Leak Detection in Yorba Linda, CA

Which water provider do I call about a leak at the meter?

Most Yorba Linda residents are served by Yorba Linda Water District (YLWD), but some get water from Golden State Water Company, and the City says the provider depends on where you live. Your bill tells you which. YLWD customer service is (714) 701-3000; Golden State Water lists a 24-hour customer service line at 1.800.999.4033. Water surfacing at the meter or the street should go to your provider first. Leaks on the house side of the meter are generally the owner's to repair.

Is my Yorba Linda home old enough for hidden leaks?

City-stats.com puts the median year built in Yorba Linda at about 1984. Copper supply lines of that age can develop pinholes, and original shutoff valves, water heater connectors and irrigation valves are often due for replacement. Most homes are on slabs, so a leak under the floor may first appear as a warm patch, cracked grout or a water heater that runs too often. Hillside lots on the city's eastern side can mean longer runs from the meter and more irrigation, both worth checking.

Could hard water be part of the problem?

It can be for some addresses. Golden State Water's Placentia-Yorba Linda system reports hardness averaging 11.0 grains per gallon, ranging from about 3.9 to 17.5. Hard water leaves scale on faucet cartridges, toilet fill valves and shower valves, which can keep them from sealing. YLWD's water is mostly local Orange County Basin groundwater, with about 15 percent imported; for its hardness figure, check YLWD's own water quality report. Either way, white crust at a fitting is a common sign of a slow drip.

A short local note

If the leak repair needs a permit, the City of Yorba Linda Building Division issues plumbing permits at City Hall, 714-961-7120. The City notes that Yorba Linda Water District may have its own plan submittal requirements for some projects, which can come up when a service line is replaced. The plumber you're connected with can explain what applies to your repair. Before the visit, turn off the irrigation controller and take two meter readings an hour apart with no water in use; that one test tells the plumber a great deal.