Water Service Pipe Replacement in Burlington

When you need water service line replacement

This buried pipe links the curb valve at the road to the main valve in your basement. Older homes may still have lead or galvanized steel service pipes, and some mid-century houses have undersized copper that cannot keep up with a modern household. Signs it is time: weak pressure across every fixture, rusty water at the first draw, a leak or wet patch along the front yard in dry weather, or a lead result from a water test.

How the job is done

We begin by identifying the existing pipe where it enters the house and checking pressure and flow. Then we plan the route.

• Request utility locates and coordinate with Halton Region for the curb stop
• Excavate at the curb stop and at the foundation, or trench the full run
• Pull or lay new copper or approved plastic service pipe below frost depth
• Seal the foundation penetration properly
• Fit a fresh main valve and tie back into the meter

Where soil and conditions allow, trenchless methods can pull the new line through with only two small pits, which spares the lawn and the driveway.

Burlington homes and this work

Halton Region has worked to identify and replace lead service connections on the public side, and has information on lead in drinking water and testing. If the city side has been replaced but the private side has not, the old pipe still sits between the curb and your tap. Homes built before the 1950s in the downtown and around Plains Road are the most likely to have lead or galvanized service. Many 1960s homes have 12 mm copper that was adequate then but struggles with today's multiple bathrooms.

What affects the scope

Length of the run, depth of frost cover, the surface above (lawn, interlock, asphalt) and the location of the curb stop drive most of the effort. A service that enters under a finished basement wall takes more care at the foundation. Coordinating with the Region adds scheduling time when the curb stop needs work. If you are planning bathroom renovation plumbing at the same time, a larger service is worth sizing in now.

Before we arrive

Locate your main shut-off and water meter and clear space around them. Note anything buried in the front yard such as irrigation lines, invisible dog fences or lighting cable, which public locates will not find. If you have a recent water test, keep it handy. Expect a short period without water on the day of the connection.