Leak Detection in Mountain View
Leak Detection and Repair in Mountain View, CA
Leak detection and repair for Mountain View homeowners, from our San Jose shop: leaks in walls, floors and the line from the City meter, found with acoustic, thermal and pressure testing. Below is how the City handles leaks: its meter test, WaterInsight, the one-time water credit, the smart meter plan, Monta Loma's Eichlers and same-day pipe replacement permits.
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Leak Detection in Mountain View: What's Different
For most homes the City of Mountain View is the water utility, so the meter, the bill, the credit rules and the permit all come from City Hall.
Two City numbers for a leak
Public Services takes leak calls at (650) 903-6329, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On weekends and after hours, the City lists (650) 903-6395.
The meter is City property
The City owns the meter in its box near the curb. City Code Sec. 35.10 has owners keep their service pipes, stopcocks and service lines in good repair at their own cost.
One water credit every three years
When a repaired leak pushed use into the third rate tier, the City can bill that water at the second-tier rate instead, for one billing period every three years.
WaterInsight for high bills
The City's WaterInsight program shows current and past use and helps you check for leaks and investigate high bills; the Water Conservation Hotline, 650-903-6216, gives out registration codes.
Smart meters are still in planning
The City is planning a multi-year switch to smart meters with hourly data and faster leak detection. A meter box survey ran from May 20 to June 6, 2026; vendor selection comes next.
Same-day permits for new pipe
Replacing the water line from the meter, or water piping in a single-family home or duplex, qualifies for an online Same-Day Building Permit with rough and final inspections.
A Homeowner’s Guide to Leak Detection and Repair in Mountain View
Who owns what, and who to call
The City of Mountain View delivers water to most homes; a few areas are served by California Water Service’s Los Altos District instead, which follows its own rules. For City customers:
| Part of the system (City Code, as of October 2026) | Whose it is |
|---|---|
| Tap at the main, pipe to the meter, curb cock and meter box | Part of the City’s water connection (Sec. 35.16) |
| The meter | City property (Sec. 35.22) |
| Service pipes, stopcocks and service lines on the owner’s side | The owner keeps them in repair (Sec. 35.10) |
For a leak at the meter or in the street, call Public Services at (650) 903-6329, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or (650) 903-6395 on weekends and after hours. The City asks that leaks be fixed as soon as possible to avoid excessive water charges. A leak in the yard, wall or floor is the owner’s to locate and repair. See water line replacement.
The City’s meter test
The City’s leak guide is simple:
- Turn off all water use, indoors and out, so nobody runs a tap.
- Find the colored triangle or asterisk at the center of the meter face; it turns with even a small flow.
- Watch it for a couple of minutes. Turning with everything off means a leak.
- Close the house valve, typically near a hose bib, and repeat. Still turning: the leak is between the house and the meter. Stopped: check toilets, fixtures and irrigation.
The City says most unexpectedly high bills come from toilet leaks and irrigation, and it mails a free leak-check kit on request (650-903-6216). When the meter says “leak” and nothing shows, we find it with acoustic listening, thermal imaging and pressure testing. See leak detection.
WaterInsight, the water credit and smart meters
- WaterInsight: the City’s program lets you view current and past use, check for leaks and investigate high bills, by mailed report or online at WaterInsight.MountainView.gov. Registration codes come from 650-903-6216.
- Water credit: City Code Sec. 35.27.1 lets the City bill leak water that reached the third rate tier at the second-tier rate, for one billing period every three years. Apply after the repair, once the bill for the leak period arrives (form PS-116).
- Smart meters: the City is planning a multi-year AMI upgrade for hourly data and earlier leak detection. A meter box and lid survey ran in May and June 2026; a vendor is chosen next, then meters go in citywide. Valley Water, which helps fund it, lists the project as in progress.
Monta Loma, Bell Meadows and what the City records
Mountain View’s Historic Context Statement (Final Draft, August 2026) records two Eichler tracts. The Fairview tract, now called the Monta Loma Eichlers, was approved in 1952 and built about 1954 to 1957, around 200 homes. Bell Meadows, built in 1972, has 53 four-bedroom homes between Permanente Creek and Miramonte Avenue. The City describes their post-and-beam construction, rooflines, wood paneling and glass, but not their foundations or how their pipes were run.
So we don’t assume. On site we confirm where your supply lines run before choosing between a spot repair, a reroute through walls or a slab leak repair.
Permits, pressure and water quality
- Permits: at a single-family home or duplex, replacing the water service line to the City meter, or replacing existing water piping, fits the City’s online Same-Day Building Permit. Each has a rough and a final inspection; a buried service line must be at least 12 inches deep. See repiping.
- Pressure: the City delivers an average minimum of 45 psi.
- Hardness: the 2025 water report shows about 90% of supply from the SFPUC at an average of 60 ppm, Valley Water at 97 ppm, and a small share of City well water at 220 to 339 ppm. The City calls its water soft to moderately hard.
