When you discover your home’s water or sewer line is damaged, it’s important to take action quickly. But who is responsible for repairing the damage – you or the municipal authority? Let’s explore how to identify who is in charge of inspecting, cleaning, repairing and/or replacing these service lines. We’ll address what steps to take when you’re responsible as a homeowner to deal with the damage and subsequent repairs.
Who is Responsible for Inspecting, Cleaning, Repairing and Replacing Water & Sewer Lines?
Municipal service lines supply your home with water, gas, electricity and sewage removal – essential utilities that make your home comfortable, usable and sanitary. When you experience problems with your water or sewer lines, homeowners are often unsure who is responsible for repairs needed outside of the house.
Water Line Issues on Your Property
In most cases, homeowners are in charge of resolving all water line problems that occur on their private property. The water supply line to your home connects to a municipal water turnoff (sometimes called the curb stop valve), often located close to the sidewalk or the perimeter of your property. Any damage from the curb stop valve toward the house falls on the homeowner to fix. Meanwhile, issues occurring at the municipal water turnoff itself or toward public water mains are the utility service’s responsibility to repair. If you’re unsure whether the leak is occurring on your property, call the water utility company that services your home to determine the responsible party.
In the majority of cases, the water service pipeline leak will be your responsibility to fix.
The immediate course of action to take is to call a local plumber. Licensed technicians can perform a camera pipe inspection to pinpoint the exact location of the leak. Once they’ve identified its location, they can begin repairing the site of the leak or replacing the broken portion of the water line.
Sewer Line Issues on Your Property
As with the water pipes, sewer lines on your property connect your sewage removal drains to the public sewer lines. At times, backups in the public sewer lines can affect your and your neighbors’ homes, in which case, the county is in charge of fixing the clogs. Note that even after they fix the clog in the public sewer line, you may still have sewage backed up in your drain and private property sewer pipes. Check your homeowner insurance policy to see if it includes water backup coverage, which may cover water damage that results from sewer backups.
If the damage or clog in these sewer lines occurs on your property, then it’s your responsibility to maintain, repair (and replace if needed) the sewage pipes.
The first thing to do is stop using water in your home – any liquid or solid waste will only contribute to the blockage or leak. Then, you should call a plumbing company in your area to help. Licensed plumbing technicians are experts at camera pipe inspections. They can find where the clog or leak is coming from and take action immediately. If it’s a clog, they can snake and clean the sewer line to push the blockage into the larger public sewer system. If it’s a leak, they can identify where to make the necessary replacements in order to get your drains back in use.
Water & Sewer Line Repair & Replacement in Northern Virginia
Seek expert help for preventative maintenance recommendations and a camera pipe inspection from a local plumber to assess the current condition of your system. When clogs, leaks or damage to your sewer pipes and water service lines do occur, it’s important to address the issue quickly. In most cases, it’s your responsibility as the homeowner to fix or replace these service lines. The technicians at Atlas Home Services can start the process with a camera pipe inspection, then repair or replace the service lines as needed. Contact our team of plumbing experts today for all your water and sewer line needs and questions.
