Columbus Water Line Repair and Installation Services

The main water line is a part of the plumbing system that brings the fresh water supply into a house. An underground water line extends from the city’s supply piping that sits below ground outside the yard for homes with city water, or a private main water line connects the home to a private well installed within the property line to deliver well water indoors.

These water lines are buried underground below the frost line. The location of the main line provides good protection for this piping – the depth of the water pipe prevents freezing, that can lead to a pipe bursting, and the surrounding ground creates a barrier to help shield the pipe from harm.

While water main pipes are designed to last many years, line replacement is necessary once the existing pipe degrades or if a broken water line is discovered.

• In a Columbus, OH area house built before about 1960, galvanized steel pipes were typically used for the installation of a private water service line. These pipes typically last around 40 to 50 years, and longer in some cases – the old pipe original to the residence may still be in use. At this age, the pipes are likely to experience issues such as rust, corrosion, and mineral buildup that cause plumbing problems like low water pressure and discolored water, and replacing them with new pipe should be a current priority.
  
  
• If you have newer water lines made of copper, PVC, CPVC, or PEX, it’s possible to suffer a damaged pipe that will need water line repairs or replacement to fix. The pipe can crack or break due to shifting ground and conditions present in the yard.

Due to buried placement of the water line that connects the house to its fresh water supply source, it can be difficult for homeowners to detect the presence of a leak from a damaged line on the property. The best way to uncover damage and leaks in underground water main pipes is to work with a licensed professional plumbing contractor.

Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing performs water line repair and water line replacement for homeowners across the Columbus, OH, area. Our team of licensed plumbers in Columbus will inspect your property to detect damaged water lines that require repair or need to be replaced. Our water line services include trenchless water line repair and trenchless water line replacement in addition to traditional excavation. Trenchless methods allow us to access the existing pipe and install a new pipe lining to stop leaks or complete the installation process of new piping without significant disruption to your land.

Contact a Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing plumber today to diagnose a damaged pipe and provide you with a quote for repair services or water line replacement cost.

The main water pipe that connects a home’s plumbing system to the private well or municipal city line can be damaged by activities that take place above the buried pipe, shifting below the surface of the yard, soil conditions, and plumbing issues. Common causes of damage include:

• Freezing and Thawing Soil
• Shifting Earth Around the Pipes
• Tree Root Penetration
• Wear and Tear
• Mineral Deposits
• High Water Pressure
• Corrosion and Rust
• Underground Pests

Water lines can be affected in various ways by the issues mentioned above. These issues can cause a water line to crack or lead to pipe bursting. This damage leads to water flowing out into the soil instead of into your home through the private pipe, which can cause significant water waste as well as a higher water bill if you pay the cost for city water. Minor damage may be fixable through water line repair, while major damage or extensive structural issues need to be corrected through water line replacement.

Because the supply water line is buried and out of sight, homeowners need to know the conditions that can be a sign of damage to these pipes. Watch out for these plumbing system symptoms in your house or around your property that may stem from a broken water line below the yard:

• Low Water Pressure Inside the House
• Discolored Water Caused by Rust or Dirt in the Lines
• Higher Water Bill Costs That Cannot Otherwise Be Explained
• Foundation Cracks
• Vibrating Indoor Pipes When No Water Is Running Through Plumbing Fixtures or Appliances
• Mold Growth or Mildew Development on Lower Levels of the Home
• Damp Spots on Floors at Ground Level
• Puddles of Water on Your Property or Soggy Soil in an Area of the Yard
• Bubbling Water in the Area of the Road Where the City Water Main Line Runs

Anytime you notice one of these symptoms, take action to address potential water main damage right away. Call Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing to schedule an appointment with a licensed professional plumber who will inspect your property and find the location of pipe damage.

Damage to a buried water line within your home’s property line doesn’t often present a homeowner with a wide range of solutions to correct the issue. Water line repairs and water line replacement are the only common methods to fix the pipe, and not all situations are repairable.

Whether you have a damaged water pipe or old line that can be fixed through repair, is water line repair your best course of action? Or would it be better to go ahead and install new water pipe lines with water line replacement? Here are some points to consider as you decide between water line repair and water line replacement:

• What material is the water pipe made of? If your home still uses a galvanized steel water line, this water pipe is well past its useful service life and needs to be replaced.
  
  
• How old is the water line? Copper pipes usually last between 50 to 70 years; PEX pipes last around 50 years; and PVC or CPVC pipes can last up to 100 years. If the age of the current water line is approaching, at, or beyond the expected service life for the material, water line replacement is already in your future. Instead of paying the cost of the repair now, you may decide it is better to save this money and use it to cover water line replacement cost for this needed plumbing upgrade.
  
  
• Do the pipes require repairs often? Repeated troubles with any part of your plumbing system, from a pipe to a fixture, signal that the component is wearing down or flawed. Replacing the pipe through the installation of a new water line is a better choice moving forward than continuing to repeat the process of repairs.
  
  
• How much do repairs and water line replacement cost? Cost is an important factor when making any decision regarding home improvements, as everyone’s budget is different. Repairs for a minor leak may not cost much at all, while the quoted water line replacement cost may seem well over your budget. Weigh your options in respect to your budget and consider which cost is a better investment for your situation. Most homeowners will choose repair versus replacing water lines if the repair cost is low, but when the repair cost totals 50% or more of the cost for complete water line replacement, new installation is usually the chosen solution.

Your options for water line repairs or water line replacement will heavily depend on the condition of your water lines as well as the issues affecting them and factors unique to your property. Your plumber will be able to advise you which common methods of repair or replacement can be used to solve your water line problems and help you determine the best solution to pursue.

Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing performs the following types of repair and replacement work for main water lines in homes throughout the Columbus, OH, area: