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Joined: Oct 2008
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Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2008
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Got a leak in the (I think) 3/4 copper line feeding my house. When house is shut off, I can hear water outside the foundation wall. It’s about 5 feet down and the first five feet outside the wall are under a concrete porch. Dirt is all heavy wet clumpy clay anytime I’ve dug before. Betting the leak is just outside the wall, any ideas how far sound would travel that deep along a copper line and through 8” of concrete.
Locator is coming this morning to locate the leak. Is it worth doing yourself or paying someone if it’s under the porch? Schedule k copper comes on a roll and needs a compression fitting, anything else I need to know? Is a mini excavator the only way to go? Never run one, but betting I could figure it out.
Please share any advice or suggestions, I’m all ears and want to keep water on at my place, right now we’re turning it off and on as needed at the street, can’t see dumping 48 g/h down the earth after I’ve paid for it.
Keep Smiling
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Joined: Dec 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2010
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is rerouting a new line from the street an option? one that doesn't go under the porch?
My diploma is a DD214
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8 |
Have you contacted your public adjuster for insurance? NOT the insurance company YET. But, your public adjuster.
IF you do not have a good public adjuster, find one. Ask around, if necessary. Or, do an online search for adjusters in your area.
A good one is worth gold.
Slaves get what they need. Free men get what they want. Rehabilitation is way overrated. Orwell wasn't wrong. GOA member disappointed NRA member 24HCF SEARCH
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,663
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,663 |
Just my opinion, but if it is copper and sprung a leak, then a good probability is the entire pipe is on its way to failing. You might find enough good pipe to patch it but no guarantee it’s not going to pop another hole somewhere when it’s under pressure again. I would just pay to PEX it from the main to the house and be done with it.
Swifty
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971 Likes: 1 |
Bummer, you typically own it from the street valve to your house.
You can buy “insurance” that’s about 75 bucks a year that will replace it in some places - but that’s generally before a leak.
The last 2-3 feed from the house is where movement screws with pipes / sewer lines... but if it’s gone, typically it needs to be replaced up to the street meter / valve.
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8 |
Bummer, you typically own it from the street valve to your house.
You can buy “insurance” that’s about 75 bucks a year that will replace it in some places - but that’s generally before a leak.
The last 2-3 feed from the house is where movement screws with pipes / sewer lines... but if it’s gone, typically it needs to be replaced up to the street meter / valve. Typical Homeowners' insurance covers from the property line to the house. Again, a savvy public adjuster can tell you for sure after inspecting your policy's Dec page. That said, here in FL, insurance companies are trying to wrest that from their coverage liability. is rerouting a new line from the street an option? one that doesn't go under the porch? This is how I solved the problem at one property AFTER getting paid by the insurance company.
Slaves get what they need. Free men get what they want. Rehabilitation is way overrated. Orwell wasn't wrong. GOA member disappointed NRA member 24HCF SEARCH
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,396 Likes: 4
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69,396 Likes: 4 |
You have a 3/4" main line. If you should decide to replace the entire line, take a look at the connection to the city main to see if you can go with a larger size. You'll get considerably more water that way.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,663
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2008
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Bummer, you typically own it from the street valve to your house.
You can buy “insurance” that’s about 75 bucks a year that will replace it in some places - but that’s generally before a leak.
The last 2-3 feed from the house is where movement screws with pipes / sewer lines... but if it’s gone, typically it needs to be replaced up to the street meter / valve. That’s the way it is in Nebraska for both the water and sewer. Just went through this. Fortunately they replaced the water line with 2 PEX pipes 1 is a spare as a precaution. They were able to repair it as it wasn’t under concrete. The water line in front cost 700 bucks to repair. The sewer line in the alley to where it broke was a 1000 bucks. Neither covered by home insurance, but even if it was they wouldn’t have paid a cent due to deductible. Don’t think Colorado is much different.
Swifty
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,154 Likes: 35
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,154 Likes: 35 |
Technically you have a water service leak
Not a water main leak.
The main is mine, the leak is yours. I used to enjoy telling people that.
Sorry bout your situation though.
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,219
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,219 |
It runs from meter under driveway, across yard and into house under porch. This may be fun. Locator should be here in a little while and he’ll trace line and find leak, betting it’s under porch and right beside foundation wall. May be able to move it to side of house, going to wait for locate to make more informed decisions. Keep ideas coming please
Keep Smiling
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Joined: Jan 2012
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,154 Likes: 35 |
Is that copper routed through any poured concrete slab near that porch? If so that might be were the corrosion and/break has happened.
Either, way I would replace the whole route and not with copper.
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,327
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,327 |
It runs from meter under driveway, across yard and into house under porch. This may be fun. Locator should be here in a little while and he’ll trace line and find leak, betting it’s under porch and right beside foundation wall. May be able to move it to side of house, going to wait for locate to make more informed decisions. Keep ideas coming please Maybe before you spend a lot of money, contact Bristoe here on the forum. He has an economical and time saving plan for your problem. And you won't have to dig up your entire line all at one time.
It's official. I missed the selfie deadline so I'm Maser's sock puppet because rene and the Polish half of the fubar twins have decided that I am.
ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ μολὼν λαβέ
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,737 Likes: 14
Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,737 Likes: 14 |
Replace it with 1” pvc. I hate planning, I hate the word plumbing. My last day plumbing is approaching. Good luck, if I lived close I would help you.
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,616
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,616 |
Any of you people that live close to me should know this. If you ever and I mean ever, need some help on your home improvement project, I'm probably busy.
Have Dog
Will Travel
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,731 Likes: 1 |
Around here you need to know what the local water authority will approve,copper/pex each area is different. you can also do a pressure test to verify that there is a leak,wont tell you where it is just for sure that it is leaking. If you currently have copper and do switch to pex,double check that your panel is /isn't grounded to the copper,may need to drive a rod in.
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Joined: Aug 2015
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2015
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I don't know about other places but if you want to upsize your water service line and meter here you will pay big bucks. Replace the whole line to the meter.
Let's Go Brandon! FJB
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 138
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 138 |
Around here 3/4 cts is standard for residential service. Pex is not approved for direct burial here. Five feet deep, hire a contractor. Call in a miss utility ticket. Usually around here, town will adjust water bill after a leak if you show a repair was made.
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 138
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 138 |
Don't forget electrical ground if you replace copper with plastic.
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 138
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 138 |
Don't forget electrical ground if you replace copper with plastic.
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,219
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
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Posts: 2,219 |
Hadn’t thought of the ground, thanks a bunch. Will call town Monday or the guy that helped me yesterday to see if copper or pex is approved. May try and run to the side of the house opposite where it comes in now and manage from the inside as sweating aint that hard. Please keep offering suggestions and help me do it right. One suggestion I’ve heard is if leak is directly outside foundation wall to punch a 6” or so square hole at the pipe and fix without digging under porch. Seems silly to me to put a hole in your foundation, but a contractor said he’d done it successfully.
Keep Smiling
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