Sources
City of Mountain View: Water and Sewer FAQs · How to Read a Water Meter and Check for Leaks · Water Conservation · Residential water conservation and WaterInsight · Water Credit Application (PS-116) · Smart Meter Program · Same-Day Building Permits · 2025 Water Quality Report · Historic Context Statement, Final Draft (August 2026) · City Code Chapter 35. Valley Water: Understanding your water use (AMI status, March 2026). Checked October 2026.
Leak Detection Prices in Mountain View
Most repairs are quoted as a fixed price before we start, so you approve the cost before any work begins. These are typical prices for common jobs in our service area.
| Service | Typical price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Leak detection, typical accessible leak | $150–$600 |
| Leak detection | $150–$1,500 |
| Inspection feeWaived for service plan members | $59 |
Prices are installed, before any current special, and depend on access, materials and what we find.
In Mountain View the line from the City meter to the house is the owner's to repair, and replacing it takes a same-day permit and a trench at least 12 inches deep. A City water credit is possible only when the leak pushed the bill into the third rate tier, and only once every three years.
Get a free estimate →Great service and great attitude. Dustin and Jay were up front with the time and cost. They explained the process and walked us through all the work they did. True pros, will definitely do business with them again. Thank you for fixing the leak!
Tran C.Google review
Danny fixed a broken flange before a water meter that had caused a huge water geyser. He was calm and put in a new flange quickly and effectively. Love working with Danny, who is skilled, knowledgeable, and friendly!
Julie Q.Google review
I called your emergency number first thing Saturday morning and Dustin called me right back. He went out there late morning and found a hole in the drain pipe and a backup nearby that was making the leak even worse. He snaked the line and temporarily patched the line so gases wouldn’t escape. He said I would need to get restoration out there to (again) dry out the crawlspace before CPI could replace the drain pipe. It is plastic not cast iron apparently.
Dustin was really great, communicative, and helpful. Really appreciated his work.
Sachin B.Google review
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Leak Detection in Mountain View FAQs
How do I check my Mountain View water meter for a leak?
The meter sits in a concrete box about 15 by 20 inches near the curb, sidewalk or driveway; a screwdriver lifts the lid. Turn off every fixture, the washer and the irrigation, then watch the small colored triangle or asterisk on the meter face for a couple of minutes. If it turns, water is leaking. Close the house valve, usually near a hose bib, and watch again: if it still turns, the leak is between the meter and the house; if it stops, look at toilets, fixtures and irrigation. See leak detection.
Who is responsible for a leak between the meter and my house?
You are. The meter belongs to the City (City Code Sec. 35.22), and Sec. 35.10 makes owners responsible for keeping their service pipes, stopcocks and service lines in good repair at their own expense. A leak at the meter or in the street goes to Public Services, (650) 903-6329 on weekdays or (650) 903-6395 after hours. Replacing the yard line takes the City's Water Service Line Replacement same-day permit. See water line replacement.
Can I get a credit on my Mountain View water bill after a leak?
Sometimes. Under City Code Sec. 35.27.1, when a leak pushes use into the third tier of the City's water rates, above your usual use, water billed at the third-tier rate can be reduced to the second-tier rate. Accounts without third-tier use on the bill aren't eligible, and a credit is allowed on one billing period every three years. Apply after the leak is fixed and you've received the bill for the leak period, by email to conservewater@mountainview.gov or by mail to Water Conservation at 231 North Whisman Road. Questions: 650-903-6216.
Does Mountain View have smart meters that send leak alerts?
Not yet. The City is in the planning stages of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure upgrade that will provide hourly usage data and faster leak detection. A meter box and lid survey ran from May 20 to June 6, 2026; vendor selection comes next, then citywide installation, with customers told in advance. For now, WaterInsight reports and the meter test are the tools, and meters are read by City staff.
I live in a Monta Loma or Bell Meadows Eichler. Should I worry about slab leaks?
The City's own documents don't say. Its 2026 Historic Context Statement describes the Monta Loma Eichlers and the 1972 Bell Meadows tract as post-and-beam homes with low gabled or flat roofs and wide glazing, but not their foundations or how the pipes run. Every house is different, so we check on site: if supply lines run under a concrete floor, a warm spot or a meter that won't stop points to a slab leak, which we locate before anything is opened.
Is my water pressure too high or too low in Mountain View?
The City says its system delivers an average minimum pressure of 45 pounds, above the state's 25-pound minimum. It doesn't publish a maximum, so a gauge on a hose bib is the way to know your own. Pressure that's too high strains supply hoses and valves; pressure that falls over time can be a sign of corroded pipe or a hidden leak. See plumbing repair.
How much does leak detection and repair cost in Mountain View?
Most jobs are quoted as a fixed price before we start, so you know the cost up front. Typical prices: leak detection, typical accessible leak $150–$600; leak detection $150–$1,500. The inspection fee is $59, waived for service plan members.
Need leak detection in Mountain View? Call us.
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