Every homeowner experiences water problems in their home once in a while, but most of those happen within the home or the pipes within the immediate vicinity of the home. Sometimes though, the unexpected happens and you will have problems with your main water line.
When this happens, it can be a big issue because most homeowners are not even aware of that portion of the plumbing. The exterior water line to your home may be buried up to nine feet in the ground, so early detection of problems with the line can be hard.
The other thing is even when homeowners know of the existence of the main water line, they assume that responsibility for maintaining the line belongs to the city. But as TE Johnson & Sons Management explains, this assumption is wrong; it is your job to look after the main water line to your home.
The relationship between your water service line and the public main
Knowing how your home connects to the public main water supply will help you understand how the system works. It will show you where the city’s responsibility ends and yours begin. There are three main sections to the system that connects your home to the public water supply.
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The water distribution main
This is the community water supply. It is a large underground pipe that brings water within reach of your house, but not into your property. This part of the system runs under the street. It is owned and maintained by the city.
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The public water service line
This carries water from the water distribution main and delivers it to your property. The portion of the public water service line that runs under public land is the city’s responsibility. From the point where it meets your lawn, the public water service line is your responsibility.
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The private water service line
This connects to the public water service line and is the primary pipe that brings water to your home. It is entirely within the limits of your property and is buried deep underground. Looking after the house main is your responsibility.
Problems with your water service line
Your water service line rarely has problems. But due to the pipes being underground, when problems happen they can be hard to detect. Here are the signs that there is a problem with the water service line to your home:
- Puddles or soggy spots in your front yard – This is from water leaking out of damaged pipes and soaking into the lawn.
- Sinkholes in the driveway or sidewalk – Similar to soggy spots in the yard.
- Low water pressure – If water is being diverted from your home through a leak, water pressure inside the home will fall.
- High water bills – If your water usage has not changed, high water bills may mean a damaged water service line.
- Dirty or smelly water – This usually comes from rust or soil finding its way into the pipe.
The typical causes of damage to your water service line include the following:
- Careless digging – Digging in the yard without taking note of the position of pipes.
- Tree root encroachment – Tree roots may puncture pipes or dislodge them.
- Corrosion – Aging, rust, and chemical reactions in soil may lead to pipe damage.
- Ground shifting – Movements in the soil around the pipe will damage them.
- Extreme temperatures – Sudden and extreme temperature shifts can cause pipes to crack.
How much will it cost you to replace a water service line?
Not all damage to your water service line will require you to replace the pipes. However, even if replacements are not necessary, fixing water service line issues are tedious and expensive. This is because of the amount of excavation needed.
The deeper the water service line is buried, the more money you will spend to fix the problem and your homeowner’s insurance is not likely to pay for the problem. The cost of replacing your water service line depends mostly on your location.
- If you live in places where the average water line depth is less than 3 feet, warm-weather locations like Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, or Texas, your costs will be lower.
- On the other hand, homeowners in Iowa, Minnesota or Connecticut, have their pipes 6-8 feet below ground and will pay more as a result.
In addition to the depth of pipes, the distance between the property line and your house matters. Owners whose homes are set a good distance from the street will pay more. Also, the type of pipes you use will influence prices, with copper being more expensive than plastic.
On average, here is what you should expect to pay to replace your water line:
- Average replacement cost: $3,600
- Cost of diagnosis: $220
- Average service line depth: 4.58 feet
Homeowners in New Hampshire have the highest cost at $5,809, while those in Nevada and District of Columbia pay $1,439 and $1,431, respectively. The biggest factor in these prices differences is how deep the water service line is buried.