Outdoor plumbing takes the most abuse of any part of the system: sun, heat, freezes, shifting soil, lawn equipment and tree roots. We repair hose bibs, buried supply lines, cleanouts and yard drains so the outside of your house is as reliable as the inside.
The causeWhy it happens
Hose bibs crack from freezing and wear out from daily use. The main service line between the meter and the house can corrode, crack from soil movement or be hit by digging. Cleanout caps break from mowers and foot traffic. Yard drain lines clog with silt and roots. Outdoor kitchens and sinks add their own supply and drain lines that face the same conditions.
DiagnosisWhat we check first
- 01Hose bibs and wall penetrations
- We check for internal cracks that leak inside the wall when the faucet is used.
- 02Service line from meter to house
- A wet patch in the yard or a running meter can point to a break here.
- 03Cleanouts
- Broken or missing caps let debris and roots into the sewer. We repair or replace them.
- 04Grade and drainage around the foundation
- Standing water near the slab affects both plumbing and the foundation.
The optionsWhich repair fits, and when
We lay out the choices plainly, explain what each involves and leave the decision with you.
Hose bib replacement
Leaking, cracked or stiff outdoor faucet. Frost-free models are a good upgrade.
Service line repair
A leak in the buried line from the meter. We excavate, repair and test.
Cleanout and yard line repair
Damaged cleanout risers, caps or yard drain lines are replaced and regraded.
Local conditionsOutdoor Plumbing System Repair on the west side of San Antonio
San Antonio's caliche and clay soils make outdoor digging slow and shift buried lines with the seasons. The service line from the SAWS meter to your house is your responsibility, and on older properties that line may be galvanized or polybutylene. Outdoor faucets also took heavy damage in the February 2021 freeze, and many were patched instead of replaced.
From the jobCopper hose bib and supply line on a brick wall
A few things that help
Know where your water meter box is. Mark sprinkler heads and any landscape lighting so we can avoid them. Shut off water to the outdoor faucet if it is leaking.
QuestionsCommon questions about outdoor plumbing system repair
What is a frost-free hose bib?
It closes the valve inside the wall where it stays warm, so water does not sit in the exposed part. It reduces freeze damage when installed with a slight downward slope.
Who owns the line between the meter and my house?
Generally the homeowner. SAWS handles the meter and the line on the street side.
Can you repair irrigation lines?
We handle the plumbing supply and backflow device. Sprinkler heads and zone wiring are usually an irrigation specialist's work.
Related workServices that often go with it
Talk it through with usOpen 7 AM to 11 PM every day. Se habla español.
(210) 761-4788