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HELP!!! Leak in water service lateral! Zz Yzx 01-29-2008
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Posted by Zz Yzx on January 29, 2008, 1:38 pm
Hi all;

I just discovered a leak in my water service lateral between the meter
and the shut-0ff valve where the pipe enters the house. It looks like
the buried pipe makes a straight shot from the meter to the valve, as
the leak is right where you'd expect if so. It'sa fair-sized leak
too, probably 1 or 1.5 gallons per minute.

BUT, the soil around the leak is saturated with water, and the holes
I've dug to expose the pipe are full of muddy water with nowhere to
drain. I can't find the pipe or be exactly sure where the leak is.

I've called some plumbers but none are immediately available. Is
there anyway to find the pipe and leak aside from digging up the whole
planter?

Thanks a heap,
-Zz

Electric Radiant Heat 468x60
Posted by Speedy Jim on January 29, 2008, 1:45 pm
Zz Yzx wrote:

> Hi all;
>
> I just discovered a leak in my water service lateral between the meter
> and the shut-0ff valve where the pipe enters the house. It looks like
> the buried pipe makes a straight shot from the meter to the valve, as
> the leak is right where you'd expect if so. It'sa fair-sized leak
> too, probably 1 or 1.5 gallons per minute.
>
> BUT, the soil around the leak is saturated with water, and the holes
> I've dug to expose the pipe are full of muddy water with nowhere to
> drain. I can't find the pipe or be exactly sure where the leak is.
>
> I've called some plumbers but none are immediately available. Is
> there anyway to find the pipe and leak aside from digging up the whole
> planter?
>
> Thanks a heap,
> -Zz


What material is the service lateral?
Galv iron?
Lead?
Copper?
Plastic?

Posted by Zz Yzx on January 29, 2008, 2:03 pm
>What material is the service lateral?
>Galv iron?
>Lead?
>Copper?
>Plastic?

It's PVC where it leaves the meter box, but it's copper where it
daylights and goes into the house. I'm betting its PVC from the meter
to the joint near the shut-off valve.

Posted by Speedy Jim on January 29, 2008, 2:27 pm
Zz Yzx wrote:

>>What material is the service lateral?
>>Galv iron?
>>Lead?
>>Copper?
>>Plastic?
>
>
> It's PVC where it leaves the meter box, but it's copper where it
> daylights and goes into the house. I'm betting its PVC from the meter
> to the joint near the shut-off valve.

Prime suspect would be the coupling/adapter between
the PVC and copper. Could have a split in it.

Can you shut the water off at the meter long enough
to excavate around that likely area?


Posted by M Q on January 29, 2008, 2:54 pm
Zz Yzx wrote:

> Hi all;
>
> I just discovered a leak in my water service lateral between the meter
> and the shut-0ff valve where the pipe enters the house. It looks like
> the buried pipe makes a straight shot from the meter to the valve, as
> the leak is right where you'd expect if so. It'sa fair-sized leak
> too, probably 1 or 1.5 gallons per minute.
>
> BUT, the soil around the leak is saturated with water, and the holes
> I've dug to expose the pipe are full of muddy water with nowhere to
> drain. I can't find the pipe or be exactly sure where the leak is.
>
> I've called some plumbers but none are immediately available. Is
> there anyway to find the pipe and leak aside from digging up the whole
> planter?
>
> Thanks a heap,
> -Zz

A pump is really, really useful. Ideally a "trash pump", but with some
screaning you could fake it with a sump pump. (make sure you have a gfci
somewhere in the circuit).
Rent a pump if you don't have or want to buy one.

Once you find the leak, you most likely will have to shut off the
water to repair it.


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