Broken Water Line: What to Look For First
Not every symptom means a broken line, but these combinations point to the buried pipe.
Wet ground, no rain
A soft spot or pooled water in the yard between the street and the house, especially on dry days.
Meter keeps spinning
With every fixture off, a moving meter dial or flowing leak indicator is water going somewhere you cannot see.
Pressure falls
A drop in pressure at every faucet at once suggests a leak or restriction before the house plumbing.
No water at all
If the neighbors have water and you do not, check the shutoff valve first, then call us.
Murky or air-spitting taps
Sputtering faucets can mean the line is drawing air through a break.
Unexplained high bill
A bill that jumps with no change in habits is worth a meter test.
Finding the Leak Without Digging Up the Yard
We start with a meter check: all fixtures off, then watch the low-flow indicator. Next we shut the main at the house and watch again. If the meter still moves, the leak is between the meter and the house, and a pressure test on the line confirms it.
To pin down the spot we use acoustic listening gear on the pipe, plus a tracer if the line is hard to follow. A pinpointed leak means a small hole, not a trench the length of the yard. Our leak detection page explains the tools in more detail, and the same methods apply to a slab leak if the break runs under the house.
Water line work follows the 2021 International Plumbing Code that Crowley has adopted. According to Public Works, ask the city where its side ends, because the standard for who maintains the line is not spelled out on the city pages.
Repair, Reroute or Replace the Service Line
Once the leak is located, the choice depends on pipe condition and how much of the line has problems.
| Approach | When it fits | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spot repair with a coupling | One pinhole or crack in an otherwise sound pipe. | A small excavation and a short section replaced. |
| Partial replacement | One end of the line is corroded or damaged. | A trench to the failure point and a new run from there. |
| Full replacement, trench | Line is old, repeatedly leaking or an obsolete material. | A new continuous pipe from meter to house. |
| Trenchless replacement | Landscaping, a driveway or a patio sits over the line. | Pits at both ends, less surface damage. |
| Reroute | Line runs under a slab or structure. | A new path outside the footprint, avoiding a slab opening. |
Ask for the failure location in writing or on camera before approving a full replacement.
Water line down tonight?
Call (817) 601-6266 and we will talk you through the shutoff and book a same-day visit when one is open.
Who Owns What: The City Side and Your Side
Crowley's water system, PWS ID 2200034, is run by the City of Crowley Public Works, and the city buys 100 percent of its treated surface water from Fort Worth. The city pages do not say where the city's responsibility ends on a service line, so ask Public Works where the city side ends. The main number is 817-297-2201, and the Water Utility Manager is at ext. 3210.
After hours, emergency water breaks go to Police Dispatch at 817-297-2276. Call them if water is gushing from the street, a meter box or a hydrant, because we cannot work on the city's main. If the break is on the house side, we take over.
Code and Soil: What Goes in the Ground
Crowley adopted the 2021 International Plumbing Code with local amendments. Section 305.1 in those amendments says metallic piping, except cast iron, ductile iron and galvanized steel, must not sit in direct contact with corrosive soil and must be sheathed at least 8 mil (0.008 inch) thick. In practice this means a copper line in bare clay needs a protective sleeve, and plastic pipe such as PEX or HDPE is often chosen instead.
Clay soil also moves. In this part of North Texas the ground swells when wet and shrinks when dry, which stresses rigid joints and old galvanized steel. Homes built before the mid-1990s may still have galvanized or polybutylene supply lines. Replacing a worn service line with modern flexible pipe reduces the chance of a repeat break.
Low Pressure or No Water: A Quick Triage
Before you assume the line is broken, work through these checks.
- Is the main valve at the house fully open?
- Is the meter shutoff open, or did a contractor close it?
- Is the pressure drop on hot only? That points to the water heater, not the service line.
- Are neighbors affected? If so, call Public Works. A main break or a city repair may be the cause.
- Does a pressure reducing valve sit near the main? A failed one can choke the whole house.
If none of these explain it, the line is the next suspect. A licensed plumber can gauge static pressure at an outdoor hose bib. House pressure in the range of 40 to 80 psi is typical, and a reading far below that with the main open points to a leak or a clogged line.
How a Water Line Job Is Priced
We quote the job before work starts. The bill comes from a few clear variables.
Homeowners policies usually cover sudden and accidental damage to the house, like a flooded room, and usually exclude slow leaks, wear and the cost of the buried line itself in some policies. Photograph the damage and ask your carrier what applies.
Water Line Work Around Crowley
Many of the homes along FM 1187 and FM 731 were built during the growth that took Crowley's population from 12,838 to 18,070 between 2010 and 2020. We do not assume pipe type by neighborhood, so each service line gets tested and traced before we recommend a repair. For nearby towns, see our pages for Burleson, Everman and Forest Hill.
Replacement Estimates for an Older Line
If you are thinking ahead rather than reacting, we can inspect the line, identify its material at the meter and the house, and explain what a replacement would involve. This is a common request from buyers and from owners of older houses. For a house with several aging pipes, a whole-home repipe may make more sense than a single replacement, and a burst pipe repair is a different job again.
Water Line Questions
Yes. We are open 24/7, and a leaking or broken service line is a call we take at any hour. Shut the main valve, tell us what you see and we will book the earliest same-day or after-hours visit available.
The city pages do not say where the city side ends, so ask Public Works at 817-297-2201. For a leak at the meter or in the street, call them. For the line on your side, we can repair it.
Look near the front wall or in the garage for a ball valve or a round gate valve. The meter box near the street has a second shutoff, and a meter key may be needed.
It could be. Check that the main valve is fully open and see whether neighbors are affected. If not, a pressure gauge on a hose bib and a meter test tell us whether a leak is the cause.
We replace the service line on the home side. The city's main in the street is a Public Works job.
Crowley buys treated water from Fort Worth and the 2025 report shows no violation of the 4 ppm chloramine limit. Read the full report from the city, and call us if you want filtration for taste.