Is Water Line Insurance Necessary?

July 18th, 2012 Posted in Water Line Repair
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Have you received a solicitation to purchase insurance for your water supply line?  If so, you may be wondering if such insurance is necessary.  As a general rule, the answer is that your money is probably better spent on something else.  Most water supply lines will last a very long time without any problems.  If a leak does develop, it is usually not very difficult for your plumber to dig up the line and repair it.

However, there are some situations in which you may want the peace of mind of water line insurance.  There are two types of water lines that are known to be prone to leakage.  Galvanized steel pipes were used for water supply lines in many homes up through the 1960s.  From the mid 1970s to the early 1990s, polybutylene pipes were commonly installed.  Both of these types of pipes are known to fail prematurely.  Polybutylene typically fails within the first ten to fifteen years and cast iron pipe will last a little longer.

When these pipes fail, the entire line will need to be replaced and the water line repair  can cost thousands of dollars.  If your water supply line is galvanized steel or polybutylene, water line insurance might make sense.  Be sure you buy it from a reputable company and read the policy carefully for any exclusions or limitations.

Fortunately, most of the galvanized steel and polybutylene water supply lines have long since been replaced so check to see what type of pipe you have for your water supply line before springing for insurance.  Copper, PVC, and Polyethylene (PE) pipe are very reliable and usually last for decades without any problem.  If in doubt, your plumber can help you determine what type of water supply line you have and whether insurance is needed.

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Water Line Replacement Pipe Choices

April 8th, 2012 Posted in Water Line Repair
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If you are replacing a broken or leaking water line, you will need to make a decision about what type of replacement pipe to install.  You may be thinking that you should replace the water line with the same type of material, but that’s not the case.  In fact, if your old water line is polybutylene or galvanized steel, you are better off using a different material for the new water line.

Galvanized steel is a black rigid pipe that was used for water supply in the 60’s and 70’s. Galvanized pipe is rarely used anymore because it tends to corrode and leak after 20 to 30 years, its expensive, and difficult to work with.  Polybutylene is a type of plastic pipe that is usually blue that was popular in the 80’s and 90’s.  It is off the market because its starts leaking after 5 to 10 years.

Copper pipe is an excellent choice for water supply lines.  Both flexible and rigid copper pipe is relatively easy to work with and very durable.  The main problem with copper pipe is that it is expensive.

Polyethylene (PE) tubing is a flexible plastic pipe that is currently a popular choice because it is inexpensive and easy to work with.  It is not quite as durable as copper pipe, but still a good choice for a water supply line.

PVC is rigid plastic pipe that can be used for water supply lines.  It is easy to work with and inexpensive, but since it comes in ten or twenty foot sections, it requires numerous fittings each of which is potential site for a leak.

Your plumbing professional can help you decide which type of pipe will makes the most sense for your water line repair.

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Water Service Line Insurance Coverage

November 7th, 2011 Posted in Water Line Repair
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If you are a homeowner who has received a dire sounding letter stating that you are not covered by water service line insurance and offering to sell you coverage, you may be wondering if you need this coverage.  Your water service line is the pipe that runs from the municipal water main at the street to your home and supplies your home with fresh water.  Your water utility is responsible for maintaining the water main, but you are responsible for maintenance and repairs to the water service line between the water main and your home.

Water service lines can rupture or leak and when they do, a water line repair or replacement of the line can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.  The first sign of a leaky or broken water service line is usually a mushy area in the yard or an unusually high water bill.

Galvanized or polybutylene water lines tend to deteriorate over time and when these pipes start leaking, it is usually best to replace the entire line.  Depending on the length of the line and the type of replacement, expect to pay somewhere between $2,000 and $4,000 for a water line replacement.

If you have copper or PVC pipe, it may be repairable for less than $1,000.  With all this in mind, coverage that costs a few dollars a month sounds pretty good, but keep in mind that the majority of water service lines last 20 to 30 years or more without a problem.

If you decide that you need coverage, examine the policy very closely.  Some may exclude coverage for thawing of frozen pipes or normal wear and tear or have other exclusions that deny coverage for most causes of broken water pipes.  Be sure you are getting the coverage you need before signing on the dotted line.

