Signs the main line is leaking
- A soggy or unusually green patch in the yard
- Water bill up with no change in use
- Pressure down across the whole house
- The meter dial moves with everything off
- Water bubbling up along the path from the meter
How we handle it
- Confirm and locate
Meter test first, then line locating and leak detection to find the break.
- Repair or replace
A single break can be repaired. A line that has failed repeatedly is better replaced.
- Restore the ground
We keep excavation tight and put the surface back.
- Pressure test
The repair is tested before we call it done, and the meter has to sit still.
Why these lines fail in San Antonio
Clay soil that swells and shrinks with our drought-and-downpour pattern is hard on buried pipe, and older galvanized or thin-wall lines corrode from the inside. Add high street pressure and you get the pinhole leaks and splits we dig up most often.
What it costs
It depends on what the job turns out to need, so we diagnose first. Your plumber then gives you an upfront price, and you approve it before anything starts.
Questions people ask
Is the leak my responsibility or SAWS?
From the meter to your house is yours. The street side of the meter is SAWS. The meter test and the location of the wet ground usually make it obvious.
Do you have to dig up the whole yard?
No. Locating the break first keeps the dig small. A full replacement is a trench, but it follows the shortest sensible route.
Can I get the water bill adjusted?
SAWS has a leak adjustment process once the leak is repaired. Keep the invoice — see our guide on it.