Water Line Repair And What To Do | First of all call a licensed plumber to verify the water line problem. There are things you or a professional can do to verify the water line problem, and possibly relieve the situation. Frequently a water main break can result in low water pressure as well as other related issues.
In NYC there is a 311 system, call 311 and
ask for a NYC DEP representative to come out to your property to check the water line. A specially trained person will arrive shortly to determine if you need a water line repair or not. Sometimes the water line leak may be from another source. In NYC if your water main is determined as being defective a Department of Environmental Protection representative will issue a “Three Day Notice” to repair. This sounds ominous, but it is more or less a free insurance policy. The DEP has just taken responsibility for determining the source of the water main leak. On the few occasions where a notice is issued in error, there is a process for putting in a claim and seeking reimbursement for all costs in determining the source of the leak i.e. hiring a water main contractor to perform water line repair requested by the DEP notice. My guess is that their determinations are correct over 95% of the time; they are very accurate.
You may ask how you can test for a water main break, or source of the leak yourself. Well it is much simpler than you may think. Turning off the house control valve that is located on the house side of the water main is the first step. If the water line is not leaking, there will be no sound on the water line. Running water always makes a sound; therefore if there is no leak on the water main, there will be no sound. How to listen for a sound? Place your ear, or a metal rod or equivalent on the water line and the other end on your ear. Listen carefully. If you hear a sound, you should take a second step as a running toilet or other defective plumbing fixture could be causing a sound on the water line. You would then have to drain down the inside plumbing by opening an upstairs and downstairs sink to drain down the house (you will have to open two fixtures to allow for air to displace the water leaving your plumbing system, it allows the water to drain out faster). If you still hear a sound- uh, oh, you have a water main leak. If the leak slows or stops in all likelyhood the leak is on the house side of the main control valve, therefore your water main is not broken. Inside plumbing problems typically cost a fraction of having to replace a water main line. There are other intricacies to this, but that is the basics of it. Usually it is best to call a licensed professional.
If the water line leak is coming into a sewer pit, 
you can open the house trap to give the water a place to drain out but be careful. Never open the “street side” trap plug. Always open the “house side” trap plug. By doing this you will prevent any sewer gas from escaping into your house, and prevent any dirt or debris from the leak from going down your sewer line. Another thing that can be simply done if there is a low point where the water is collecting such as a pit, is to place a sump pump with a float switch at the low point. A pump with a float switch costs a little over $100.00, and can always come in handy at a later date. You need the float switch so the pump turns on and off by itself so you can leave it unattended.
Another important and simple tip if your water line service is interrupted is to connect to a neighbor’s house. Sounds complicated and intrusive, but it is not. The first step is to turn off your main main control valve so water does leak back out of the house through the leak. Secondly you will need a garden hose coupling or a washing machine hose, and a garden hose. Screw one end of the garden hose on to your garden hose cock connection, the other end of the garden hose onto a 
hose coupling or a washing machine hose, then screw the last end of the coupling or washing machine hose onto your neighbors hose cock connection. Open the two hose cock connections slowly with one of your sinks open and let all the air out of the pipe. When water is flowing smoothly out of the sink, shut it off. You now have water throughout the house, hot water heater and the boiler too. This only takes a few minutes and, if anything, is much simpler than it sounds. In below freezing weather you will have to leave a house sink running slightly so the hose does not freeze up, running water generally will not freeze (like rivers in Winter time). This little tip saves homeowners a lot of aggravation and downtime when a water main break results in no water service, or the NYC DEP performs a shutdown of the service line.
Many reputable water main contractors
in NYC, such as Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service, will provide all of the above services free of charge, excluding providing a pump. Most firms charge for installing and providing a pump. I hope this article helps, for more information visit our resources page, or search our other posts.
About Joseph L. Balkan Inc.
Balkan Plumbing is the largest sewer line and water main contractor in NYC, providing sub surface plumbing services throughout the Bronx,Brooklyn,Queens, and Manhattan. We are licensed, bonded, and insured fully as a sewer contractor to perform any type of sub surface plumbing work. A family run water main and sewer contractor in continuous operation for over 50 years, our10 year guarantee means we continue to stand by our work after the installation is completed.
Were expertly equipped, from our 48,000 square foot facility to dozens of trucks, heavy moving equipment, pneumatics, and backhoes. For all your sewer , catch basin, fire hydrant, manhole,fire sprinkler service, and any type of water line or sewer contractor work contact Balkan Plumbing today, the most trusted water main contractor and sewer contractor in NYC.
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
