What's Involved in Repairing a Water Main?

Water main repair is something that can be rather complicated and you certainly don't want to wait to get it done. When your water main is down, seeing as it's the main source for water into your house, you'll want to make sure it's fixed right away. Of course, you'll want to make certain it's fixed correctly.

You may be wondering if this is a do it yourself project. Unless you are a licensed Northeast plumber or have extensive experienced with plumbing material maintenance, installation and repair, it's likely that you'll want to call in a professional to assist with this project. As a cost saving measure, it may be feasible for you and some friends to dig out around the main line so that the plumber who is coming to replace or repair the broken line will have easy access. By doing this you'll save him a lot of time and you'll in turn save lots of money.

If the water main runs underneath a walkway or driveway, you may find it next to impossible to dig around the pipe where it goes below the concrete or asphalt. There is an easy solution. Borrow a hose from a nearby neighbor and use the high powered stream of water to get through the water. Be sure to be neighborly and give some money ($10 or $20 should be sufficient) to the neighbor as a thank you for letting you use up their water and their hose.

It can be quite costly to replace a water main so doing what you can to make the plumber's job a bit easier, and quicker, will prove a nice savings for you in the long run. Insurance does not cover the expenses involved unless the water main broke at the point where it enters your home. It's highly unlikely that the break will occur in that one small area. If the main breaks outside of your property then the city is responsible for the costs to fix it. More often than not though the break will actually occur in your yard, which means the costs are coming directly out of your pocket.

Plumbing experts in the Northeast know how to get the job done right!