Water line repair
When the buried pipe between your water meter and your house breaks, the fix is usually one small, targeted dig. Here is how that repair works and how to tell if repair is enough.
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.
What gets repaired
The water line, also called the service line or main line, is the pipe that carries water from your meter, usually near the street, to the point where it enters your house. In most Alabama water systems the utility looks after everything up to and including the meter, and the property owner looks after everything after it.
A repair fixes a damaged section of that pipe: a split, a pinhole, a pulled-apart coupling, a cracked fitting or a section crushed by roots or a vehicle. The rest of the line stays in place.
Signs the line needs repair
- Water bubbling up or pooling in the yard between the meter and the house
- A strip of grass that stays wet or grows greener than the rest
- The meter's low-flow dial keeps moving with everything in the house turned off
- Water pressure dropped at every faucet at once
- A sudden jump in the water bill with no new fixtures or guests
- A walkway or driveway section sinking along the pipe route
- Hissing at the meter box or where the pipe enters the house
How a repair is done
- Confirm the break. With the house shut off, the meter should stop. If it keeps moving, the buried line is leaking.
- Find the exact spot. The line is traced and the leak is pinpointed by sound, or with tracer gas on plastic pipe, so only a small hole is needed.
- Call 811. Public utility lines are marked before any digging. Your own service line will not be marked, which is why it is traced first.
- Expose and cut out the damage. A hole is opened at the mark, the water is shut off at the meter, and the damaged section is removed.
- Splice in new pipe. A new section is joined with repair couplings, the line is pressure-tested and the trench is backfilled and tamped.
A straightforward spot repair on an accessible line is often done in a few hours.
When repair is not enough
A single break on a newer plastic or copper line is a good candidate for a spot repair. Replacement is usually the better value when:
- The line is galvanized steel. It is thin and narrowed throughout, and another leak is rarely far behind.
- This is the second or third leak on the same line.
- Pressure is low everywhere in the house, which often means the old pipe has narrowed inside.
- The line runs under a driveway or slab and is likely to need more digging later.
What to ask before work starts
- Is the leak located, and how confident are you in the spot?
- Will you pull a permit if one is needed?
- What pipe and fittings will you use?
- Does the price include filling, tamping and putting the lawn or concrete back?
- What warranty comes with the repair?
Alabama plumbers hold licenses from the state Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board. Get the number before work begins.
Common questions
How long does a water line repair take?
A spot repair on an accessible line is often finished the same day. Long runs, rock, concrete or permits can stretch it out.
Will my water be off during the repair?
Yes, while the line is open. It is shut off at the meter and turned back on for the pressure test.
Who pays for the water line from the meter to the house in Alabama?
In most Alabama water systems, the property owner. The utility usually maintains the main and the meter. Confirm with your own utility.
Does homeowners insurance pay for water line repair?
Standard policies often exclude the buried pipe itself but may cover sudden water damage it causes. Some policies offer a service line add-on. See our insurance guide.
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.