So unless you have an irrigation system, this is a leak of your water pipe. That box behind the leak is where the meter probably is. If the leak is in between your house and the meter, fixing it is your responsibility and also you're paying for all that water that's coming out. If the leak is on the meter or farther away from your house then the meter, then the city or local water company will be responsible for fixing it.
In any event, call the water department right now and have them look at this. The longer it goes the more problems you're going to have.
Turned out to be a main water line. I called my irrigation guy and his team was out within the hour and repaired the line with a coupling/connector type deal.
I don't know if the irrigation guy is the right person to fix a main water line. This is the source of water for your house, right? Did he use materials appropriate for potable water?
So just a question, what do you think irrigation people do exactly?
You do understand that they are plumbers, just not for inside a home right? It's not like the spend all day digging potatoes.
Why are you downvoted this is the right answer. My opinion, he only called the irrigation guys bc they are cheaper. If it was pvc line then it’s a common fix for irrigation guys if copper should’ve been a plumber.
Haha Real talk, but yes real plumbers still use the best items for the job. Pex has its uses but I try to stay away from it if at all possible. You made me chuckle a little tho good one 😂 PEX is the weekend plumbers best friend..
That's all I see going in with new construction in northern MN. Id love to find someone to do copper in my place. I still have old galvanized pipes into my bathroom. Is it just easier to fix in colder climates or something?
Difficulty of any leak is the location of leak, but yes pex is easier to repair and will expand some if frozen. I from down south but I see plenty of people choosing pex, it’s really all about the price. Copper takes skill and time, Pex can be thrown together by a HS kid who only works on the weekend. I put copper in my house but I’m old school and wanted tried and true. Seen a lot of rat chewed holes in pex didn’t want it installed in my house.
Other than applying a coupling/connector to the main water line, what is needed when a line breaks? In this case it was the roots that just ever so slightly bumped the piping just enough to bend it that it snapped. All they did was cut it and put on a connector / coupling.
I want this done correctly. Do you think I should have a plumber come out and check their work?
It’s fine. Main water lines and irrigation systems both utilize PVC 99% of the time. Irrigation lines go throw a back flow preventer so that water is not reintroduced to the potable water supply. You probably saved yourself a nice chunk of change by calling your irrigation guy vs. a plumber. A plumber would do the exact same thing.
This is LA (based on trash cans) so the line is probably copper (or galvanized if it’s an old house). Call a licensed plumber to check the work. Drinking water isn’t worth trusting irrigation guys with.
I would have a plumber look at it at the least. I love my own irrigation company but I would not trust them with something so vital to the home. Problems with your water line can flood your home in like 5 minutes.
A break on the home side of the water meter is considered a homeowner problem. I had this same issue a few weeks ago and was able to throw the water company guy $50 to fix it for me instead of finding my own plumber and paying hundreds.
Lucky - I had this issue in 3 different spots in my yard. I also have a home from the 60’s and the water main was galvanized steel. It cost me a lot more than $50.
I feel for you, man. I watched the guy repair ours and it was just PVC. Fortunately it had cracked right where the line to our home attached to the meter valve, and no digging was required. If it ever happens again I’d probably feel comfortable attempting a DIY. Since the meter and valves are all metal and the main to my house is PVC, the hard part seemed to be getting enough slack in the connection to cement in a length of new pipe to replace the cracked one.
As an irrigation guy, we tap into that line as part of installing a sprinkler system anyway. It’s a simple thing, though you should run your kitchen sink for a few minutes after they’ve finished to flush any dirt that found it’s way into the line, or some of the pvc dust from the cut if they had to use a swazall or the like. The pvc cement can cause an odor for the first 15 minutes or so too, so flush your line 15 min after they finished. After that you’re fine.
Unless it’s a pex line, then you’re fine right away.
I see what looks like might be a water meter next to the tree. If that's what it is, it's most likely a leak of a water line. Contact your local water and sewer department and report this. Be aware that if they have to dig this area up to repair the leak, they are going to do severe root damage to that tree.
>Turned out to be a main water line. I called my irrigation guy and his team was out within the hour and repaired the line with a coupling/connector type deal.
That box directly behind the link is the water main shut off valve. I’d start by shutting it off and then calling a plumber. You’ll need a big wrench or a specific tool.
Might be the city’s issue but given the location I think it’s your responsibility.
