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.
