Frequently Asked Questions

Sewer flies, sewer smells, water backing up, yard puddles, buckling floors, dirty flowing water, moist air and bathroom, break or sagging drain line, seam copper toilet hurtling can all be signs or symptoms that can mean you me have serious plumbing issues currently or eventually.

In most cases, it’s because the new smart meter is far more accurate than the old one it replaced. Older meters wear out over the decades and under-count your water use, so you were likely being under-billed for years. The new meter simply measures your true usage — and in some cases, it reveals a hidden leak that was there all along. Read our full guide: New Water Meter, Bigger Bill?

The new meters are highly accurate — Parish officials have described them as “deadly accurate.” A sudden jump usually reflects real water use, not a faulty meter. If you’re concerned, a simple at-home meter test (or a quick visit from us) can confirm whether the water is actually being used or lost to a leak.

Not always — but it’s very common. Old, worn meters often masked slow leaks like running toilets or slab leaks, and a new accurate meter finally catches them. The quickest way to know is to check: if your meter moves while all the water is shut off, you have a leak that needs attention. Read our full guide: New Water Meter, Bigger Bill?

Turn off every fixture inside and outside your home, note your meter reading, and wait an hour or two without using water. If the reading changes, water is escaping somewhere. Jefferson Parish’s free DropCountr app can also flag continuous usage — and Earl’s can pinpoint the exact source with electronic leak detection.

The biggest culprits are silently running toilets, slab leaks under your foundation, underground service-line leaks between the meter and the house, dripping supply lines, and leaking irrigation or outdoor spigots. Many of these run around the clock with no visible sign — which is exactly why they can quietly double a water bill.

We’re not the water utility, so we can’t change your meter or adjust your Parish bill directly. What we can do is find and repair the leaks driving your bill up, so your usage returns to normal. For most homeowners, fixing the leak is what actually brings the bill back down.

Possibly. The Parish may offer a one-time billing adjustment once you repair a leak and provide proof of the fix. A professional leak repair from Earl’s gives you the documentation you need — always confirm the current requirements with Jefferson Parish Utility Services.

We use electronic leak-detection equipment to pinpoint a leak’s exact location without tearing up your yard or floors. For lines under a slab or underground, video pipe inspection and hydro tunneling let us reach and repair the problem with minimal disruption. Call us at 504-888-8888 to schedule an inspection.

Usually drains are clogged because people are not careful of what they put in them, especially in the kitchen. Other drains, like in the bathroom, get clogged because of the oil residue from soaps, shampoos and hair. It is recommended that you are conscious of what you put down your drains and call Earl’s when they don’t flow!

Usually when a faucet is dripping the problem has a relatively simple solution. The internal mechanisms need to be rebuilt or replaced. This is an easy and inexpensive fix. Did you know that you could extend the life of your washers by turning off your faucets gently rather than forcefully?

Take the time every once and a while to inspect your pipes. If rust or lime is depositing on them, this may indicate a leak is starting. If this is happening, contact Earl’s Plumbing to address the problem. By performing an occasional inspection you could stop a small problem before it turns into a large one. Leaking pipes can damage floors and belongings and become much more costly than if the problem was detected early.

You should call Earl’s Plumbing right away. Leaking water heaters usually indicate the bottom of the tank has rusted. There are really no good repairs for this problem. You most likely need a new water heater.

This is not only an annoyance but also a waste of water and money. Leaky toilets can cost almost $100 extra per year on your water bills. If the toilet continues to run into the bowl after the toilet is flushed, it indicates that some part of the mechanism is out of order and needs to be replaced.