Water leak question

[Yadkin]

Wounded puppy.

[Aerovette]

First estimate came in. Plumber says " We don't do band-aids" and wants to replace everything between the meter and the house. $4300.00.

[Big bob]

Get digging and see how deep it is. It is not rocket science and plenty of day labors just keep a eye on them. If needed mini excavator rent wasn't much.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Big bob

Get digging and see how deep it is. It is not rocket science and plenty of day labors just keep a eye on them. If needed mini excavator rent wasn't much.

Not me. I have enough projects of my own to deal with.

Small odd jobs, sure I'll help.

Digging trenches? Hard pass.

[PLRX]

Originally Posted by Anjdog2003

I got as far as "Trying to help an old friend".

and is a she

mistress?

Anyway, here is some info on how to tend to the problem.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by PLRX

and is a she

mistress?

Anyway, here is some info on how to tend to the problem.

I'm single so no one would be a "mistress". They'd be a friend, girlfriend, friend with benefits, or something to that effect.

We're just friends.

Would I? Sure. Will I? Very doubtful.

[PLRX]

Originally Posted by Aerovette

I'm single so no one would be a "mistress". They'd be a friend, girlfriend, friend with benefits, or something to that effect.

We're just friends.

Would I? Sure. Will I? Very doubtful.

I'm sure she refers to you with similar words, brother. Everything is good.

[Big bob]

Originally Posted by Aerovette

Not me. I have enough projects of my own to deal with.

Small odd jobs, sure I'll help.

Digging trenches? Hard pass.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Big bob

Which part is not clear?

[Big bob]

Originally Posted by Aerovette

Which part is not clear?

That is what I was thinking. A couple day labors a few hours work if it is a normal city lot.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Big bob

That is what I was thinking. A couple day labors a few hours work if it is a normal city lot.

No digging without a permit for this kind of work.

Day laborers can make a bad problem worse. All she needs is a shovel to go through the water line and a moderate issue becomes an emergency.

[Big bob]

Originally Posted by Aerovette

No digging without a permit for this kind of work.

Day laborers can make a bad problem worse. All she needs is a shovel to go through the water line and a moderate issue becomes an emergency.

You call miss dig they mark where anything is. Then get permission to turn the water off or have them do it. Start at the house cut the line dig as you pull to where you disconnected it from the meter. How far is it from the house to the meter? Why would you care if they damage the leaking line you're replacing?

Or even better just leave the old line in. I have fixed many with a tractor with a breaking plow a hundred feet only takes a few minutes to trench.

[04 commemorative]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

I guess different areas different things.

The area I used to live in the water meters were inside the house about a foot above the cellar floor, of course its on the house owner!

Now from the curb cock in with houses over 70'away lines buried at about 5' down or so from that it could get expensive.

In our old homes they were in the basement like you just said....now in the townhouse it is in the driveway in front of the house.....all other homes her are the same way.

[Big bob]

Originally Posted by 04 commemorative

In our old homes they were in the basement like you just said....now in the townhouse it is in the driveway in front of the house.....all other homes her are the same way.

Depends on where you live your frost line is much deeper. I have seen them where you could pull them out with your truck then lay the new line and tamp the grass back with your foot.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by Big bob

You call miss dig they mark where anything is. Then get permission to turn the water off or have them do it. Start at the house cut the line dig as you pull to where you disconnected it from the meter. How far is it from the house to the meter? Why would you care if they damage the leaking line you're replacing?

Or even better just leave the old line in. I have fixed many with a tractor with a breaking plow a hundred feet only takes a few minutes to trench.

In Texas, you call 811 (not sure if 1-800=DIG-TESS is still good or not). You're calling to locate really all the other utilities, so you don't sever a CATV/phone/fiber line. Your electric and gas lines are going to be much deeper than the water line here, but it's still a nice reminder of where everything is.

Permission to turn water off? What? People here turn the water off when there's a rare hard freeze, or maybe when they're going on vacation for a while, etc. Why would you need permission to do that? Even if you did for some odd reason, who's going to know or care?

Replacing the whole line is overkill and unnecessary. What's needed is what I suggested.....locate out the line, carefully dig it up closer to the house, see which way the water is flowing, then rinse and repeat until you find the problem. That's lots easier than just digging up the whole thing. I'm betting the shifting soil broke a connection fitting loose.

[Big bob]

Originally Posted by Bill

In Texas, you call 811 (not sure if 1-800=DIG-TESS is still good or not). You're calling to locate really all the other utilities, so you don't sever a CATV/phone/fiber line. Your electric and gas lines are going to be much deeper than the water line here, but it's still a nice reminder of where everything is.

Permission to turn water off? What? People here turn the water off when there's a rare hard freeze, or maybe when they're going on vacation for a while, etc. Why would you need permission to do that? Even if you did for some odd reason, who's going to know or care?

Replacing the whole line is overkill and unnecessary. What's needed is what I suggested.....locate out the line, carefully dig it up closer to the house, see which way the water is flowing, then rinse and repeat until you find the problem. That's lots easier than just digging up the whole thing. I'm betting the shifting soil broke a connection fitting loose.

100 percent but I can't see it from here. But if it's a hundred feet or less and he can't find a wet spot it is easy just to pull the whole line. As far as the turn off on the meter if you pull a permit they will know and some are fussy about it because the meter is their property. I have never had to ask or pay for permission to fix anything so not sure how that works.

[GTOguy]

Originally Posted by Aerovette

First estimate came in. Plumber says " We don't do band-aids" and wants to replace everything between the meter and the house. $4300.00.

While there can be merit in replacing it all, IME, it indicates a non-skilled diagnostician. It takes a real tech to diagnose and repair the issue. Any bozo can rip out and install a system

I remember 25 years ago I was testifying against a Russian Mafia transmission shop owner in court, and he told the judge that he installed an entire new transmission rather than risk repairing the old one. (it needed an external $8 kick down switch). He didn't want to jeopardize the customer, so all new was best. I told the Judge it was equivalent to having a burnt out ceiling bulb, but instead of just replacing the bulb, ripping out the fixture, wiring, switch box, and wiring to the main panel and relay 'just to be sure'. The Judge took the guys license.
Just because a guy wears a uniform doesn't mean he's a pro. Shop around. Read reviews.

[Yadkin]

A day laborer would suggest that you dig it yourself.

[Newby]

Originally Posted by Aerovette

First estimate came in. Plumber says " We don't do band-aids" and wants to replace everything between the meter and the house. $4300.00.

Is the existing line galvanized, copper, pvc or poly?

Originally Posted by Aerovette

I deduced the leak is between the street/meter and the house.....


It looks like the sprinkler branches off BEFORE the main shut off to the house and before the sprinkler flow indicator. That would also explain flow with the house turned off. BUT still the ground is not swampy. Being in Texas means the lines are probably not even buried 1 foot, which should make the ground muddy.

What do you think is going on?

Can you find the Tee where it branches off easily? Have a probing rod?
It would be the most likely spot.
That Tee should be moved to be part of a manifold at the house main shutoff.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by Newby

Is the existing line galvanized, copper, pvc or poly?

Most likely PVC, but I don't know. My current house, and last house were, so I assume hers is too.

Originally Posted by Newby

Can you find the Tee where it branches off easily? Have a probing rod?
It would be the most likely spot.
That Tee should be moved to be part of a manifold at the house main shutoff.

No, not easily.

Here is how I "think" it's run. Pure guess based on location of what is visible.