How to Recognize When Your Main Water Line Needs Repair
Signs of a leaking water main can range from obvious to subtle. Here are some indicators to watch for:
- Increased water bill: An unexplained spike in your monthly water bill is often one of the biggest indicators of an underground leak.
- Puddles or soggy areas on your property: Significant leaks in the water line can cause pooling in your yard or garden. If you notice unusually damp areas without an obvious cause, it’s time to contact a plumber.
- Potentially reduced water pressure: A sudden drop in water pressure throughout the home (rather than just one faucet) may signal a water main issue, though municipal factors could also be involved. If in doubt, it’s best to call in professionals.
While Plumbing Express offer both spot repairs and trenchless main line replacement, a full water line replacement is sometimes needed due to deterioration. We highly recommend installing a new main water line when this happens. Although it’s a significant job, our skilled plumbers are fully equipped to handle it and we offer competitive pricing for trenchless water line repair, replacement or installation.
Call us at (678) 439-9540 for professional main water line repair & replacement services you can count on. One of our friendly plumbers will be glad repair or replace your main water line.
Over 1,500 reviews on Google & Yelp
Rod did a great job! He was so friendly, kind, and helpful! A wealth of knowledge! Thanks for the quick service!
I recently had a slab leak, and reached out to 2 other plumbing companies, who in total wasted a month of my time to not resolve my issue. I found Plumbing express on Google spoke with Ty who had Ed out the next day to conduct a leak detection. Ed also provided me with a same day estimate and scheduled a repair date. Jason was scheduled to do the repair on Monday. He showed up on time and keep me updated on what was going on with the repair. Once the leak was spotted he showed me where it was and what cause it and had the leak repaired within a few hours. This team made this nightmare issue very smooth. I can't take them enough for moving so quickly to get this done before the holidays.
Antonio showed up 3 hours after my first contact with Plumbing Express. He figured out the problem and gave me a quote that I accepted then started immediately. He spent the time necessary to do a professional and complete job and fixed the problem. He then took the time to show me how to flush my water heaters.
Daniel was easy to deal with and professional. We have an issue with a water stain in our master bathroom and Daniel was able to rule out that it was not a plumbing issue. He offered some suggestions that it could be which we are investigating now. If you have any plumbing needed, I would recommend Daniel with Plumbing Experts!
Antonio Y did a great job helping us get back to non-freezing showers. Fast, responsive, professional - highly recommend.
Dave did fantastic work replacing my old tank water heater with a new tankless one. He and Abram were great - they answered all my questions and were incredibly helpful.
The guy they sent me (Daniel) was really great. Smart, clear, straightforward, and kind. He diagnosed my issue quickly and recommended a trustworthy company to work with. I’d work with them again without hesitation.
They came out same day & fixed my leak. Great job!! I highly recommend Express Plumbing
I called Friday evening, VERY late. 1) A LIVE person answered the phone. 2) He said he could have a service technician out Saturday morning. 4) I wanted to use the same technician that had helped me in 2022, and he was not available for Saturday so he set it up for Monday morning between 8 and 12. 5) I received a call at 8:05 on Monday to inform me that Dave Tzikas would be at my house between 9:00 & 9:30. 6) He was here at 9:30 and it was raining. 7) He put the rubber protectors over his shoes and serviced my Rinnai tankless water heater and also installed a new Pfister kitchen faucet. 8) Dave Tzikas' work was finished in a VERY professional and timely manner. 9) The pricing for both projects was VERY reasonable. ✳️ I have just given you nine VERY GOOD REASONS to use PLUMBING EXPRESS ✳️
Today was troubleshooting day and he did a great job finding the leak in my gas line. We have a plan in place to have the entire line replaced this week.
I was in a panic about a water problem. I got my water bill and it was almost double the previous month. I checked everywhere and could not find any leak. I called one plumbing company, and there was a charge to come out to check, and that fee would not apply to any work. I called Plumbing Express and their lesser fee would apply to any work, so I made an appointment. Their rep, Antonio Yin, came to help me. He was on time, very pleasant, and listened when I explained my problem. He checked in the crawlspace, and said he could hear water running. It was an upsta.irs toilet that I rarely use. He had the parts on the truck, showed me the cost, and I was happy to get it fixed. He made the repair in no time, and even asked if there were anything else I needed help with before he left. Antonio Yin was absolutely great. I highly recommend Plumbing Express.
Will be my go to for any work needed done. Anthony was outstanding. His customer service and workmanship are unmatched!
Why Choose Plumbing Express?
Our plumbers help protect the health and comfort of our clients when hot water supplies are out, piping systems deteriorate, and drains don’t work.
We offer a direct road to appropriate, complete solutions through excellent home plumbing in the Metro Atlanta area. Thorough estimates are available during our regular business hours and all consultations, inspections, repairs and installations are fulfilled with friendly service.
Working with us means you are served by a locally owned company and by a knowledgeable, dedicated staff whom are passionate about plumbing.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the potential impacts of water line leaks?
Plumbing related leaks are more serious than you realize. They’re expensive, bad for the environment and they are everywhere!
Did you know Atlanta has the second-highest water rates in the country? There are two reasons for this: many pipes are almost 100 years old and more than 10 billion gallons of water are wasted each year. (1)
20% to 35% of all residential homes have water leaks related to toilets. Toilets are often undetected because they are a silent source of water loss. (2)
If a toilet can leak as much as 300 gallons a day, imagine how much a water main line leak will waste. A typical home will leak as much as 2,000 to 20,000 gallons of water a year. (3)
Depending on which Georgia County you live in, you are impacting specific limited resources.
If you live in Gwinnett County, then your water is coming from Sidney Lanier Lake.
North Fulton County, South Fulton County and Dekalb County are using the water from the Chattahoochee River.
These two natural resources are managed with the coordinated efforts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Department of Natural Resources.(4)
It’s important to your personal budget, community, and your local natural resources that water leaks are detected and repaired.
Please don’t disregard potential signs of a water leak!
- How to identify outside water main leaks?
Usually, when you search Google for “water main line”, it’s because a public water service line has broken and disrupted traffic. While gushing water flooding the street is an obvious sign of a problem, a broken home water line is less obvious.
You might notice a change in your water bill, but you don’t want to wait for that bill! You can contest the increased water bill cost, but that’s more stress.
There are two main options for detecting leaks in your water main:
- Have someone else do it…
- You can do it yourself.
Option 1
Plumbing Express is the reliable plumbing company serving Atlanta, Georgia. We offer competitive pricing for trenchless water line repair, replacement or installation. Whether you need a new water line for your garden, barn or house, we will give you great value at a fair price. Plumbing Express offers a free inspection.
Option 2
We recommend reading the four steps for detecting water leaks that are listed, on Gwinnett County’s website for water services education. You can view those steps by clicking here.
If you prefer video, Alliance for Water Efficiency, has one you can view by clicking here.
- Is a main water line leak your responsibility or not?
In most cases, leaks between the meter and the house are the responsibility of the homeowner.
This can be complicated by whether the water meter is on the public right-of-way side of the property line or not.
That’s why it’s important to contact the utilities company for your municipality to confirm the location and responsibility of the water lines, water meter and right-of-way property lines.
Possible locations of water main repair. Image source: Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources
- Can I do a water main line repair myself?
No matter how talented a DIY-er you are, there are several reasons you do not want to do a water main line repair yourself.
- Federal, State and Local Laws
- Permits
- Fees
- Water Contamination
- Damaging public water service lines
You could contaminate and pollute the water you and your neighbors consume.
Don’t believe us? Here’s what the Alliance for Water Efficiency has to say on the matter:
“The water utility should be contacted before any attempt to repair the water supply pipe. If the utility deems the leak to be the responsibility of the homeowner, a professional plumber should perform all repair work. This repair should never be attempted by a homeowner.” (5)
- How much does it cost to install, repair, or replace the water main line?
The average cost of a water main repair in Atlanta:
- Low: $650
- Average: $850
- High: $1,000
The average cost of a water main replacement in Atlanta:
- Low: $2,200
- Average: $3,400
- High: $4,000
You can cross reference the above prices from a non-bias 3rd party source at Home Guide’s plumbing estimates.
Regardless if you do the repair yourself or hire a professional plumber, the prices will fluctuate based on the following:
- Location of the leak
- The harder to access, then the higher the price
- Depth of pipe
- Obstructions to pipe
- Length of the pipe
- More material means more cost
- Trenchless repair is cheaper
- Digging is more expensive
- If the pipe is long, then digging is required
- Local Permit fees
- Application fee
- Inspection fee
- Re-inspection fees
- Percentage of total construction cost
- Violation fee (DIYs take note)
- Labor / Time