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suburbanguy
Citizen
Username: Suburbanguy
Post Number: 20
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 1:43 pm: | 
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Does anyone have expereince with a broken main water pipe outside their house?
The pipe bringing water to my house from the street has a leak. My sump pump was going off every 20 seconds. We had the water turned off, but now we need to have this fixed pronto. Any thoughts? (besides ouch!) Any recommendations? |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4394
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 1:46 pm: |
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Yes, it happened to us a few years back. We used Hoff Bros. They do the excavating, so we saved a lot of $$$ over most other guys my husband called. I just saw them doing work on PArk Ave in Maplewood last week. I believe they are in Union. |
suburbanguy
Citizen
Username: Suburbanguy
Post Number: 21
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 2:32 pm: |
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Thanks for the reco. Do you remember what the ballpark cost was? This is so distressing because you pretty much have to make a decision quickly, because there is no water. |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4396
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 2:39 pm: |
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Well, it was about 8 years ago, so I'm sure costs have changed. Back then we got prices from 800 to several thou...Hoff Bros were the lowest and they did a great, clean job. (It happened to us on a Sunday so we went withouth water for a day!) |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 585
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 2:41 pm: |
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I got a recommendation from my plumber, CT Williams. I've forgotten the guy's name, but maybe they'll give it to you too if you check with them. He was excellent -- made his way through our front yard (which has lots of paths, steps, a big tree, etc.) without disturbing much of anything. Or check with your own plumber for a recommendation. |
Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3908
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 4:53 pm: |
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Suburbanguy: Look at the bright side: it's spring, and your ground isn't frozen permafrost like it was in January, 1988, when our water supply line sprang a leak in the middle of our front lawn in twenty degree weather. Fortunately, the escaping water flowed directly out into the street and down the hill, and not into our basement. The bad news was that our (ex-) plumber sent one little guy with a jackhammer to dig a 3 foot deep trench along the busted main (two working days), after which he replaced the broken section of pipe, threw the dirt bsck over it, and split without even tamping it down. $2Grand...
-s. |
george H
Citizen
Username: Georgieboy
Post Number: 191
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 5:33 pm: |
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Suburbanguy,Sorry for your situation.We decided to purchase not only water main,but also sewer main protection through American Water,specifically in case of situations like you're experiencing now.Another big point is the fact that our house sits over 100'off the road and replacing a line would be an even bigger task than most houses.I'm not suggesting you get the coverage because with a new main,you should be good to go for quite a while.What I would suggest is to mark the exact location of your line on a copy of your property survey,using a permanment point such as the edge of your driveway or a fire hydrant or lamppost.I'd also note where it enters the house and the depth below grade.You may never need the info,but if you did,you'd be happy you had it. |
suburbanguy
Citizen
Username: Suburbanguy
Post Number: 22
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 5:53 pm: |
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These are some very good suggestions. That's a good idea george, you can never have too much info about the house. We've gotten quotes already today. (Yikes!) I guess it's the trade off with an older house. You get the 80 year old character and charm, but you also get the 80 year old issues. I can't wait to show off my new underground pipes! |
Eire
Citizen
Username: Eire
Post Number: 159
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 6:44 pm: |
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Really sorry to hear about your problem, suburbanguy -- just curious - does East Orange Water in South Orange offer that kind of insurance?? |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11470
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 7:23 pm: |
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Soda, other than the fact the plumber wasn't much of a landscaper you got off cheap and probably the damage was a lot less than if someone brought in a backhoe. |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 1237
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 7:26 pm: |
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Just hope they don't find an abandoned oil tank under your water main like they did at my house!
I really do think it is all worth it for the 80 year old charm however...
As you are finding out, owners don't choose which home repair project to work on next - the house does!
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Soda
Supporter
Username: Soda
Post Number: 3911
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 8:24 pm: |
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BobK: Don't you think that a backhoe would be like using a shotgun on a mosquito in this situation?
And, if you'd call $2K back in 1988 "getting off cheap", well... I salute you, Don BobK.
-s. |
suburbanguy
Citizen
Username: Suburbanguy
Post Number: 23
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 8:30 pm: |
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The word "backhoe" kind of scares me. I much prefer "guys digging a trench". Still, this is not an inexpensive endeavor. Concrete has to be ripped up. And they probably have to find another place to bring the pipe into the foundation. Currently, it goes under brick front steps. |
kmk
Supporter
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 1242
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 8:42 pm: |
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Yeah...after we decided to rip up and replace the entire 150' long asphalt drivway so it would look nice - that's when they found the old oil tank!
We just replaced every inch of water main from house to curb but left the entry point in the same place under the front steps.
(Yes - they jack hammered in the basement!) |
CMAGG
Citizen
Username: Cmagg
Post Number: 6
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 8:45 am: |
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I used hoff brothers to go from the house to the street with a new water main, all new. They only needed to dig one hole in the middle of the yard and one hole by the street. It was in October, and it cost like $2800. He did it in two days and was very professional, and clean.
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Eric Wertheim
Citizen
Username: Bub
Post Number: 204
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 10:06 am: |
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2 things:
My regular homeowner's ins. paid for part of the work. Check it out.
If youe friendly with your neighbors, you can connect your outdoor hose water supplies with a hose and use their water. It works. We did it.
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Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11483
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 10:37 am: |
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Soda, missed the 1988 date. Ouch!!
I have seen backhoes doing this work, but apparently it always doesn't have to be the case. I read or saw something on TV where plumbers actually pull (jack) the new pipe through the ground from the interior of the house, which means only one hole if you are lucky, a couple if the pipe gets hung up on a rock. |
brusin2
Citizen
Username: Brusin2
Post Number: 44
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 10:44 am: |
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I think they used some kind of hydrolic bullet to run a new pipe along the old one out to the street. Minimal work in our basement and only one small patch of digging up in the yard -- and they re-seeded the grass. We have the insurance and it was done by them so no idea of what it would cost without it. |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 633
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 8:52 am: |
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From reading this, does it make sense to take the $8 a month Pipe Insurance being offered by the Water Company? Or is this simply doubling up on your existing Homeowners? (although I'd hate to have my coverage dropped by my homeowners by having a huge claim) |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11506
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 9:02 am: |
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It is worth $8 per month. You may get some of the labor reimbursed by your insurance, but the pipe would be on your dollar with homeowners insurance, or so I understand. The $8 per month isn't a big budget buster for most people in this area. |
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