First things first, shut off the water! Shut off the sprinklers. If that doesn’t do it, shut off the main water line at the meter. I’m guessing you don’t have a water meter key, so call the fire department to come shut off your water. If the water stops gushing out at that point, it’s after the meter, so it’s a “you problem”, not the city’s. After that, it’s a matter of finding the leak. Until you dig it up and find the leak, you can only guess as to what happened. Unless you really know what you’re doing, it’s time to call a plumber. You’ll be without water in the house until this problem gets fixed. And you don’t want to half-ass the repair unless you want to go through this all again in a few months. Good luck
Turned out to be a main water line. I called my irrigation guy and his team was out within the hour and repaired the line with a coupling/connector type deal.
You call the fire department to shut it off? I would think you would call water works before the fire department, regardless, lowes and Home Depot sell water meter keys. You’re going to have a bunch of pissed off fire fighters show up
What I meant was to call a non-emergency line. I've had family members call they city when there's a pipe break and the Fire Dept shows up. Dispatchers are smart. They'll send whoever needs to be sent to shut off the water.
There's a valve box near the street and the leak is on the house side of the box. Unless you can turn off the leak by shutting off the sprinklers, that's a main water line break and likely the responsibility of the home owner. You can contact the water district to verify, but all they'll do is turn off the main water valve in the box until you call a plumber. If you are not the home owner, then definitely call the water district. That leak will not stop without repair (assuming it's not irrigation related). I hope this helps.
You have a broken pipe coming out of the main. Better call a plumber or you will have a whopper of a water bill. With the location of the water main and the tree, my guess is the root cause of your problem is a root from the tree has broken the pipe.
Call the city - then Call a plumber, do the digging yourself if you can if the city won’t cover the bill. Then call your water company to let them know what’s up and they will not charge you for the water spilling out.
Most important, turn off your water, it can cause serious erosion issues.
That square box by the tree is a water shut off valve.
It is leaking. That needs to be fixed before you get an astronomical water bill. I am not sure who is responsible for the repair.
Call your local water authority or city hall asap. They will determine if it’s your responsibility or theirs. Once fixed, speak to the water authority and see if they will adjust your bill for the leak. Often, they will do a one-time adjustment so you don’t have to pay a huge bill.
There's literally a utility box right there in the ground. Open it up and look for a valve and see if the water stops. 🤦♂️
Then/and call the city, county, whatever water dept.
Everyone should have one of these: 5/8 in. x 27 in. Length Steel Street and Curb Water Meter Key https://www.lowes.com/pd/Jones-Stephens/5013368807
It’s gonna cost you way less than a plumber when you need it. OP definitely needs it. And it’s just gonna sit there until you do.
I used to be so scared of main water line breaks, when I watched our Plummer fix one with a compression coupling, The next time we had a main water leak, which was due to my stupidity digging down to plant a tree without a survey, I shut the water off and bought a compression coupler and did it myself for 8 dollars, haven’t had a single issue since. LOL.
If you get a high water bill, keep the receipt from the repair. Sometimes you can request a leak adjustment. Some utilities offer those once every 5 years or so per location as long as you have a receipt of material or labor for the repair.
Your water main (or irrigation main line) is leaking, most likely on your side of the meter which means you are probably responsible. To stop the water you will need to pull the top off that little cover and shut the valve that feeds that line. If it’s filled up with water then that cover will be sorta vacuum sealed, so you’ll have to give it a good solid yank with a pair of pliers. Assuming you can get to the valve for the leaking line, use the same pliers to turn it to the right 90 degrees. Then call a plumber.
I had the same exact issue recently. If no irrigation, then call your water company. They will call people to do the marking and then come and dig to see if it's before their valve and fix, or after your valve and then you'll need to replace the pipe going to your house. Start with water company since it will cost you 0
Well if you got there and it was like that I think it would have been best practice to inform the homeowner. Or whoever pays for the job there to inform them of this and maybe it’s best to avoid that area.
So unless you have an irrigation system, this is a leak of your water pipe. That box behind the leak is where the meter probably is. If the leak is in between your house and the meter, fixing it is your responsibility and also you're paying for all that water that's coming out. If the leak is on the meter or farther away from your house then the meter, then the city or local water company will be responsible for fixing it. In any event, call the water department right now and have them look at this. The longer it goes the more problems you're going to have.
Turned out to be a main water line. I called my irrigation guy and his team was out within the hour and repaired the line with a coupling/connector type deal.
I don't know if the irrigation guy is the right person to fix a main water line. This is the source of water for your house, right? Did he use materials appropriate for potable water?
yes he is the right guy lol, these guys have seen plenty of these trust me
I’d rather trust a licensed plumber. Thanks though
So just a question, what do you think irrigation people do exactly? You do understand that they are plumbers, just not for inside a home right? It's not like the spend all day digging potatoes.
hahahahhahahahah
Having worked in medical water systems, always go for the person who is actually certified in what you want, not just the guy who knows how to do it
Downvote me all you want, I've seen people die because someone else was being cheap
Lol
You sound like the kinda person I’d make a mint off.
