ResidentialWater service
Replacing the Water Service Line
The pipe that brings city water from the street to your basement stays forgotten until the day it gives out. When it leaks or chokes your pressure, replacing it is a careful outdoor job.
A room undergoing renovation with tools, supplies, wiring, and paint cans scattered around.
- Leak traced with meter checks and moisture readings
- Walls and ceilings opened only where the pipe is
- Copper, PEX or ABS joined to match what is there
- Pressure-tested and left visible until it is proven dry
- Licensing details confirmed when you call
- Residential
- Commercial
- Markham & York Region
How the job runs
- Low pressure everywhere in the house, not just one tap.
- A soggy strip of lawn along the supply route that stays wet in dry weather.
- Water seeping through the basement wall where the line comes in.
- A lead or galvanized line spotted at the meter in an older home.
What's included on this job
What we open
The basement wall where the service comes in, the meter set, and a trench or bore path to the property line.
What we bring
Trenchless boring or excavation equipment, a curb-stop key, and copper or PE service pipe.
What we replace
The service pipe from the property line to the meter, the main valve, and the meter connections.
How we prove it
Flow measured at the first tap, joints checked under pressure, and the valve operated end to end.
Signs you need this
- Low pressure at every fixture
- A wet spot on the lawn that does not dry
- Lead or old galvanized service found
- A main valve that will not close
What we find in Markham
Most homes built since the 1970s have a copper or plastic service line that should last decades. Older houses on heritage streets may have lead or galvanized pipe, which can restrict flow and, in the case of lead, raise health concerns. The City of Markham owns the line from the main to the property line in most cases, and homeowners own the rest. The city has run programs related to lead service replacement, so check the current terms before you plan anything.
How replacement works
- We confirm the line material and route with a visual check and locates for buried utilities.
- We coordinate with the city if their portion needs work at the same time.
- We choose between open trench and trenchless pulling depending on the yard and the old pipe.
- We replace the line below frost depth, which in York Region means well over a metre down.
- We reconnect at the meter, add a new main shut-off, and test for leaks and pressure.
From the van: Never dig in the yard yourself before calling Ontario One Call for utility locates. It is free and required.
Trenchless or trench?
Trenchless methods can pull a new line through the path of the old one with only small pits at each end. They save lawns and driveways but do not suit every soil or every pipe. We explain which fits your property.
What changes the cost
Line length, depth, what sits above it (lawn, interlock, driveway), the method used and any city coordination all affect the price. Restoration of landscaping is usually a separate item.
The city owns the line to the property line. Anything from there to your meter is the homeowner's.
Call before it gets worse
A leaking service line wastes water you pay for and can wash out soil near your foundation.