Soggy spot or a meter that keeps moving
A wet or sunken patch in the yard, or a meter dial turning with every fixture off, means water is escaping somewhere on your side of the line. We trace it and tell you whether it is a repair or a replacement.
Service Line and Water Line Work
Water Line Installation & Repair in Chapel Hill, NC
The service line carries water from the meter to your house, and in older Chapel Hill homes it may be the original pipe. We replace it, repair it, and run new lines for additions. You get the real price before we start.
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Water Line Problems
Water line work we do in Chapel Hill
Looking for water line repair or replacement in Chapel Hill? These are the six jobs we see most.
Old galvanized service line
Older homes can still have galvanized steel from the meter to the house. It rusts from the inside, so flow drops and the pipe leaks at joints. Replacing it brings the pressure back.
Polybutylene from the 1980s and 90s
Subdivisions built in the 1980s and early 1990s often used gray polybutylene, which fails at fittings. We look at what is in your yard and in the house and give you repair and replacement options.
Replacement with PEX or copper
When a line has to be replaced, we run new PEX or copper depending on the route, the depth, and what you prefer. We explain the tradeoffs and put the choice and the price in writing.
Pressure reducing valve replacement
High pressure that rattles pipes, or pressure that swings from strong to weak, often points to a failed pressure reducing valve. It is a smaller job than a new line, so we check it first.
New water line for an addition
A new bathroom, a detached space, or a basement apartment needs its own supply branch. We plan the route, size the line for what it will serve, and tie in on your side of the meter.
Clear Answers
What a water line job looks like
- 1
Trace the line
We find where the line runs, check the material, and test the pressure. For a leak, we confirm where it is before anyone digs.
- 2
Plan the route and the price
We have buried utilities located and plan the dig around them. You get the route, the material, and the price in writing before work starts.
- 3
Install, test, and inspect
We install or repair the line and pressure-test it. The work is permitted and inspected where the town requires it, and we coordinate with OWASA on the meter.
Chapel Hill Water Service
Water lines in Chapel Hill and Carrboro
OWASA is the water utility for Chapel Hill and Carrboro. We coordinate with OWASA on the meter, and the line from the meter to the house is the homeowner's to maintain. If the problem is on the utility side, we will tell you that before you spend anything.
Chapel Hill has older homes near the UNC Campus Area and in Eastgate and North Chapel Hill, where the service line can be original galvanized. Meadowmont and Southern Village are newer. Homes built in the Triangle from roughly 1978 to 1995 may have polybutylene. Clay soil moves with the seasons and mature trees stress buried lines, so a line this age is worth checking. Outlying Orange County homes, including some around Fearrington, may be on a private well with no meter at all. For those, see our well pump page.
Our shop is at 3460 Apex Pkwy in Apex, and we work Monday through Saturday, 7:00 to 18:00. Call or text (919) 679-1275, or book online. If the water is coming from a burst pipe inside, see pipe leak repair, or visit our Chapel Hill plumber page.
Chapel Hill neighborhoods we serve
- Southern Village
- Meadowmont
- Carrboro
- UNC Campus Area
- Eastgate
- Governors Club
- Fearrington
- North Chapel Hill
Helpful Details
Water line installation and repair questions in Chapel Hill
How much does water line replacement cost in Chapel Hill?
It depends on the length of the run, the depth, what the line is made of, what is above it (lawn, driveway, landscaping), and permits. We give you the price in writing before we start and nothing is done until you approve it.
Who owns the line, me or OWASA?
The utility owns the system up to the meter, and the line from the meter to the house is the homeowner's. Confirm the exact point for your property with OWASA. We can trace the line and tell you where the problem is.
How do I know if my service line is leaking?
Look for a wet or sunken spot in the yard, a bill that jumps with no change in use, or a meter dial moving with everything off. We trace the line to confirm before we recommend digging.
Should I use PEX or copper?
Both work. The route, the depth, and the house decide, and we explain the tradeoffs. We put the material in writing with the price.
Do you replace pressure reducing valves?
Yes. If pressure is too high, too low, or swinging, we test it and replace the valve if it has failed. It is often a much smaller job than a new line.
Do I need a permit for water line work in Chapel Hill?
The work is permitted and inspected where the town requires it. Permit needs depend on the job, and we confirm them when we scope it.
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Serving Chapel Hill and the rest of the Triangle: Apex, Cary, Durham, Holly Springs, Raleigh and Morrisville. Not sure we cover your address? Call (919) 679-1275 and ask.
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