Water Line Repair in Greensboro, NC

Where your responsibility starts

This is the first thing to sort out. According to City of Greensboro Water Resources, the City handles leaks up to the property boundary. Beyond that point, any leak in the service line running into your home is private, and the owner is responsible for it. A leak in the street, at a hydrant or at the meter should be reported to Water Resources dispatch at 336-373-2033.

Signs of a service line leak

• A wet or unusually green strip between the meter and the house
• Water pressure that dropped and stayed low throughout the house
• A higher bill with no change in how you use water
• Dirty or air-filled water after a period of normal service

To confirm it, use the City's shutoff test: turn off all water use, close the main valve at the house and check the meter. If it still shows use, the leak is either in that valve or on the line outside.

Repair or replace the line?

A single leak on sound pipe can be dug up and repaired at the spot. If the line is old, has leaked before, or is a material prone to failure, replacing the whole run from the meter to the house is often the better use of money. Many plumbers can pull new line through the old path with limited digging, depending on soil and what's in the way.

The City of Greensboro issues its own plumbing permits, and its fee schedule includes a line item for a water line to an existing house. The plumber doing the work normally pulls it.

Before anyone digs

North Carolina's 811 service marks publicly managed underground utilities for free, and asks for notice three working days before digging. Private lines on private property are not marked by 811, so your own water line, sewer lateral and any yard gas piping may need to be located separately. A plumber planning the dig should account for both.

Lead and older lines

The City's water quality report says lead in drinking water comes mainly from service lines and home plumbing, and the City offers lead testing on request. If your home is older and you're replacing the line anyway, it's worth knowing what the old pipe was made of.

What affects the cost

Length of the run, depth, soil and rock, driveways or landscaping in the path, and repair versus full replacement all drive the price. Ask whether restoring the lawn or hardscape is included.