How do you decide whether to do a water line replacement or just a water line repair? Thousands of NYC property owners are faced with that question every year when a water main requires repairs. There are sensible guidelines to follow and sound advice as well.
The three factors needed to make a wise decision:
- The material the existing water main is made out of.
- The age of the existing water main.
- The price difference between a water line repair and a water line replacement.
Water Main Materials
 Copper Water Main |
 Galvanized Water Main |
 Lead Water Main |
There are three materials presently legal for a water main service line in NYC. They are copper, brass, and ductile iron pipe. For water service lines up to 2″, which includes the vast majority of water service lines throughout¬† NYC, K copper is used. For a larger water main, such as for a fire sprinkler main or for an apartment building, ductile iron pipe is generally used. Brass is usually only used for 2 1/2″ service lines, or on special request.
In NYC is not legal to do a water line repair on a lead 
or galvanized water main regardless of the condition or age of the water main. So right off the bat, if the line is lead or galvanized pipe a water line repair is eliminated from being one of your options. Typically galvanized water services provide very low water pressure. For  more detailed information read this informative article: Water Main Materials Tutorial
The Age Of The Existing Service Line
The useful life of a typical water service line is around 50 years.  Therefore any water service line over 50 years old is not a candidate for a water line repair and a water line replacement should be the only option. Lead and galvanized pipe has not been used in approximately 60 years or more; another reason to never consider a water line repair of these materials. Another thing to consider is that metal become brittle as they age, and connecting to an existing water service is always a chancy proposition. For the above reasons a water line replacement is typically the job of choice unless the water line is only a few years old.
The Cost Comparisons
An important thing to consider is that 
many of the costs in performing either a water line repair or a water line replacement are set. Permit fees, restoration costs, much of the labor, tools and equipment are all required regardless of the scope of work. material costs comprise only around 20% or so of the cost of a water main job. Therefore there is typically not a tremendous difference in the cost of a water line repair and a water line replacement.¬† A general rule of thumb is that if a repair costs 50% or more of the cost of a replacement, just do the replacement. This rule of thumb can be applied to other purchasing decisions such as when deciding whether to buy “new” or “used”.
It is a company-wide policy and strong belief of the ownership of Joseph L. Balkan Inc. that an educated and knowledgeable Client is our very best customer. Doing the right job is always the priority, not¬† “making a sale”.
About Joseph L. Balkan Inc.
Balkan Plumbing is the largest water and sewer service line company in NYC. We are licensed, bonded, and insured. As a family run sewer and water main company in operation for over 50 years, our 10 year guarantee means we continue to stand by our work after the job is done.
We are expertly equipped, from our 48,000 
square foot facility to dozens of trucks, heavy moving equipment, backhoes and pneumatics. For all your house sewer repair or replacement, water main, catch basin, fire hydrant, manhole, fire sprinkler service, sewer check valve, trench drain, or any sub surface plumbing work  contact Balkan Plumbing today.
Joseph L. Balkan Inc.
130-01 Jamaica Avenue Richmond Hill, NY 11418
Phone: (718) 849-0900 | Espanol (718) 849-0900
Fax: (718) 849-9570
www.balkanplumbing.com
