How to Repair a Broken PB Main Water Line

You have several ways to determine if you have a broken water main. You may have a muddy area on your lawn, your water bill may increase significantly or you may see water spewing up from underground. Hiring a professional may seem necessary but may also be costly. Knowing how to repair or replace a broken water main takes diligence but it will save you the expense of a plumber's bill.

Shovel
Pipe cutter
New pipe
Wire brush
Two slip couplings

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the area you suspect contains the leak. If you don't have an obvious leak spewing up in the yard the best places to look are the septic tank and the underground waterline.
- 2
  Turn off the water main once you have identified the leak. If you live in the city someone from your municipality's water department must turn it of. If you supply your own water from a well unplug or shut off the pump.
- 3
  Trench around the leak with a shovel until you uncover the water pipe. Dig one foot underneath the pipe and clear three or four feet surrounding the pipe.
- 4
  Cut at least six inches around the area that leaks with your pipe cutter. Replace with pipes made from the same material. Sand the ends of the pipes before adding to the existing pipe.
- 5
  Sand the interiors of two slip couplings with a wire brush. Slide these couplings onto the new copper pipe, toward its center. Check to be sure that each coupling covers one half of the old pipe and one half of the new pipe.

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