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
Anthony did a great job on the repairs and the install. Communication was great and left the area very clean!
Rod came out to give me a quote on options concerning a water line from the meter to the house. He was very professional, personable and courteous. He explained my options and a breakdown of the costs. Very honest about the work to be done and what it would take to either repair or replace the supply line. Very much appreciated.
We always call Plumbing Express with any plumbing issues and request Daniel Edwards! He is knowledgeable, efficient and explains everything before he completes the job!
My service guy was extremely great and professional. It was great working with him to replace my water heater.
They did exactly as they said and even came back to check when I thought there was a problem with the pilot light. I was very pleased.
Great experience with Daniel. Very knowledgeable and professional. Will definitely call again if I need a plumber!
Daniel is was amazing! I have a serious issue happening with my plumbing and he did everything to show me the issue and several options to fix it. He was kind and helpful and made me feel assured of my next steps. I highly recommend working with Plumbing Express.
Very Professional! Courtesy! A very positive experience! Will use in the future!
Rod was very professional and personable. Enjoyed working with him.
When you see good reviews, you want to believe them. In my case, I experienced professional, kind and courteous service. Cool mannered Antonio Yin from Plumbing Express walked in, listened to my complaints and request for a garbage disposal upgrade. After putting everything in perspective, he made a product suggestion, I accepted, and he installed it. Pure professional genius and great customer service. Thanks Antonio!
He was great. Knocked in out. Knew what he was doing and friendly. That alone means a lot.
Daniel explained in easy to understand terms what my plumbing problem was and how to fix it. I am very impressed with Plumbing Express. They replumbed my rental home several years ago and did a fabulous job. Daniel and his team will be replacing part of my mainline in the next week.
Daniel Perez was fantastic. Immediately fixed the leaking pipes connected to my tankless water heater and even offered to work on my shower door. Will use Daniel for all my future plumbing needs.
Was very pleased 😀 Dave was very professional and answered all our questions concerning our water heater. Will definitely call again when needed.
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