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When to Replace a Leaking Water Service Line

November 3rd, 2011 Posted in Water Line Repair
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Most homeowners first recognize that they have a problem with their water service line when one of two things happens:  Either they get an unusually large water bill or they find a mushy spot in the yard.  Both of these are signs that your water line is leaking and calls for immediate help from an experienced plumbing contractor.

With a leaking water line you will have the option of replacing the entire line or just repairing the leaky section.  The answer depends on your unique situation and your plumber will be able to help you make the decision, but in general if you have a polybutylene or galvanized steel line you should replace it.  If you have copper or PVC, then answer depends on the condition of the pipe and the cause of the leak.

Older galvanized steel or polybutylene water lines tend to deteriorate over time.  When a leak develops, it usually signals that the entire line is on the verge of failure and the pipe should be replaced rather than repaired.  Sometimes these lines can be repaired, but they will usually start leaking again in a new location.  Spending money on repairs is a waste of time for galvanized steel or polybutylene.  It’s best to bite the bullet and have the line replaced.

Copper and PVC water lines are another matter.  These can often be repaired, depending on the reason for the leak.  If the leak is at a fitting or caused by shifting of the ground and the pipe otherwise appears to be in good condition, it is usually possible to repair PVC and especially copper water supply lines with good results.  Your plumber can help you decide if water line replacement or water line repair is the best option for these types of pipes.

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Underground Pipe Replacement With Pipe Bursting

November 3rd, 2011 Posted in Water Line Repair
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If you need to install a replacement water supply line, sewer line, or any other type of underground pipeline due to an underground pipe leak, you should ask your plumbing contractor if pipe bursting is a good alternative for you.

The traditional method of replacing a buried water service line or a sewer line involves digging a trench from where the line hooks up to the public utility lines to the spot where it enters the home.  A new pipe is laid and the ends are hooked up with the old line often left in the ground.

This method works well enough, but there are some serious disadvantages.  The digging usually leaves a long scar through your yard that may take years to fill in completely with grass and blend in with the rest of the yard.  Even if you put sod over the trenched area, the new grass rarely blends perfectly with the established lawn.

In addition, your water or sewer line may run under sidewalks, driveways, and landscape features such as ponds, retaining walls, and other hardscapes.  To avoid damaging these features and leaving a scar in the yard, consider trenchless pipe replacement.

Pipe bursting works by pulling a bursting head through the old pipe.  This head breaks up the pipe and presses the pieces into the surrounding soil.  New pipe is attached to the bursting head and pulled through the burst area.  The new pipe ends up in the space left behind by the old pipe.

With pipe bursting, some digging is necessary at each end of the pipe to hook it up to your home and the public water or sewer line, but no digging is usually necessary in your yard and your driveways, sidewalks, and landscaping will be left undisturbed.

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Repairing a Leaky Water Service Line

November 25th, 2010 Posted in Water Line Repair
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Most people rely on a professional plumber to repair or replace a leaking or broken water service line.  This is usually a big, dirty job that involves a lot of digging.  If you want to try to handle the work yourself or if you just want an understanding of what a water line repair entails, here is an overview of the process.

First, the source of the leak needs to be located.  This is generally a mushy spot in the yard.  Start digging in the mushy area and follow the water back to the leak.  Be sure to have all underground utilities marked before you do any digging.  Once the leak has been found, turn off the water at the steet and at the house.

At this point, you will have to decide whether the leak can be repaired or whether the entire line needs to be replaced.  If the water service line is galvanized pipe or polybutylene, you should replace the entire line rather than trying to fix the leak.

Once polybutylene or galvanized pipes start leaking, they have probably reached the end of their service life and should be replaced.  You will need to rent a trenching tool to dig a trench from the meter to the location that the water line enters your home and install a new water service line.

A leaking copper or PVC pipe can usually be repaired if the pipe seems to be in good condition except for the leaking section.  Cut out the leaking section of pipe and install a new section of pipe using the appropriate fittings.

Turn the water supply back on at the street and at your home and check for leaks before burying the new supply line or the repaired supply line.

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