The water service line is the buried pipe that brings water from the street connection and meter to your house. When it leaks, you may see a wet yard, a spinning meter, low pressure or no water at all.
If water is surfacing in the yard or the house has lost pressure, call (440) 468-0237. We answer 24/7 and can explain how to isolate the break.
When a service line break is an emergency
No water
A broken line can drop pressure to zero. Check whether neighbors have water too.
Water surfacing
A wet patch or a bubbling spot in the yard can be a leak above the line.
Spinning meter
A meter that moves with everything off points to a leak.
Sudden low pressure
A drop across the house can mean a partial break or a failing valve.
Close the main shutoff if you can reach it. If the leak is outside, we will help you find the curb valve and tell you whether to call the water utility first.
Low water pressure: causes and checks
Low pressure is common and not always the service line. A clogged aerator, a failing pressure reducing valve or narrowed galvanized pipe can all cause it.
We test pressure at an outdoor hose bib and compare it to pressure at fixtures. If the pressure is low at the hose bib, the problem is in the service line or at the utility. If it is fine outside but weak inside, the house piping is the issue, and repiping may be the cure.
Locating a buried leak
Digging blindly is expensive. We use acoustic equipment to listen along the line and a line locator to trace its path, so the excavation is at the right spot.
Many service line leaks are found by a meter test. If the meter runs with the house main closed, the leak is in the buried section. Our leak detection page lists the full process.
Repair or replace the line
Spot repair
- One short leak in an otherwise sound line
- Smaller excavation
- Lower cost
- Does not fix an aging line
Full replacement
- Old or repeatedly leaking line
- New material for decades of service
- Can be done by trenching or by pulling a new pipe
- Higher cost, longer disruption
The decision depends on the age and material of the line and where the leak is. Houses built in the 1950s and 1960s may have galvanized or older copper services.
Who is responsible for what
Utilities typically own the main in the street and often the connection up to the meter or curb stop. The property owner usually owns the line from that point to the house. Rules vary, so ask your water utility where its responsibility ends.
Water main breaks do happen locally. A Mastick Road main break in September 2026 flooded three houses and left about 15 without water, according to local news. A main break in the street is the utility's job, a leak on your side is yours.
Permits and excavation
The City of North Olmsted requires permits for plumbing work, and a right-of-way registration is needed for work in the public right of way. Contractors must be registered with the city.
We handle the permit steps and call for utility locates before digging.
What affects the price of water line repair
What drives the cost of a service line repair
Pricing is shared before the repair starts, with the reasons behind it. Costs vary a lot because depth, length and surface restoration vary. Standard homeowners policies often exclude the buried line unless you added an endorsement. For a number that fits your home, call (440) 468-0237.
Wet yard or no water?
Call the 24/7 line. We will help you isolate the leak and plan the repair.
Questions about water line repair and replacement
Yes. The line at (440) 468-0237 is open 24/7. A leaking service line gets priority, and we will coach you on shutting off water.
Close the main valve inside the house and watch the meter. If it still runs, the leak is between the meter and the house, which is usually the owner's side.
A sudden drop can be a leak, a partly closed valve, a failed pressure reducing valve or a main break nearby. We test pressure to narrow it down.
Plumbing work generally needs a permit in North Olmsted and work in the right of way has its own registration. We handle both.
Sometimes. Pull-through and other trenchless methods can reduce digging, depending on soil and the existing pipe.
It depends on material and soil. Copper and plastic can last decades. Old galvanized lines tend to fail sooner.
Still unsure what you need? Call (440) 468-0237 and describe what you are seeing.