If you think the line from the meter to your house is leaking, close the main shut-off valve at the house, and the line is open 24/7 for your call. If water is flowing across a driveway or pooling near the foundation, keep people and pets away, and do not stand in standing water near outdoor outlets or pumps.
Do not dig yourself. Buried lines can run near gas, electric, and other utilities, and a shovel in the wrong place makes a leak into a bigger problem. We locate first, and any excavation starts with a utility ticket.
When a buried water line is an emergency
A water service line leak does not always show up as a fountain. More often it is a soft patch of lawn, a sunken driveway edge, a damp corner of the garage, or water running at the street side of your property. Some leaks never surface, which is why the water bill or meter often gives them away first.
Treat it as urgent right now if you see any of these:
- Water surfacing in the yard, driveway, or sidewalk
- A meter that spins with every fixture off
- No water or very weak pressure throughout the house
- A wet foundation, crawlspace, or garage floor with no obvious source
- A sudden jump in the water bill with no change in use
We answer buried line calls at night and on weekends. An active leak under pavement or near the foundation can undermine soil, so it is worth acting the same day rather than waiting for the next business hours.
Signs the leak is in the service line
Unexplained wet ground
A patch that stays damp in dry weather, especially in a straight line from the meter toward the house, is a strong clue.
Meter running with everything off
If the meter or its low-flow indicator moves with all taps, appliances, and irrigation off, water is escaping somewhere on your side of the meter.
Low pressure at every tap
A leak upstream of the house steals pressure from every fixture, not just one. Compare it with how the water ran last month.
A bill that climbs for no clear reason
Slow, steady growth is common with small buried leaks, and a simple meter check can tell you whether the water is leaving through your line.
How we handle a service line repair
Confirm the leak is on your side
We check the meter, the shutoff, and the house-side plumbing to separate your line from the utility's side and from fixtures inside the house.
Locate the break
We use listening and tracing tools to find the leak, so we dig a small area instead of the whole yard.
Explain repair or replacement
A single break in sound pipe is often a spot repair. A line with several failures or aged material is a replacement conversation. You see both options.
Call before we dig
Excavation starts only after a USA North 811 ticket, which requires at least two working days of notice. Finding the leak and shutting it off can happen right away.
Repair, test, and restore
We make the repair, pressure test it, restore water, and recheck the meter to confirm the line is tight.
What this looks like in Millbrae
Millbrae specifics for service lines
Water and sewer service in Millbrae is provided and maintained by the City of Millbrae Public Works Department, and the water itself comes entirely from the San Francisco Regional Water System through 11 pressure zones. We work on the private side of the line, and if the problem looks like it sits on the city's side, we point you to Public Works.
Pressure matters for a buried line because it is always under load. In a higher-pressure zone, a weak joint or a thinned pipe wall gives out sooner, so we check house-side pressure while the line is open. We cannot map pressure to specific streets, so we measure at your house.
Houses from the 1950s boom, a large share of Millbrae's stock based on Census dwelling counts, often still have their original line from the meter. A failed original line is usually a signal to replace the run instead of patching it a section at a time. We tell you what we find and let you choose.
Repair or replace the line
| Situation | Likely answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| One clean break in sound pipe | Spot repair | Smaller dig, faster restore |
| Several leaks along the run | Replace the line | Patches multiply and the next failure follows |
| Corroded or thinned pipe | Replace the line | The pipe wall will not hold a fitting |
| Line blocked under hardscape | Reroute or trenchless option where it fits | Avoids cutting a driveway, subject to the layout |
| Leak at the meter connection | Check ownership first | The utility may be responsible for its side |
A replacement is a bigger job, but it ends the cycle of dig and patch. If you are choosing between the two, we show you the pipe we pulled out so the decision is based on what we saw.
What a water line repair costs
What drives water line cost
No two buried lines are the same, so we price after we locate the leak and measure the run.
Length of the line
a short run to a front-yard meter is a smaller job than a long run across a lot.
Depth and soil
deeper trenches take longer and need more shoring.
Surface above it
lawn is simple, concrete and pavers need cutting and replacing.
Pipe material
new copper and plastic piping come at different costs.
Permits and inspection
permits may apply, and the Millbrae Building Division handles plumbing permits.
Call the 24/7 line for a clear price before work starts. Ground water leaks can add to your bill while we wait, so ask your water provider about their billing adjustment policy.
Think the leak is underground?
Close the house shutoff and call. We will tell you what to check, locate the break, and give you a clear price before digging.
Related leak and pipe problems
A buried line leak and a hidden leak in the house can look alike on the meter, so a leak detection visit can sort out which one you have. If your bill is the main reason for the call, start with our high bill and meter leak page.
When the whole house is on aging pipe, repiping is the longer-term fix that goes beyond one buried section. We also serve homes in Burlingame, and the Burlingame plumbing page shows how we cover that side of the border. For other nearby towns, see the service area.
Questions about water service line repair
Yes, the line is open 24/7. Close the main valve at the house and call. We locate the leak, explain the repair path, and give a clear price before digging starts.
If the meter moves with every fixture off, water is escaping somewhere past it, either in the buried line or inside the house. We check both before any digging, and tell you if the problem seems to be on the utility side.
Yes. USA North 811 requires at least two working days of notice before excavation. Locating the leak and shutting off water can happen first, and we explain the ticket timing when we give you the plan.
Sometimes. Depending on the layout and soil, a trenchless approach may work. We check the line route first and explain whether it fits your yard.
Permits may apply, and the Millbrae Building Division handles plumbing permits. We tell you what applies once we have located the problem and know the scope.
The City of Millbrae Public Works Department provides water service. Where its responsibility ends and yours begins is worth confirming with Public Works. We locate the break and tell you whether it looks like a private-side or utility-side problem.
Buried leaks often show nowhere on the surface. The meter and the bill may be the only clues. We run a meter check and, if needed, locate the line with listening tools.
Only if the leak is stopped, since water on a broken line keeps flowing. If you must restore water briefly, check for pooling. Call us if the meter keeps moving.
Sources and standards: The City of Millbrae Public Works water pages. USA North 811. The California Plumbing Code (based on the Uniform Plumbing Code).