PVC Pipe Repair

It’s happened to the best of us–  even though we know there are pipes in the ground and we’re trying really hard to work around them, we manage to put a shovel through one.  Man, some sprinkler pipes are very shallow.

Or how about that neighbor or realtor who hammers a sign in your yard?  Of course, if they tried to hit a pipe they couldn’t, but since they weren’t trying, they sure did!

Whatever the reason, broken PVC pipes are an occasional reality in some homes, particularly if you have a sprinkler system.

The good news is that a PVC water pipe can be repaired with a little effort, some common tools and a little knowledge.  Learn more in the  PVC Pipe Repair  topic.

Water Leak Indicator

Did your water bill suddenly increase?  Do you suspect a hidden water leak for some other reason?  Wondering about new stains on walls or ceilings?

The good news is that you have a useful tool in your yard to confirm or rule out a leak: your water meter.

Many water meters have a low-flow indicator, also known as a leak detector or tattler.  It is typically a small triangle or star shape on the face of the water meter, sometimes centered on the main dial.  This low-flow indicator moves with very little water flow so you can sometimes catch even a dripping faucet (although you may have to watch it for awhile for such a small leak).  If you can’t locate your water meter, check for guidance in the  Utility Shutoff  topic.

To use the water meter to check for leaks,

Underground Utilities

Ever wonder….

….what some of those strange utility boxes are in your yard?

….where pipes and wires are located in your yard?

….how deep they are?

….how does power/water/gas/sewer/phone/cable get to my house?

….can I paint, move, disguise or conceal some of these things in my yard?

We’ll try to answer some of these questions and more.

Digging a hole in your yard?  You really should know what’s below the surface!  There are legal requirements to locate utilities before you dig.  Cutting into electrical or gas lines can be highly destructive and cause death or injury.  Tearing up sewer, telephone and cable lines can also be disruptive.  Even damage to irrigation and landscape lighting can be an expensive headache.  Avoid this by knowing what’s where under your grass.

Learn more in the  Underground Utilities  topic.

Utility Shutoff

Know how to shut off utilities in an emergency or other necessary situation.  Teach older, responsible family members how to do this with info from the  Utility Shutoff  topic.  It may just save lives and property someday.