Water Main Breaks: The Call We Get Most
Water main breaks are our number one job. Your main water line, also called the service line, runs underground from the meter at the street to the point where water enters your house. Every drop you use travels through it, so when it cracks or splits, you feel it fast.
Around Sacramento, Delta clay soil swells when it’s wet and shrinks in our dry summers, which stresses buried pipe year after year. Add old pipe and tree roots, and a line can fail in a single afternoon.
Watch for these signs of a broken water line:
- A wet, soft or unusually green patch in the yard, even in summer
- Water bubbling up near the meter box, sidewalk or driveway
- A sudden drop in water pressure all through the house
- The meter dial still turning when every fixture is off
- A water bill that jumps for no clear reason
- Brown or cloudy water after a period of normal water
Water Line Repair or Full Replacement?
Not every water line repair means a new line. We find the leak, look at the condition of the pipe on both sides of it, and tell you honestly which option makes sense. If you can’t see where the water is coming from, our leak detection service narrows it down before anyone starts digging.
Spot Repairs
If the line is in good shape and the damage is in one place, such as a cracked fitting or a section hit by a shovel, we dig at the leak, cut out the bad piece and connect new pipe. We only recommend it when the rest of the line is sound.
Service Line Replacement
Many homes built in the 1950s through the 1970s in older Sacramento neighborhoods still have galvanized steel service lines. Galvanized pipe rusts from the inside out, so once one leak shows up, more usually follow. We run a new service line from the meter to the house, connect it, and pressure-test it before we backfill. If the pipes inside the house are just as old, we can talk through repiping at the same visit.
Water Pressure, Shut-Off Valves and Banging Pipes
Many water line problems start where the line enters the house.
Pressure Regulators and Low Pressure
A pressure regulator, sometimes called a PRV, sits on the main line and keeps street pressure at a safe level for your pipes, fixtures and appliances. A worn regulator can let pressure creep up and strain the house, or drop it to a trickle. Low pressure can also come from a leak, clogged galvanized pipe or a valve that isn’t fully open. We test the pressure, find the cause, and adjust, repair or replace the regulator when that’s the problem.
Shut-Off Valves
Your main shut-off valve is what stops the water in an emergency. Old gate valves often seize or won’t close all the way. We replace stuck or leaking main shut-offs with valves that close fully, and we show you where yours is. While we’re at the line, we’ll also check any backflow preventer on it and let you know what we see.
Water Hammer Arrestors
A loud bang when a washing machine or dishwasher shuts off is called water hammer. It’s a pressure shock that shakes pipes and loosens fittings over time. We install water hammer arrestors near the appliances causing it, and we check that high pressure isn’t making it worse.
How We Handle Your Water Line Repair
A broken water line is stressful, so we keep the process simple. We come out, find the problem, and give you a free estimate on site with a real price. Nothing starts until you approve it. Then we make the repair, test everything to make sure it works properly, and close you out. We don’t lead with a teaser price that grows once the truck shows up.
All of our work is guaranteed. Most new installs carry a one-year warranty on leaks and labor, and you can qualify for financing right from your estimate. Seniors and veterans save $50, and you can find our other current offers on the coupons page.
If water is running where it shouldn’t, shut off the water at the main valve or the meter and call us. We take emergency plumbing calls every day, Sundays included.
Call 2 Brothers Plumbing
Your water line is easy to forget until it fails. When it does, you want a plumber who finds the real problem, explains your options in plain words and does it right the first time. We’ve been in the trades since 1988.
Call 2 Brothers Plumbing at (916) 997-6370 or request your free estimate online.