Broken water line between the meter and your house?
In most of Alabama that buried pipe is the homeowner's to fix, and it leaks around the clock until someone does. Talk with a local repair provider who locates the break first and fixes it with one small dig.
- Leak located before digging
- Repair or full replacement
- No obligation to book
Is it the water line?
Check in two minutes before you call.
- Turn off every faucet, toilet and sprinkler.
- Find the meter box near the street and look at the small low-flow dial.
- If it moves, close the shutoff valve at the house.
- Still moving? The buried line is leaking.
- Found firstTraced and pinpointed, then one opening
- Repair or replaceSpot fix or a new line, meter to house
- Trenchless optionsBored under driveways and trees
- 35 Alabama citiesFrom Huntsville to Mobile
Water line repairs, start to finish
Every job is different, but nearly all of them fall into one of these. Pick the one that sounds like your yard.
Water line repair
Restoring a broken yard line: the damaged piece is dug out and replaced with new pipe, or, on an old line, the whole run to the house is renewed.
Learn moreMain water line replacement
Installing a new water line from the meter to the house, by open trench or by boring, and abandoning or removing the old pipe.
Learn moreBurst line & emergency repair
An urgent repair for a water line that has split or separated, usually seen as water surging up in the yard or a sudden loss of pressure.
Learn moreTrenchless replacement
Installing a new water line underground by boring or pulling pipe, with small pits at each end instead of a continuous trench.
Learn moreGalvanized & old line replacement
Replacing an old galvanized steel or unknown-material service line with modern pipe from the meter to the house.
Learn moreUnderground leak repair
Tracking down and fixing hidden leaks in buried pipe: the main yard line, sprinkler mains, and lines out to a shop, barn or pool.
Learn more
Three ways to fix a broken line
The right fix depends on the pipe, how old it is, and what is sitting on top of it.
One small hole at the marked leak. The broken section is cut out and new pipe is spliced in with repair couplings.
- Best for
- Newer plastic or copper line, first break
- Disruption
- One patch of lawn
- Time
- Often a few hours
A narrow trench from the meter to the house and a new line laid in, usually flexible plastic that moves with Alabama clay.
- Best for
- Old galvanized lines, repeat leaks, open lawn
- Disruption
- A strip of yard, restored after
- Time
- Often one day
Two small pits and a bore between them. The new line is pulled underground without opening the surface.
- Best for
- Lines under driveways, walks or big trees
- Disruption
- Two small pits
- Time
- Often one day
What a broken water line looks like
One sign alone can mislead. Two at once, or one that keeps growing, is a strong pointer to the yard line.
From the first call to a dry yard
The order most Alabama water line repairs follow.
- CallDescribe what you are seeing and ask about price and timing.
- ConfirmThe provider checks the meter with the house shut off.
- LocateThe line is traced and the break pinpointed. Alabama 811 marks public lines.
- FixSpot repair or a new line, by trench or bore.
- TestPressure-tested, backfilled and the surface restored.
Alabama cities with their own page
Each page covers the local ground, what the water utility has on record, and the ZIP codes covered. Not listed? Call and ask about your address.
Greater Birmingham
Jefferson, Shelby and St. Clair counties
The ground has a lot to do with it
The same pipe lasts longer in some yards than others. These four soils shape most repairs in the state.
Black Belt clay
Around Montgomery, a dark clay swells and shrinks enough to work couplings loose over the years.
Red clay on limestone
In the Tennessee Valley, clay holds water near a break and the rock below can open soft spots.
Ridges and rock
Around Birmingham, water runs downhill along the trench, and rock makes every dig slower.
Coastal sand
In Mobile and Baldwin County, sand drains a leak away. The bill is often the only clue.
What changes the price of a repair
No honest provider can quote a buried line sight unseen. These are the things that move the number:
- Spot repair or full replacement
- How long the line is and how deep
- Lawn, concrete or landscaping on top
- Rock, clay or caving sand
- Trench, bore or a mix
- Permits and after-hours timing
Questions homeowners ask
In Alabama, does the city or the homeowner pay to fix the yard water line?
Usually the homeowner. Most systems own the main and meter and stop there. A few draw the line elsewhere, so a call to your utility confirms it.
How do I know my main water line is broken?
Turn off every fixture and close the shutoff valve at the house. If the meter's low-flow dial keeps moving, water is escaping from the buried line.
Can a water line be fixed without digging up the whole yard?
Usually. The leak is located first and the repair is made through one small opening. Full replacements can often be bored under driveways.
Should I repair or replace my water line?
Repair a newer plastic or copper line with one break. Replace galvanized steel or a line that keeps leaking.
How long does a water line repair take?
A spot repair is often finished the same day. A full replacement commonly takes a day.
Is the person I talk to a licensed plumber?
Calls are connected to independent providers. Ask for their Alabama plumbing license number before work starts.
Will my water company reduce a bill after a leak?
Many Alabama utilities review bills caused by repaired leaks. Keep the invoice and ask about a leak adjustment.
Water coming up between the meter and the house?
Call to talk with an independent water line repair provider serving your part of Alabama. Ask about price and timing, then decide.