Local guide / Round Rock, TX
High Water Bill in Round Rock? How to Check for a Leak
Before you assume the meter is wrong, spend ten minutes on the checks the City of Round Rock itself recommends.
Call Now: (512) 894-6911Start at the meter
The quickest test is the one the City of Round Rock describes: turn off everything that uses water, open the meter box by the curb, and watch the meter for five minutes. If the numbers move or the leak arrow on the meter face appears, something is still using water.
Make sure the irrigation system, ice maker, washer and dishwasher are all off before you start, or you will be chasing a normal use instead of a leak.
The easy leaks to find first
Most high bills come from something simple. Check these before you worry about the slab.
- Toilets. Put a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet in the tank and wait ten minutes without flushing. Color in the bowl means the flapper is leaking.
- Under sinks. Look for pooling water or rust around joints.
- Appliance supply lines. Check behind the dishwasher, refrigerator, washer and water heater.
- Sprinklers. A broken head or a stuck valve can run for hours. Walk the zones while they run.
The City defines a leak as 24 hours of continuous flow through the meter. If you sign up for the City's customer water portal, it can send a text or email when your meter shows water use for 24 hours without stopping.
Meter moving with everything off? Call to reach a local leak detection plumber.
Call (512) 894-6911Why slab leaks are common here
Most Round Rock homes sit on concrete slabs built over clay soil. Clay swells when it is wet and shrinks in drought, and that movement puts stress on the water lines that run under the slab. Over time a joint or pipe can crack where nobody can see it.
Signs that point to a slab leak rather than a fixture:
- The meter keeps moving with everything off and nothing visible is wet
- A warm spot on the floor, often near a hot water line
- Damp flooring, a musty smell, or cracks that were not there before
- The sound of running water when no tap is open
What a plumber does next
Finding a slab leak takes equipment, not guesswork. Plumbers use pressure tests, acoustic listening gear and sometimes thermal cameras to narrow it to a spot before anyone breaks concrete. Depending on where it is, the fix may be a spot repair through the slab or rerouting the line through the walls or attic.
If the meter test shows a leak you cannot find, or you see any of the slab signs above, it is worth a call before the water does more damage to the foundation or flooring.
Billing questions
If you think the bill itself is wrong, the City's Utility Billing office can answer questions at 512-218-5460. The City has said its meters are tested to American Water Works Association standards, so a leak check is usually the better first step.
Sources
Where these facts come from
Checked 2026-10-10. Rules and phone numbers change, so confirm with the source before you rely on them.
Services
Plumbing Help in Round Rock
Burst Pipe Repair
Split pipes, flooding and freeze damage. Shut off the water and call.
Get help →EmergencyEmergency Water Heater Repair
No hot water, leaking tanks and tankless failures, any hour.
Get help →UrgentSlab Leak Detection & Repair
Leaks under your foundation, warm floors and high water bills.
Get help →EmergencySewer Backup & Main Line Clogs
Sewage coming up in tubs, showers and floor drains.
Get help →UrgentEmergency Drain Cleaning
Clogged kitchen, tub, shower and floor drains cleared fast.
Get help →UrgentWater Line Leak Repair
Main water line leaks between the meter and your home.
Get help →After 911Gas Leak Repair
Gas line leaks and repairs after the utility makes it safe.
Get help →EmergencyToilet Overflow & Clog Repair
Overflowing, clogged, leaking or running toilets fixed fast.
Get help →Call any time
Think You Have a Slab Leak?
Call any time to reach a local Round Rock plumber for leak detection.