What is a water service line leak? The service line is the underground pipe that carries water from the utility meter, usually near the street, to where the plumbing enters your house. A leak there has the same symptoms as a slab leak on the bill and the meter, but it’s outside the foundation, so it’s found and repaired differently.
Telling the two apart matters because it changes the repair. It’s one of the first things checked during slab leak detection, and a common reason homeowners who suspected a slab leak end up with a yard repair instead.
Service line leak or slab leak?
| Clue | Points to the service line | Points to a slab leak |
|---|---|---|
| Where it’s wet | Soggy lawn, puddles or unusually green grass between meter and house | Damp or warm floor inside |
| Main valve test | Meter keeps moving with the house’s main shutoff closed | Meter stops when the house’s main shutoff is closed |
| Sound | Hissing near the meter box | Running water under a floor or inside a wall |
| Warm floor | No | Possible, if it’s the hot line |
The main-valve test is the most useful. Close the shutoff where the line enters the house and watch the meter. If it still moves, the leak is almost certainly between the meter and that valve.
Who is responsible for the line?
In general, the utility is responsible for its side of the meter, and the homeowner is responsible for the service line from the meter to the house. Greenacres homes are served by the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department (PBCWUD). If water is leaking at the meter itself or on the street side, contact the utility first. For a leak on your side, a plumbing provider handles the repair.
How service line leaks are repaired
- Locate the line and the leak using a pipe locator and acoustic listening along its route.
- Choose the approach: excavate at the leak and repair the section, or replace the whole line if it’s old or has leaked before.
- Replace with new pipe, sometimes by trenching and sometimes by trenchless pulling or boring, depending on landscaping, driveways and the provider’s equipment.
- Test, backfill and restore the ground. Ask whether sod or pavers are included in the quote.
Longer service lines, such as those on larger lots in Wellington, can take more time to trace. Wherever you are, the steps are the same. For leaks under the foundation itself, see the main guide to slab leak repair referrals in Greenacres, FL.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if the leak is in my yard or under my house?
Close the main shutoff valve where the water enters your house and watch the meter. If it keeps moving, the leak is likely in the buried line between the meter and the house. If it stops, the leak is inside the home’s plumbing, possibly under the slab.
Does the water utility fix leaks in my yard?
Utilities are generally responsible for their side of the meter, and homeowners for the line from the meter to the house. If the leak is at the meter or on the street side, contact the utility first.
Does a service line leak damage the foundation?
A leak close to the house can saturate soil near the foundation, which is a reason not to leave it. Most service line leaks mainly waste water and damage landscaping.