Flooded meter box
Water around the meter often means a failed fitting, valve, or service connection.
★ 4.8 Stars · 8,500+ Google Reviews · Calls answered 24/7
Water Line Repair in Northern California
Flooded meter box? Soggy spot in the yard? Ceiling bubble or a water bill that suddenly doubled? Earl's Plumbing finds the leak, fixes the damaged section, and tells you honestly whether a repair will hold or the line needs replacing.
Call or text (530) 343-0330 — a real person answers calls day or night.
Earl's Plumbing repairs leaking and broken water lines throughout Northern California, from Shasta County to Placer County, family-owned since 1998.
We fix meter box leaks, underground service line leaks, failed fittings, hose bib connections, and hidden leaks in walls, ceilings, and attics, with no service call fee.
Call or text (530) 343-0330 or schedule online for a free quote.
Spot repair when it makes sense
$0 service call fee
Yard, meter & in-wall leaks
Same-day when available
Financing (OAC)
CSLB #772565
Web-only offer
$25 OFF
Water Line Repair
Mention this page when you call or text, or add "$25 web offer" when you book online.
📞 Claim by Phone 📅 Claim OnlineOffer ends this month. One per household.
💦 Water spraying? Shut off the main valve now.
Usually where the line enters the house, or at the meter. Then call — we answer 24/7.
Signs Your Water Line Is Leaking
Water line leaks rarely announce themselves with a geyser. Usually it's something quieter, and a lot more expensive the longer it runs.
Wet or soft spot in the yard
Soggy soil or water surfacing, especially when it hasn't rained, points underground.
Water bill jumped
A leak on your side of the meter runs 24 hours a day, and you pay for every gallon.
Pressure dropped
Water escaping before it reaches the house means less at every faucet.
Ceiling bubbles or wall stains
Lines in attics and walls leak too. Bubbling paint or soft drywall is the clue.
Running water sounds
Hissing or trickling when everything is off means water is going somewhere.
Corroded fittings
Rust and green crust at valves and transitions show joints that are close to failing.
Leak after leak
One leak is a repair. Repeat leaks usually mean the whole line is wearing out.
Is It Your Leak or the Water Company's?
Here's the quick rule: on most city systems, the water company owns the pipe on the street side of the meter, and you own everything on the house side. Cal Water, for example, says customers maintain the plumbing on their side of the meter.
- Leak between the street and the meter? Call your water company first.
- Leak between the meter and the house? That's yours, and that's where we come in.
- Not sure? Turn off every faucet and appliance, then watch the meter. If it still moves, water is leaking on your side.
Source: Cal Water — Is Cal Water responsible for plumbing leaks? Rules vary by water district.
Before
After
Meter Box Leak — Chico, CAFailed connection on the house side of the meter, repaired and tested.
Real Water Line Repairs by Earl's
Find the failure, fix that section right, and test it before we leave.
Hidden leak
Ceiling Bubble From an Attic Line
A water line in the attic broke and the ceiling showed it first. Catching it early limits the drywall damage.
Common cause
Corroded Fitting
Old fittings and transitions corrode from the inside out until they let go. We replace the bad joint, not the whole house.
Underground Spot Repair, Start to Finish
When the leak is in one spot, we fix that spot. No tearing up the whole yard just for sport.
1
Find it
Wet soil and ground movement point the way. When the leak is hidden, leak detection pinpoints it.
2
Expose it safely
Buried utilities get marked through 811 first, then we dig only where the damage is.
3
Repair & test
The damaged section is replaced and pressure-checked before we backfill.
California law requires calling 811 at least 2 working days before digging. Need lines marked on private property? See our line location service.
Repair the Leak or Replace the Line?
We quote both, explain the difference, and let you decide.
Repair it when…
- It's one failed fitting, valve, or connection
- The meter box leak has a clear source
- A single section is damaged and the rest is sound
- It's a hose bib or exterior connection
Replace it when…
- It's leaked more than once
- It's old galvanized or failing pipe
- It's too small for the home's water needs
- Repairs keep adding up. See water line replacement
Why Homeowners Call Earl's for Water Line Leaks
Not a guess, a backhoe, and a surprise bill.
We find it before we dig
Pinpointing the leak means a smaller hole and a smaller bill.
Repair first when it'll hold
If a spot repair fixes it, that's what we recommend.
Tested before we leave
Every repair is pressure-checked and inspected for leaks.
