How do I Repair a Service Line Water Meter Leak?

Repairing the water service line at the meter requires gaining access to the leak. Leaks on the street side of the water meter are the responsibility of the city or county water department. Leaks on the house side are the homeowner’s responsibility. Leaks from broken or cracked pipe can be solved by cutting out the damaged area and inserting a new piece of pipe, along with any necessary connectors.

Things You'll Need

• Bowl or cup
• Shovel
• Pipe wrench
• Pliers
• Pipe cutter
• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Turn off the water at the meter. Different types of shutoff valves are used for this purpose. Use a bowl or cup to dip the water out of the hole where the meter is located.

2. Remove the dirt or mud from around the pipe and meter location with a shovel. Leave plenty of room to work with wrenches around all sides of the pipe. Turn on the water briefly to pinpoint the location of the leak. Watch for water exiting and turn off the water as soon as possible after locating the leak.

3. Disconnect the end of the pipe from the meter with the pipe wrench and pliers. Cut several inches past the break in the pipe. Measure and cut a new replacement piece of pipe.

4. Connect the old pipe to the new pipe with a straight coupler. Attach the end of the new pipe to the connector that’s attached to the meter. A backflow preventer may also be connected to the meter. If so, attach the new pipe to it. The leak may be between the backflow device and the meter. If so, take it apart and determine what connection parts or fittings are broken and replace them with new parts. Do not allow any dirt or debris to get inside the open water pipe.

5. Turn on the water and check for leaks. Run the water inside the house for several minutes at all faucets to clear the air and dirt out of the water lines.

Tips & Warnings

• Some shutoff valves are similar to garden hose valves that are turned clockwise to close and others are valves that are turned 90 degrees to stop the water flow.

• Many types of pipes are used for the supply line to the house. The straight coupler used to connect the old and new pipe together must be glued, soldered or compression-fitted, depending on the type of existing pipe.

• Sharkbite connectors are the easiest to install and can be used to connect pipes made of different materials, like copper and PVC.

• The leak may be anywhere along the pipe from the meter to the house. Look for wet places in the yard or at the house if the leak is not at the meter.

• Always take safety precautions and wear proper safety equipment while using hand tools.

• If the leak does not stop after turning off the water, call your local water department to make the repairs. The leak is located on the street side of the meter when water continues to flow after shutting off the water to the house.

References

• RemodelingMySspace: Repairing Burst or Frozen Water Pipes
• On the House: How to Prevent and Repair a Broken Water Pipe

Resources

• Myonlineplumber.com: Water Pipe Repair Help and Advice