In Apex, a leaking water pipe can belong to the Town or to the homeowner, and the dividing point is the water meter. The Town repairs leaks in the street or between the street and the meter, while the owner handles pipes inside the home and from the dwelling to the meter.
Key takeaways
- The water meter marks the split: the Town repairs the street side and the owner repairs the home side.
- The Town asks residents to call Water Resources first, so staff can say whether it is a Town problem or one for a plumber.
- Constantly wet ground around the meter box can signal a leak at the meter or a pipe break, according to the Town.
- Water and sewer service sits in a 5 foot easement the Town may enter for emergencies.
- Once the source is stopped, the extraction crew removes the water and the drying team brings framing and floors to a measured goal.
Where the Town's pipe ends and the home's begins
The Town of Apex provides water, sewer and electric service through its own utilities. That makes the meter the natural boundary for water repairs.
The Town's published rule is short, and it is worth knowing before a pipe fails.
- The Town repairs leaks in the street.
- The Town repairs leaks between the street and the meter.
- The homeowner repairs pipes from the dwelling to the meter.
- The homeowner repairs pipes inside the home.
Signs of a leak at the meter box or in the yard
A leak outside is easy to miss because the water goes into the ground. The Town points to a few signs that something is wrong between the street and the house.
None of these signs proves a leak by itself, but together they are a reason to call. The Town says constantly wet ground around the meter box can signal a leak at the meter or a pipe break.
- Constantly wet ground around the meter box.
- A water bill that rises with no change in how the house is used.
- The sound of running water when every fixture is off.
- A meter that keeps moving with the whole house shut off.
Who to call first, and what to do inside the house
The Town asks residents to call Water Resources first for a water or sewer emergency. Staff can say whether the problem sits on the Town side or belongs to a plumber.
Low pressure is not always a leak. A water pipe break, flushing or a fire emergency can lower pressure in an Apex home for a short time, so a call to the Town helps rule that out.
If water has already reached floors or walls, a burst pipe cleanup call can run alongside the plumber's work, since removing water does not wait on the repair.
While the call is made, a few steps inside the house limit how far the water goes.
- Find the home's main shutoff valve and close it if water is flowing from a pipe inside.
- Turn off power to a room with standing water only if the panel can be reached dry.
- Move rugs, electronics and low shelving out of the wet path.
- Photograph the wet area, the meter box and any wet ground outside.
- Write down the time the leak was found and when the Town was called.
The easement and the pressure reducer valve
Two Town details come up often when a pipe fails, and both help a homeowner know where to look.
The 5 foot easement
Water and sewer service pipes sit in a 5 foot easement. The Town may enter it for emergencies, such as a leak on a water service pipe, a meter repair or a sewer blockage.
The pressure reducer valve
The Town says the pressure reducer valve is generally in the crawlspace where the water pipe enters the home, or in a closet at the front of the home. A plumber can replace it.
That makes a crawlspace a place where an unseen leak can sit, which is worth a look when a bill climbs.
What the extraction crew does once the pipe is shut off
Whoever fixes the pipe, the water inside the house still has to come out. The water extraction crew pulls standing water off floors and out of low spots, then the team checks walls, subfloor and the crawlspace.
A leak inside a wall or under a floor can run for days before the damage shows, so readings matter more than what the surface looks like.
- Water is pulled from floors, carpet and pad.
- Wet baseboards and low drywall are checked and opened where needed.
- Framing and subfloor are dried until readings reach the goal.
Hidden leaks under floors and in walls
Not every leak shows up as a puddle. A pipe that fails in a wall, under a floor or in a crawlspace can run for a long time before a stain appears.
The Town points to the water bill as an early warning, and that lines up with what drying teams see on site.
Local Apex water damage pros handle both the visible puddle and the hidden wet area.
Signs inside the home
- A stain or bubble on a ceiling or low on a wall.
- Warped baseboards or flooring that cups at the edges.
- A damp or musty smell that has no clear source.
- Carpet that feels cool or soggy in one spot.
What the team checks
Readings are taken along walls, under floors and in the crawlspace where it is reachable. Where the numbers are high, the area is opened and dried instead of guessed at.
After the repair: the bill and the drying
The Town offers a water meter test each year and a leak adjustment request for the utility bill once a found leak has been repaired. Both are worth a call to Water Resources after the plumber finishes.
Drying continues until the readings say the house is dry, which may outlast the plumbing repair by several days. The main burst pipe water damage service covers the cleanup that follows a failed pipe.
- Keep the plumber's repair record and the dates of each call.
- Photograph the repaired pipe and the dry floor once drying is done.
- Ask Water Resources about the leak adjustment request for the utility bill.
- Ask about a water meter test if the bill still looks high after the repair.
Questions
Who repairs a leak between the street and the meter?
The Town of Apex repairs leaks in the street or between the street and the water meter.
Who repairs a leak between the meter and the house?
Homeowners are responsible for water pipe repairs inside the home and from the dwelling to the water meter.
Does low water pressure always mean a leak?
No. The Town says a water pipe break, flushing or a fire emergency can temporarily reduce pressure in a home.
Where is the pressure reducer valve?
The Town says it is generally in the crawlspace where the water pipe enters the home, or in a closet at the front of the home.
Can the Town enter the yard for an emergency?
Water and sewer services sit in a 5 foot easement where the Town may enter for emergencies such as a leak, a meter repair or a sewer blockage.