Stories from the repair program for domestic water leaks

The Portland Water Bureau works with community partners and local plunks in order to be able to offer free repair services for income qualified homeowners in Portland. Repairing water leaks can reduce the water invoices, improve life capacity, help people stay in their houses and save water! In the past 27 years, the program to repair domestic water leaks has helped to repair their leaky taps, toilets, pipes and other types of leaks.

Below you will find the stories of three home owners who had their leaks attached via the repair program for domestic water leaks.

Juan in the southwest of Portland

Juan knew that something was wrong when he found a puddle of water in his garden. He looked for the source and found that the water came from a leak somewhere in the wall of his house. But the exact place of the leak was very difficult to identify, and Juan immediately realized that he needed help.

Juan made several plumber to look at the wall. But the plumber just started shaking their heads, said Juan. They could not be sure of the situation of the leak and they were afraid to cut into the wall at the wrong place.

Juan felt desperate and searched for repair aid on the Internet and found the website for the program of the Portland Water Bureau. He decided to apply.

The program worked with the Community Energy Project and a licensed plumber. He was immediately impressed. The experience and knowledge of the plumber enabled them to find the leak and open the wall in the right place. The leak came from an old broken pipe that was not used. The plumber completed the pipe to repair the leak.

The leak seemed to be repaired for a few months. Then one day Juan came home and found water on his floor. He called the program to repair Home Water Lact repair and the plumber came back to his house within the week. Plumbers found that the piping tube had left out of a new place. You have completed the pipe in another place, and since then Juan has been at home and delicious!

“The program was a lifesaver,” said Juan. He explained that his home is old and that many pipes no longer used, which made it difficult to find the leak. The programs of the program were able to find the problem that other plumber had confused. And Juan added, they arrived on time, worked quickly and were professional.

Shirley in the northeast of Portland

Shirley was worried that she had a leak when her water bill more than doubled. Alarmed immediately, she contacted Portland Water Bureau. The Portland Water Bureau sent free dye plates to Shirley and explained how to use a dye test to check the toilets on leaks. Shirley did the dye test, but found no problems. She needed help to find her leak, so she filled out an application for the repair program for domestic water leaks.

The Shirley program combined with the Community Energy Project. The Community Energy Project checked your home and found a leak in the toilet on the ground floor. They adapted to the swimmer valve to stop the leak. During its home, the Community Energy Project also found two very old toilets. Older toilets are inefficient and often and lick, and Shirley said they have caused problems in the past. The plumber replaced shirley's old toilets with new water -efficient models.

Shirley received her next wastewater, rainwater and water bill a few months later. It was much, much lower – which was a great relief!

Shirley was satisfied with how quickly the process was moving. She was also glad to report that the plumber treated their home very well. “I would recommend it to everyone!” she said. Shirley has been living in her house for about 45 years and is looking forward to many more years.

Julie in Nordportland

Julie got worried when she received a flyer on her door from Portland Water Bureau to tell her that her water consumption has increased. Julie soon received her sewer, rainwater and water bill, which was much higher than usual.

“I went into panic mode,” says Julie. She used dye plates to test her toilets on leaks, but she found none. Next, Julie used her water knife to look for leaks. Julie's water knife continued to turn, even after she switched off the main water valve in her house. It seemed that she had an underground service management leak.

Julie called about six different contractors to receive offers. In the meantime, she filled out an application for the repair program for the Home Water Lacting. Program partner -Community Energy Project went home to evaluate the leak situation. Your leak repair was planned within about two weeks.

In the end, Julie said that she couldn't be more satisfied. The plumber replaced the leaky service between your measuring device and your house. After her leak had been repaired, she was able to get an invoice adjustment from Water Bureau.

After Julie had joined the program for repairing Home Water Lact repair, she knew that she could also help her with an energy evaluation of the entire budget. The Community Energy Project isolated the outer walls of their house and improved their gas oven to a heat pump that is delivered with central air. They also replaced Julies hot hot water, who started to fail. Julie had previously cooked water to expand her in her bathroom.

Julie's experience with the Community Energy Project was excellent. “I feel like the happiest person in the world,” she said. After 20 years in your house “it's like a new home now.”

About the program

Find out more about the repair program for domestic water leaks.

The repair program for domestic water leaks is financed by Portland Water Bureau and that Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). When we repair and save water, we also save energy and reduce carbon emissions.