Main Water Line Repair in Roswell, GA

Some calls about main water line repair in Roswell have nothing to do with a leak. Sometimes the buried line from the meter is simply where the new addition, pool, detached garage or wider driveway is supposed to go. Moving it before construction is far easier than repairing it later from under a slab or beside a pool shell, and it is a chance to replace an aging line at the same time.

Why building over the line causes trouble

A water line under a new foundation turns any future leak into a job that means cutting concrete or tunneling under the structure. During construction, loaded trucks and excavators can crush a shallow pipe or crack an old fitting long before anyone notices. A pool dig may cut straight through the line, and a new driveway laid over an aging pipe locks it under pavement just as it nears the end of its life. Each of these is avoidable with a little planning.

Find the line before the design is final

Have the route and depth located while the plans can still change. A plumber can trace a metal line with a locator, and test holes confirm the path of plastic pipe. Mark the result on the site plan the designer or builder is using. If the sewer line runs through the same area, a sewer camera inspection can locate it and show its condition before anything is built on top of it.

Ways to get the line out of the way

• Reroute around the footprint. The new section leaves the old line before the construction area and rejoins it beyond, or runs to a new entry point.
• Replace the whole run on a new path. If the existing line is old, this is often simpler than splicing into it twice; our water line repair and replacement overview covers the methods.
• Sleeve it under paving. Where the line must cross a new driveway, running it inside a larger protective pipe lets it be pulled out and replaced later without breaking concrete.
• Move the entry point. The line can come into the house on a different wall, with the main shutoff relocated to match.

The meter itself usually stays put. Moving it is a matter for the water provider, which normally owns that equipment.

Timing it with the construction

The relocation should be finished before footings are dug or the pool is excavated, and the new line should be marked on site so equipment operators keep heavy loads off it. Where an addition brings new plumbing, coordinate the service line work with the rough-in so the two fit together; our new construction plumbing service covers additions as well as new homes. If the builder needs water during the project, plan where a temporary spigot will be before the old line is cut.

Using the opportunity

An addition with new bathrooms or a pool fill line raises demand on the service line. If the existing pipe was barely adequate, the relocation is the moment to increase its size or change to a better material. It is also a good time to add an accessible shutoff and to check the house pressure; if it runs high, a pressure-reducing valve at the new entry point protects the new fixtures as well as the old ones.

Roswell permits

According to the city's permit FAQ, the Building Division issues permits for installing, altering, repairing or replacing plumbing, and permits go to contractors who hold a license or to an owner who lives in the home. A relocated service line is new pipe in the ground, so ask the division how it should be permitted before work starts, and how it fits with the building permit for the addition or pool.

Relocation questions in Roswell

Can a water line run under a new addition?

It can be done, but it is rarely a good idea. A leak under a finished foundation is hard to reach and expensive to repair, and settling during construction can stress the pipe. Rerouting around the footprint, or bringing the line in on a different wall, avoids the problem. If there is no practical alternative, a sleeve under the foundation at least allows the pipe to be replaced later.

Who moves the meter if it is in the way?

The water provider, since the meter and the connection to the main are normally its equipment. Contact the provider early, because relocating a meter can involve its own application and schedule. In most projects, the simpler answer is to leave the meter where it is and reroute the line on the property side.

Should the line be relocated before or after the pool is dug?

Before. Relocating the line first means the excavator never has to work around a live pipe, and the house keeps its water throughout the dig. Once the new line is in, tested and marked, the old section in the pool area can be cut, capped and removed with the soil.

Mapping the line early

Plans for the yard running into the water line at your Roswell home? Call Alpha Plumbing and Sewer at (404) 409-4448 early in the design stage, and we will map the line and plan its new route.