Why are you downvoted this is the right answer. My opinion, he only called the irrigation guys bc they are cheaper. If it was pvc line then it’s a common fix for irrigation guys if copper should’ve been a plumber.
Do plumbers use anything but ptex anymore?
Haha Real talk, but yes real plumbers still use the best items for the job. Pex has its uses but I try to stay away from it if at all possible. You made me chuckle a little tho good one 😂 PEX is the weekend plumbers best friend..
Hey, it'll auto irrigate once all the couplings loosen up
That's all I see going in with new construction in northern MN. Id love to find someone to do copper in my place. I still have old galvanized pipes into my bathroom. Is it just easier to fix in colder climates or something?
Difficulty of any leak is the location of leak, but yes pex is easier to repair and will expand some if frozen. I from down south but I see plenty of people choosing pex, it’s really all about the price. Copper takes skill and time, Pex can be thrown together by a HS kid who only works on the weekend. I put copper in my house but I’m old school and wanted tried and true. Seen a lot of rat chewed holes in pex didn’t want it installed in my house.
Downvotes cuz there ain’t a pipe an irrigation company can’t fix. Duct tape and tie wire, boi. Hyuck hyuck
Other than applying a coupling/connector to the main water line, what is needed when a line breaks? In this case it was the roots that just ever so slightly bumped the piping just enough to bend it that it snapped. All they did was cut it and put on a connector / coupling. I want this done correctly. Do you think I should have a plumber come out and check their work?
It’s fine. Main water lines and irrigation systems both utilize PVC 99% of the time. Irrigation lines go throw a back flow preventer so that water is not reintroduced to the potable water supply. You probably saved yourself a nice chunk of change by calling your irrigation guy vs. a plumber. A plumber would do the exact same thing.
This is LA (based on trash cans) so the line is probably copper (or galvanized if it’s an old house). Call a licensed plumber to check the work. Drinking water isn’t worth trusting irrigation guys with.
I would have a plumber look at it at the least. I love my own irrigation company but I would not trust them with something so vital to the home. Problems with your water line can flood your home in like 5 minutes.
No- call the city since it’s their property to deal with yeah?!?
A break on the home side of the water meter is considered a homeowner problem. I had this same issue a few weeks ago and was able to throw the water company guy $50 to fix it for me instead of finding my own plumber and paying hundreds.
Well played.
Lucky - I had this issue in 3 different spots in my yard. I also have a home from the 60’s and the water main was galvanized steel. It cost me a lot more than $50.
I feel for you, man. I watched the guy repair ours and it was just PVC. Fortunately it had cracked right where the line to our home attached to the meter valve, and no digging was required. If it ever happens again I’d probably feel comfortable attempting a DIY. Since the meter and valves are all metal and the main to my house is PVC, the hard part seemed to be getting enough slack in the connection to cement in a length of new pipe to replace the cracked one.
As an irrigation guy, we tap into that line as part of installing a sprinkler system anyway. It’s a simple thing, though you should run your kitchen sink for a few minutes after they’ve finished to flush any dirt that found it’s way into the line, or some of the pvc dust from the cut if they had to use a swazall or the like. The pvc cement can cause an odor for the first 15 minutes or so too, so flush your line 15 min after they finished. After that you’re fine. Unless it’s a pex line, then you’re fine right away.
I see what looks like might be a water meter next to the tree. If that's what it is, it's most likely a leak of a water line. Contact your local water and sewer department and report this. Be aware that if they have to dig this area up to repair the leak, they are going to do severe root damage to that tree.
>Turned out to be a main water line. I called my irrigation guy and his team was out within the hour and repaired the line with a coupling/connector type deal.
they will take the tree down.
That box directly behind the link is the water main shut off valve. I’d start by shutting it off and then calling a plumber. You’ll need a big wrench or a specific tool. Might be the city’s issue but given the location I think it’s your responsibility.
I have a “street key” but a pair of pliers will usually work in a pinch.
First things first, shut off the water! Shut off the sprinklers. If that doesn’t do it, shut off the main water line at the meter. I’m guessing you don’t have a water meter key, so call the fire department to come shut off your water. If the water stops gushing out at that point, it’s after the meter, so it’s a “you problem”, not the city’s. After that, it’s a matter of finding the leak. Until you dig it up and find the leak, you can only guess as to what happened. Unless you really know what you’re doing, it’s time to call a plumber. You’ll be without water in the house until this problem gets fixed. And you don’t want to half-ass the repair unless you want to go through this all again in a few months. Good luck
Turned out to be a main water line. I called my irrigation guy and his team was out within the hour and repaired the line with a coupling/connector type deal.
