Hey everyone, I've discovered a leak somewhere in the water line that connects my house to the city supply. The water meter keeps moving even when the water's turned off, so I'm pretty sure it's not from my sprinkler system. I want to dig to access the line myself to save some cash since my home warranty won't cover the digging, but they will fix the pipe itself. What are the best practices for digging down to the pipe while minimizing damage to my lawn? Should I just aim to dig as little as possible and reseed afterward?
3 Answers
Just a heads up, make sure you call dig safe before you get started. Trust me, grass won't be your biggest concern if you accidentally hit something buried down there!
A good tip is to slice off the top layer of grass like you’re removing sod, then set it aside. Once you're done with the digging, just place it back down. That way, you’ll keep your lawn looking decent after the repair!
If you know where the leak is, that helps a lot. In my area, water lines are usually about 5-6 feet deep, but I just found out it’s around 18 inches where you are in Southern California. Make sure you’re prepared for that digging—could be a lot depending on where it’s leaking!