’re a homeowner, it’s important to know where your water pipes are located. It’s much easier to identify what could possibly be causing a leak or loud noises or other plumbing problems if you know that there are pipes behind the problem area. Otherwise, you could end up with some expensive repairs on your hands. So if you’re curious about what’s hidden below your home, read on for more information.

We all know that water pipes are essential to our everyday life. They provide us with clean running water for cooking, cleaning, and bathing. However, many homeowners don’t know much about the water system in their house or how it works.

Your home’s plumbing includes a network of pipes that carries both heated and cold water throughout the building. These pipes are typically buried underground but sometimes they’re located inside walls or above ground level depending on where they’re needed most.

There are different types of plumping pipe material used including copper , steel, and plastic. Since these pipes are buried underground they can rust or corrode over time if they are not properly insulated or protected. When that happens the only way to replace a corroded or broken pipe is to dig out the pipe out of the wall or the ground. This of course can be a labor intensive project.

What Pipes Run Under The House?

If you want to know exactly what pipes are running under your house we recommend that you contact your town’s maintenance person or a plumber. But generally speaking, the main water supply line runs under most residential homes.

If your house is built on a concrete slab, it’s more than likely that these pipes are running through that concrete. This helps to keep the pipes insulated but it also makes it much more difficult to repair any damaged pipes that are located in that slab.

How Deep Are Pipes Under A House?

The general rule of thumb is that a home’s pipe system be buried anywhere from 18 inches to 3 feet underground. This depends of course on where you live. If you were to dig 3 feet in South Florida, you would likely hit water! You can check with your town’s maintenance person or your plumber to find out what the regulations are in your area.

How Do I Know If My Pipes Are Leaking Under My Floor?

Usually, there are 2 obvious signs that indicate you may have a leak somewhere in your plumbing system.

  1. A sign of water damage such as wet spots on the floor, drywall, ceiling, carpets and rugs, etc.
  2. A higher than normal water bill.

If you suspect that you may have a leak in your plumbing, here are the steps to take to identify the problem.

  • The first thing you can do is to check your water meter to your home. They are normally located outside in the front yard, in the sidewalk or in the easement between your front sidewalk and the road.
  • Turn off all the water faucets in your home so when you read your water meter, it should not be running.
  • On the face of the meter you will see a “leak indicator” which could be a red triangle, a blue circular item or another shape but if it’s moving – then that indicates that you do have water running through the meter. This indicates a leak.
  • If your meter does not have a leak indicator, then look at the sweep hand on the face of the meter. This hand, like the hand of a clock moves very slowly. So, you will want to mark where it currently is, come back in 20 minutes and if that hand has moved, then you know that you have a leak.

Once you’ve determined that you do have a water leak – we recommend that you contact your plumber right away. If you suspect a leak under your concrete floor, don’t hesitate to get the problem fixed as soon as possible. The structural damage that could occur to your home could cost you much, much more later on.

The equipment and expertise needed to locate a leak under a concrete floor is not something that most homeowners have so we urge you to contact us, Atlantis Plumbing. Our leak detection services will find the source of your water pipe leak problem and we can repair the issue.

If you have any questions about your water pipes or are having some problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-505-8570. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.