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Water Main? Think Twice About Installing One Yourself?

water meter for water main

Nowadays, thanks to the Internet, everyone is an expert in DIY. From replacing a light bulb to building an entire home addition, if you take a look online, there is a guide for it! However, this does not mean that you should attempt to do everything yourself. There are some tasks that are best left to the experts, and installing a water main, whether for commercial or residential buildings is one of these. Below, we will shed some insight into what is entailed during these installations, so that you can have a better understanding.

Now before we go any further, it is important to understand what your local laws require to install a water main to your home or business. The land owner is always responsible for the water line from their house to the utility’s water meter. With this said and depending on your situation. You will most likely need to have the business that owns the water rights in your neighborhood involved in the project. Always ask questions before you start any major project like this.

What is commonly involved when installing a water main?

  • The first step in installing a water main is locating the city main, which is usually located on the same side of the street as the fire hydrant. However, there are streets whereby the details may differ.
  • After locating the city main, the roadway is broken into. This requires a jackhammer. Needless to say, this is not the sort of tool that most people simply have lying around, which is why an expert service is needed!
  • Another hole is usually made in the street, either on the property or on the sidewalk. The location of the city water main will determine where exactly the second hole is created.
  • Next, all of the holes are made, and they will be around 3-5 feet deep. This is in preparation to turn off the tap connection. This is the valve that controls the water from the city water main to your home or commercial property.
  • The next step requires building tunnels from one hole to next. This will be done using a compressor. This is connected to a hose, which feeds the air through a blowpipe.
  • Once the tunnels have been finished, a chain is connected to the new copper pipe. The pipe is then inserted and pulled through each tunnel, starting with tap hole in the roadway and ending in house.
  • A new copper pipe is hooked up to the tap connection in the road. A new control valve is installed and hooked up to the existing piping in the house.
  • All holes are now back-filled to prepare for the final restoration. This includes restoring all concrete that was broken for the installation and restoration of the roadway.

Of course, there are other methods and steps in the process depending on the nature of the job.

Call A Professional

As you can see, installing a new water main is not a simple process. There are numerous steps in place, and the procedure can differ based on the make-up of the road, utility requirements and city laws. Therefore, it is always a wise idea to call Swick & Son for a service like this. The last thing you want to do is end up damaging the city main or worst contaminating the city’s water system! Plus, in most places, you wouldn’t be allowed to do this yourself in any case.

Jack hammer into street to install water main