Need Help....Does This Make Sense??

16 years ago

Last year we had a water main break and had to invest in a whole new water line which had to be copper ($$$) and encased in PVC leading from our house to the curb meter which is 150 ft.

Now I find a grass area close to my house is damp. My water bill hasn't changed, my water pressure hasn't changed but I thought maybe after a year of dirt settling maybe a joint came loose. I started to watch the meter and notice that it doesn't move at all when no water is being used but moves when I turn on the dehumidfier. When I turn off the dehumidfier the meter goes backward to where it was. Does this make sense?

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Comments (4)

jakethewonderdog
16 years ago
To answer your question... no it doesn't make sense.

If your copper line is leaking, it should show up at one end or the other of the PVC casing. It shouldn't show up in the middle.

If you really suspect it's leaking, have a pressure test done.

Also, what does the dehumidifier have to do with this?
goldensmom
Original Author
16 years ago
jokethewonderdog...its not leaking in the middle...its at the joint in the beginning against the house.

I mentioned the dehumidifier because my water meter is in my basement and I run a dehumidifier in the summer.

At this point I don't suspect a leak I know I have a leak but am in a catch 22 with the water company and the insurance firm who I carry the water line with. The insurance co. wants confirmation of a leak before they bring the equipment out to dig and says its up to the water company to test it and send them the proof. The water company says its our responsibility although last year when it broke they were here in a flash testing it telling us we had 3 days to get it fixed or we would be fined daily for the water loss.
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jake2007
16 years ago
Part of what was throwing me was the fact that you said you had a curb meter. I couldn't figure out how the dehumidifier would have an impact on a meter at the curb. I would ignore that issue for now, I don't think it has any bearing.

Also, if your meter is in the basement, then a leak between the curb and your meter wouldn't show on the meter or on your bill.

If it were me, I would isolate the section of pipe and then pressure test it.

At one year or less, I would see this as a warranty issue rather than an insurance issue. If you can, have the folks who installed it come back and pressure test it.

The truth is that it should hold up for a very long time and if it is leaking, even in a couple of years, providing that it wasn't damaged by some outside event, then the folks who installed it should feel some obligation to make it right.
lazypup
16 years ago
AS Jake already stated the leak is on the city side of the meter so the amount of water lost is not being measured by the meter, therefore you are not getting charged for it.

On the other hand, I would prepare a letter in four copies describing the evidence you see and the fact that you suspect a leak. Once you have the letter prepared send one copy to the Insurance Carrier, one copy to the Municipal Water Service Provider, a third copy to yourself and retain the fourth copy for your records.

Mail each of the letters via U.S.Postal Service "Certified Mail-Return receipt requested." When you get the receipt of delivery from the insurance carrier and the water service provider attach them to your copy of the letter and retain the letter you mailed to yourself intact, still sealed by the postal service in your files then pour a coffee and forget it.

If the water company later determines there is a leak you have solid proof provided by the U.S.Postal Service that you reported the incident within the prescribed time limits of your warranty and insurance agreement. If it were to become an issue in small claims court you would present you open copy of the letter to the court along with the copy that is still sealed by the post office. Your open copy would testify your case, while the postal receipts testifies the actual date that both the Insurance provider and the water company received notification then allow the court to open your sealed copy and the fact that it was still sealed before opening by the court confirms that the letter you presented as evidence is the same as the letter you sent the others. (This procedure with the U.S.Postal Service is called a "Common Law Copyright" and is accepted by the courts to testify that a document existed at or before the date indicated by the postal seal.

Need Help....Does This Make Sense??

Comments (4)

jakethewonderdog

goldensmom
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Need Help....Does This Make Sense??

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jakethewonderdog

goldensmomOriginal Author

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goldensmom
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