Leak Detection in Wendell, NC

Whose leak is it in Wendell?

Water and sewer in Wendell are handled by the City of Raleigh; Wendell became one of Raleigh Water's merger communities in 2006. The city maintains water lines up to the property line, and the homeowner is responsible from there to the house. If water is surfacing at the meter or in the street, call Raleigh Water. A wet spot in the yard on the house side, or anything inside, is yours to fix.

Raleigh Water says it has never found a lead service pipe and is replacing galvanized service lines on its side. On your side, the material depends on when the house was built.

Do older and newer Wendell homes leak differently?

They do, and Wendell has both. About half of its homes were built since 2010, largely around the Wendell Falls planned community, and the median home dates to 2010. About 22% predate 1980, mostly in and around the historic downtown. In the older houses, aging copper or galvanized supply lines and original valves are the usual leak sources. In the newer ones, leaks tend to start at PEX fittings, appliance and fixture supply lines, water heater connections and irrigation.

Raleigh Water is chloraminated most of the year, which can wear out toilet flappers and faucet seals. That makes a quietly running toilet a common hidden leak in homes of any age.

How does a plumber find a hidden leak?

By working from the outside in. A meter test confirms water is being lost. Then the plumber separates irrigation, outdoor lines and branches of the house plumbing to see which one is leaking. Moisture meters and thermal imaging help with leaks behind walls and under floors, and acoustic listening helps locate leaks in a slab or buried line so the repair opening is small and accurate.

If your home has irrigation, mention it. Under Raleigh Water's program, residential irrigation backflow assemblies must be tested every three years by July 1, and those assemblies and their lines can leak.

A local note

For repairs that need a permit, Wendell residents apply through the town and Wake County Permits & Inspections handles the inspections. Homes outside Raleigh Water lines in the 27591 ZIP may be on private wells.