Know your water line before anyone digs
Sixteen guides to the buried pipe between your meter and your house. Find the shutoffs, read the warning signs, learn how galvanized, copper, PEX and polyethylene age, and see how we weigh a repair against a new line. Each guide closes with the questions we would want you to ask any CSLB-licensed plumber, us included.
- How to run a water meter leak test
With every fixture off, a moving meter means water is going somewhere. This test takes under an hour and gives a plumber a useful starting point.
- Warning signs of a leaking main water line
Leaks on the buried line show up in the yard, on the bill and at the tap. Knowing the pattern helps you act before damage spreads.
- Who is responsible for which part of the water line
Responsibility usually changes at the meter. Confirm the split with the City of Fullerton before you hire anyone or report a leak.
- Galvanized steel water service lines
Galvanized pipe was common in postwar homes. It corrodes from the inside, which narrows the pipe, discolors water and eventually causes leaks.
- Pinhole leaks in a copper service line
Copper lines can last a long time, but pitting from water chemistry and soil contact can open small leaks that are easy to miss underground.
- Choosing pipe for a new water service line
The best material depends on your route, soil, install method and what local code allows. Here is how the common options compare in general terms.
- Repair or replace the main water line
The right answer depends on the pipe's condition along its whole length, not just at the leak. These questions help you and a plumber decide.
- Trenchless or open-trench water line replacement
Both methods install a new line from the meter side to the house. They differ in how much ground is opened and which lots they suit.
- The main shutoff valve and pressure regulator
These two parts sit where the service line meets the house. When either fails, the whole plumbing system feels it.
- Whole-house low water pressure and the main line
When every fixture is weak, the cause is usually at or before the point where water enters the house. Work through these checks in order.
- How a buried water line leak is located
Good leak location keeps digging small and in the right place. These are the methods a plumber may use and what each one tells them.
- Tree roots and the water service line
Roots rarely grow into a pressurized water line the way they invade sewer laterals, but they can still push, crush and crack it as they grow.
- When the water line runs under the slab
Many Fullerton tract homes sit on concrete slabs. If the supply line passes beneath the slab, a leak there behaves differently and is often rerouted rather than repaired.
- Permits and inspections for water line work
Rules and fees can change, so the City of Fullerton is the only reliable source. This guide covers the questions to ask and how the process usually fits into a job.
- What drives the cost of a water line job
No two lots are the same, so this site does not quote prices. Understanding what shapes a quote helps you compare written estimates on equal terms.