Main water line replacement
When a yard line keeps leaking, is old steel, or has lost pressure, replacing the whole run from the meter to the house usually costs less over time than patching it again.
Installing a new water line from the meter to the house, by open trench or by boring, and abandoning or removing the old pipe.
When replacement makes sense
- Your line is galvanized steel, or your utility's inventory lists it as galvanized or lead
- It has already leaked and been patched before
- Water pressure has faded over the years at every fixture
- Water comes out rusty or brown after sitting
- You are remodeling, re-landscaping or replacing a driveway anyway
How the new line goes in
Open trench. A narrow trench is dug from the meter to the house along the old route or a new one. It is the simplest method across open lawn.
Boring. A new line is pushed or pulled underground without opening the surface, which is useful under driveways, walks, patios and big trees. See trenchless replacement.
Most crews use a mix: open trench across the lawn and a bore under the concrete.
Pipe materials
New Alabama service lines are usually plastic, such as PE or PEX, sized at least as large as the old line. Plastic does not rust, flexes as clay moves and comes in long rolls with few joints. Copper is still used in some cases. Ask what material and size the provider will install and why.
What the job looks like
- Plan the route and mark public utilities through Alabama 811.
- Pull a permit if the city requires one for service line replacement.
- Install the new line by trench, bore or both.
- Connect at the meter and the house, often adding a new shutoff valve.
- Pressure-test before backfilling.
- Restore the surface: fill, tamp, seed or sod as agreed.
Many residential replacements are finished in a day.
Check with your utility first
Every Alabama water system has listed what its service lines are made of, including the customer side. Some systems plan to replace lead or certain galvanized lines over time. Before paying for a full replacement, ask whether your address is on such a list and whether the utility will replace its side at the same time.
Common questions
How long does a main water line replacement take?
Many homes are done in one day. Long runs, rock or permits can add time.
Do I need a permit to replace my water line in Alabama?
Many cities require one. Ask the provider to pull it.
Is the old pipe removed?
Often it is abandoned in place to avoid extra digging. Ask what will happen to it.
Repairs by city
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.