I've noticed a significant amount of water pooling on the left side of my driveway, and both a plumber and a sprinkler technician have confirmed it's likely due to a main line leak. The sprinkler system appears to be fine. The plumber I consulted couldn't locate the cutoff valve and suggested an extensive repair by re-piping my entire house for a hefty sum of $25,000, which seems outrageous to me. I'm not certain where the water line enters my house, but I suspect it starts at the water meter located on the right side in front of my house. Could anyone advise how I can trace the pipe to find where it enters, and what reasonable repair options I might have when I consult the next plumber?
2 Answers
I hear you on that price; $25k does sound pretty steep. But I can understand why it might add up when considering the costs to dig everything up, repair it, backfill, and then re-pour either a slab or asphalt. If your driveway is gravel, it might be overpriced by about $7,500. But if you’re not in a high-cost area, that quote does seem excessive. You might want to get a second opinion.
You should definitely call 811 to have them mark the location of your underground utilities. That can help you pinpoint where everything runs. I had a main leak too, and even though it was accessible, it still cost me around $1,000 to fix. Also, as for that $25k quote, that seems high. Repairs are usually based on how many fixtures are involved, and for a regular house, that amount should raise some eyebrows.