No service call fee
Free quote at your door. You decide, no pressure.
Same-day when available
Calls answered 24/7. Active leaks get priority.
Protect what's next
Ask about an automatic shutoff valve that stops the water when it senses a leak.
How Water Line Repair Works
Simple, clear, and no surprises.
Call, text, or book
Tell us what you're seeing and when works for you. Mention the $25 offer.
We locate the leak
Meter check, visual inspection, and leak detection if it's hidden.
Plain-English options
Repair vs. replace, with a firm price for each. You choose.
Fixed & tested
We repair the section, test it, and clean up.
The Leak You Can't See Is the Expensive One
Most people find out about a water line leak the hard way: a water bill that makes them do a double take, or a soggy patch of lawn in the middle of August. By then it's been running for a while, and you've been paying for every drop.
Here's my advice: the minute something looks off, check your meter. If it's moving with everything turned off, call us. Most of the time it's one bad spot we can fix without tearing up your whole yard. If the line is truly worn out, we'll tell you straight and show you why.
— Clinton EarlOwner, Earl's Plumbing · Your Friend in the Business
28
Years serving Northern CA
8,500+
Google reviews
$0
Service call fee
24/7
Calls answered
Chico 4.8 ★ · 5,039 reviews
Redding 4.8 ★ · 2,527 reviews
Yuba City 4.8 ★ · 1,002 reviews
Call or Text Your Nearest Earl's Office
Three local offices covering eight Northern California counties. Every line takes calls and texts.
Redding
Redding · Anderson · Cottonwood · Shasta Lake · Palo Cedro · Red Bluff · Corning
(530) 244-3275
Schedule Water Line Repair Online — Free Quote
Book in about a minute, right here on the page. Mention "$25 web offer" in your notes and we'll apply it.
1Pick your service
2Choose a time that works
3Get a confirmation — done
Rather talk to a person? Call or text (530) 343-0330 — we answer 24/7.
Water spraying or flooding? Don't book online — shut off the main valve and call (530) 343-0330.
Water Line Repair Questions, Answered
Whose leak is it, repair or replace, and what to do right now. Straight answers here.
What should I do if my water line is leaking?
If water is spraying or flooding, shut off the main water valve right away, usually where the line enters the house or at the meter box, and keep water away from electrical outlets. Then call a plumber. If it is a slow leak, note when it started and check the meter. Earl's Plumbing answers calls 24/7.
How do I know if my water line is leaking?
Common signs are a flooded meter box, a wet or soft spot in the yard, a sudden jump in the water bill, low water pressure, ceiling bubbles or wall stains, and running water sounds when nothing is on. To check, turn off every fixture and watch the meter. If it still moves, water is going somewhere.
Who is responsible for a water line leak, me or the water company?
On most city water systems, the water company is responsible for the pipe on the street side of the meter and the homeowner is responsible for everything on the house side. Cal Water, for example, says customers maintain the plumbing on their side of the meter. If the leak is before the meter, call your water company first.
Should I repair or replace my water line?
Repair makes sense when the leak is isolated, such as one failed fitting, a damaged section, or a meter box connection, and the rest of the line is in good shape. Replacement is usually the better value when the line has leaked more than once, is old galvanized or failing pipe, or is too small for the home.
Can you repair an underground water line without replacing it?
Yes, if the damage is in one spot. Earl's Plumbing locates the leak, makes sure buried utilities are marked through 811 before digging, exposes the damaged section, and repairs only that part of the line. We test the repair before backfilling. If the line is failing in several places, we will tell you replacement makes more sense.
Can a water line leak cause a high water bill?
Yes. A leak on your side of the meter runs around the clock, so a broken service line can raise the water bill quickly, even when you have not changed how you use water. If your bill jumps for no reason, turn off all fixtures and check whether the meter is still moving. If it is, call for a leak check.
Do I need leak detection before water line repair?
Only if the leak is hidden. A flooded meter box or a visible wet spot often points straight to the problem. If the meter shows a leak but there is no obvious water, the leak may be under a slab, inside a wall, or underground, and electronic leak detection finds it before anyone starts digging or opening walls.
How much does water line repair cost?
It depends on where the leak is, how deep, what pipe you have, and what has to be dug up or opened. That's why we don't charge a service call fee. We come out, find the problem, and give you a free quote before any work starts. You'll know the price first, and online customers get $25 off.