water lines
Main Water Line Repair
Your main water line is the lifeline of your plumbing system, constantly delivering fresh water under high pressure. Because this pipe is buried underground, it is susceptible to freezing temperatures, ground shifting, tree root intrusion, and natural deterioration (especially in older homes with galvanized or polybutylene pipes). When this line fails, the symptoms are immediate: a massive drop in water pressure, a flooded yard, or a shockingly high water bill.
Repairing a main water line requires precision and speed to restore your home's habitability. Depending on the extent of the damage, we can perform a spot repair to fix a single break, or replace the entire line if the material has completely degraded. Modern trenchless technologies often allow us to pull a brand-new, durable PEX or HDPE pipe through the path of the old line, avoiding the need to trench through your driveway or landscaping.
Signs You Need Water Line Repair
- A sudden, significant drop in water pressure across all fixtures in the home.
- Unexplained muddy, swampy spots in your front yard, even when it hasn't rained.
- Water utility company alerts you to abnormal usage or a massive spike in your bill.
- A hissing or rushing water sound coming from where the pipe enters the foundation.
- Discolored, rusty, or dirt-filled water coming out of your faucets.
Our Process
Locating and Diagnostics
We pressure test the line and use acoustic sensors to pinpoint the exact location of the underground leak.
Utility Marking
We coordinate with local authorities to mark underground gas and electrical lines before any digging begins.
Excavation or Boring
The damaged section is carefully exposed via targeted digging, or access pits are made for trenchless replacement.
Repair and Restoration
The pipe is repaired or replaced, inspected under pressure, and the trench is carefully backfilled.
What Affects the Cost
- The length of the line requiring repair or replacement.
- The depth of the pipe (lines below the frost line require deep, shored trenches).
- Obstacles like concrete driveways, retaining walls, or large tree roots.
- Whether local municipal codes require the installation of a new backflow preventer or pressure reducing valve.
✓ Safe to DIY
- Shutting off the water at the city meter using a water key to stop the flooding immediately.
✕ Stop & Call Us
- Attempting to dig up the yard yourself without calling 811 to mark utilities; hitting a buried gas or high-voltage line is deadly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for the main water line?
In most municipalities, the city is responsible for the water main in the street and the meter itself. The homeowner is completely responsible for the pipe running from the meter into the house.
Can you fix a polybutylene water line?
Polybutylene is a defective plastic piping used in the 80s and 90s that degrades and catastrophically ruptures when exposed to chlorine. It cannot be repaired; the entire line must be replaced.
Why do I need a Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV)?
If the city supplies water at a pressure higher than 80 PSI, it will slowly destroy your home's fixtures, appliances, and pipes. A PRV regulates that pressure down to a safe 50-60 PSI.
Related Services
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