5 Signs You Have an Underground Water Leak - And What to Do About It

Underground water leaks are sneaky. By the time most homeowners notice something's wrong, the problem has usually been quietly building for weeks — or longer. The good news: there are some clear warning signs if you know what to look for. And in many cases, a local excavator can fix it faster and cheaper than you'd think.

Here's what to watch for.

1. Your water bill spikes for no reason

If your household habits haven't changed but your water bill suddenly jumps, that water is going somewhere. Underground leaks don't stop running — they're constant, which means they show up clearly in your usage data. Pull up two or three months of bills and compare. A big, unexplained jump is worth investigating.

2. Wet or unusually green patches in your yard

If one area of your lawn is noticeably greener, mushier, or wetter than the rest — especially during a dry stretch — that's often a sign of water coming up from below. Grass loves moisture, and it'll thrive right over a slow leak.

3. You can hear water running when nothing is on

Turn off every tap, appliance, and irrigation zone in your home. Then listen near your water meter or foundation. A faint hissing or rushing sound when everything should be silent is a classic sign of a leak somewhere in your line.

4. Low water pressure throughout the house

If multiple fixtures in different areas of your home have suddenly lost pressure — not just one faucet, but the whole house — it may mean water is escaping before it reaches your fixtures. This is different from a single clogged aerator or showerhead.

5. Cracks in your foundation or driveway

Water finds its way. A persistent underground leak can erode soil and create voids beneath concrete, leading to settling, cracking, or shifting. If you're seeing new cracks in areas that didn't used to have them, it's worth having someone take a look at what's underneath.

What to do next

If two or more of these signs sound familiar, don't wait — water damage gets worse over time, and so does the bill. The first step is locating the leak, which requires excavating to access the line.

RT Excavation LLC has done this kind of work for Cache Valley neighbors, often saving homeowners significant money compared to specialty "leak detection" companies that charge just for the diagnosis. We locate it and fix it — in one trip.