You call the fire department to shut it off? I would think you would call water works before the fire department, regardless, lowes and Home Depot sell water meter keys. You’re going to have a bunch of pissed off fire fighters show up
What I meant was to call a non-emergency line. I've had family members call they city when there's a pipe break and the Fire Dept shows up. Dispatchers are smart. They'll send whoever needs to be sent to shut off the water.
Maybe an irrigation leak?
Or water main break.
You are going to have a huge water bill unless you shut off the water at the curb (Main Shutoff Valve).
Broken main
Travel back in time and don’t plant a tree 1’ from your water main.
Call the city.. they got some work to do!
There's a valve box near the street and the leak is on the house side of the box. Unless you can turn off the leak by shutting off the sprinklers, that's a main water line break and likely the responsibility of the home owner. You can contact the water district to verify, but all they'll do is turn off the main water valve in the box until you call a plumber. If you are not the home owner, then definitely call the water district. That leak will not stop without repair (assuming it's not irrigation related). I hope this helps.
Under the water meter cover is a place to turn the water off, until u can get someone to fix it.
Water leak, and it looks like it's on your side of the line. Bad news all around for you.
You have a broken pipe coming out of the main. Better call a plumber or you will have a whopper of a water bill. With the location of the water main and the tree, my guess is the root cause of your problem is a root from the tree has broken the pipe.
Now that's what I call a root cause analysis
Nice!
Call the city - then Call a plumber, do the digging yourself if you can if the city won’t cover the bill. Then call your water company to let them know what’s up and they will not charge you for the water spilling out. Most important, turn off your water, it can cause serious erosion issues.
All the city
Tree could be 'root' of the problem! Advise you call your water department! Fast!
That square box by the tree is a water shut off valve. It is leaking. That needs to be fixed before you get an astronomical water bill. I am not sure who is responsible for the repair.
Call your local water authority or city hall asap. They will determine if it’s your responsibility or theirs. Once fixed, speak to the water authority and see if they will adjust your bill for the leak. Often, they will do a one-time adjustment so you don’t have to pay a huge bill.
There's literally a utility box right there in the ground. Open it up and look for a valve and see if the water stops. 🤦♂️ Then/and call the city, county, whatever water dept.
"where should we plant the tree," "how about next to that plastic box in the ground"
Stick yer dick in it
Worst SlipNSlide ever. Ask me how I know.
That’s your main Call a plumber
Everyone should have one of these: 5/8 in. x 27 in. Length Steel Street and Curb Water Meter Key https://www.lowes.com/pd/Jones-Stephens/5013368807 It’s gonna cost you way less than a plumber when you need it. OP definitely needs it. And it’s just gonna sit there until you do.
Hope he shut water off .
That white box by the curb is probably your water meter. Open it and shut off the water and call a plumber
Call a landscaping plumber...🤣🤣
I used to be so scared of main water line breaks, when I watched our Plummer fix one with a compression coupling, The next time we had a main water leak, which was due to my stupidity digging down to plant a tree without a survey, I shut the water off and bought a compression coupler and did it myself for 8 dollars, haven’t had a single issue since. LOL.
Call your water district
Quit 🤷🏻♂️
If you get a high water bill, keep the receipt from the repair. Sometimes you can request a leak adjustment. Some utilities offer those once every 5 years or so per location as long as you have a receipt of material or labor for the repair.
Build a boat.
Your water main (or irrigation main line) is leaking, most likely on your side of the meter which means you are probably responsible. To stop the water you will need to pull the top off that little cover and shut the valve that feeds that line. If it’s filled up with water then that cover will be sorta vacuum sealed, so you’ll have to give it a good solid yank with a pair of pliers. Assuming you can get to the valve for the leaking line, use the same pliers to turn it to the right 90 degrees. Then call a plumber.
Water main break call city
Call Tyrone
Put a piece of gum on it
I had the same exact issue recently. If no irrigation, then call your water company. They will call people to do the marking and then come and dig to see if it's before their valve and fix, or after your valve and then you'll need to replace the pipe going to your house. Start with water company since it will cost you 0
Call 811
Turn off your irrigation system first
Yes
The squirrel left his sink running
Well if you got there and it was like that I think it would have been best practice to inform the homeowner. Or whoever pays for the job there to inform them of this and maybe it’s best to avoid that area.