Rain, a lake and a leak: how to tell which one you have
Lake Ballinger is a lake of roughly 100 acres in the southwest part of Mountlake Terrace. Hall Creek feeds it from Lynnwood and McAleer Creek carries water out toward Lake Washington. Homes near any lake or creek can see damp ground in the wet season, so a wet spot does not always mean a broken pipe.
The meter test settles it. Turn off every fixture, note the dial, and check again in an hour. If it moved, water is escaping from a pipe and you should call (206) 864-6558. If it held still, the moisture is likely coming from outside the plumbing.
Yards near Ballinger Park and what roots do to sewer lines
Ballinger Park covers 42 acres at the north end of the lake. It was a golf course until the city converted it to a park in 2013.
Roots look for moisture, and a sewer lateral joint can leak a little. If your yard has large trees near the line and drains slow down every few months, ask for a camera inspection before paying for repeated clearing. A camera on a flexible cable shows whether roots, a sag or a crack is the cause, and that decides between drain cleaning and repair.
Call (206) 864-6558 and describe where the water shows up. The dispatcher will help you sort a pipe leak from rain runoff.
Common calls around the lake
Plumbing trouble follows the building and the weather. This is how we sort the first call.
| What you notice | Likely cause | First move |
|---|---|---|
| Several drains gurgle after heavy rain | Partial blockage in the main line or lateral | Stop running water and call for drain cleaning |
| Damp crawlspace that stays wet in dry weather | Slow supply leak | Check the meter, then call for leak detection |
| Water pooling under the tank | Failing tank or fittings | Shut off the cold supply to the tank and call for water heater repair. |
| Sewer smell and a soggy patch in the yard | Cracked or root-filled lateral | Ask for a camera inspection before any digging |
| Meter keeps moving with fixtures off | Hidden supply or fixture leak | Close the main shutoff and call |
After a heavy storm: five minutes that save a bad guess
- Find the cleanout. Know where the sewer cleanout cap sits and keep the area clear. Do not open it if water is rising.
- Find the main shutoff. Test the handle once so you know it turns before you need it.
- Watch the lowest drain. A basement or ground-floor drain that burbles first points to a main line problem.
- Keep wet electrical away. Stay clear of outlets, panels and appliances that are wet.
- Call early. A slow drain is easier to fix than a backup that has already reached the floor.
Houses, apartments and who to call first
The area around the lake is residential and includes detached houses as well as apartment buildings. In a house, the drain, water heater and supply lines are yours to fix. In an apartment, a shared drain stack or a building water heater is usually the landlord's.
Tell the property manager before booking anything. If the cause turns out to be a fixture inside your unit, our faucet repair and toilet repair calls are quick to scope. For the wider picture, see our Mountlake Terrace service area page or the neighboring Lynnwood page.
Questions from Lake Ballinger callers
Mountlake Terrace runs its own water, sewer and stormwater utilities inside city limits, so a break in a public main is the city's to fix. For a water or sewer line break, call City Public Works at 425-670-8264 on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. After hours, call the Snohomish County non-emergency line at 425-407-3999.
Pipes on your side of the meter and inside the house are yours. If you cannot tell where the leak starts, call us and we will look at your side first.
It can be either one. Close every fixture, then read the water meter twice about an hour apart. If the dial moved, a supply line is leaking and leak detection is the next step. If it did not move, the water is probably coming from outside the pipes.
Yes. Tell your landlord or property manager first, because the lease decides who calls a plumber. If they ask us to come out, we can speak with the manager directly.
Yes. The emergency line is open 24 hours a day, every day. Shut off water at the fixture or main, stay away from wet electrical equipment, and call. We offer same-day appointments when available.
Yes. We give a clear price before work starts. Call (206) 864-6558 for your number, since it depends on the pipe, the access and what we find.
Yes. See Town Center, Gateway and Cascade View, or the full service area.
Standards and sources
These public references sit behind the rules and checks this page mentions.