water line break

Yes it is probably best to remove both old couplings and start over. Get more room between them and take out that sharp bend.

First this though,
Did you remove the end nuts and the 2 rubber rings from the barrel? You would need to cut off that old coupling, need straight pipe. Slip the end nut on each pipe end, then the rubber rings. Keep them in the right orientation. Install the center section (barrel) centered over the gap and install both rings and nuts, tighten as tight as you can by hand and a little more with a plier, should be good to go....James

It went through the meter on her line. Here the Water Co would laugh at you. Would you expect a refund from the gas station if your car's gas tank had a leak?

No, they won't laugh, and some NICE water companies DO make adjustments.

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Alice
* * *
"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus

Did you get the leak fixed?

Mary,

Good on you for doing this yourself

The shutting the water off at the house as well as at the meter will help keep the water from draining back out of the house, and possibly emptying your hot water heater and burning out the element as someone else had posted.

All our leaks were, unfortunately, on our side of the meter. The last, and the biggest one by far, was JUST on our side of the meter (the union for the pipe where it came out of the meter is right where it broke!)....the meter box was overflowing and trying to fill up the creek to the pond. O.O

It doesnt hurt to talk with your water co. Worst thing they can do is say too bad, so sad to be you....and stick you with the whole thing. They don't usually forgive the whole leak billage.....but, they at least should be willing to work out some form of paying the really big bill (or the portion of it they say you still have to pay) over a period of time.

But, be wary on the billing....depending on when they read your meter for billing purposes, the worst of the leakage might not be on it yet. Since they just read it, and now you hopefully have it fixed.....you might see if they will come out and re-read it and use a reading that is with it being fixed, and base your bill on that......especially if they are willing to go halfsies on it with you.

Good luck!

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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons...for you are crunchy and good with ketchup!

Don't forget to scope around for other suspiciously green spots.......

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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons...for you are crunchy and good with ketchup!

It's been a long two days. The first gluing didn't work. I ended up going back by on my regular errands and buying a 2' length of pvc, some fittings, and another compression coupling. Turned out I bought the wrong kind last time.

The trip to town was looooooooooong. Seems everywhere we went the lines were long. Finally got home about four, and did the regluing just as it was about to get dark. I glued a regular coupling on one side, and wanted to do it on the other, but couldn't figure out how to get the pipe not too short but not too long to get back in.

Ended up getting it too short, and doing the other end with that compression coupling.

It looked fine at first. We at least got the dishes washed and got some showers. When I went back to check just now, though, the compression coupling was dripping. So I'm having DS cut the water back off after his shower.

I'm just stubborn enough that I'm planning on making yet a fourth trip to Home Depot on the way home in the morning, and picking up a slip fitting.

I am sorry that it is still leaking. Glad you were able to get some water to use. Be careful about your water heater.

I do admire your tenacity and stick to it. You are learning and you will solve the problem.

I am sorry I wasn’t able to help more; I have learned that I am not too good at trying to write how to fix things. I apologize if I got you confused; my intent wasn’t too mislead but to help.

Good luck.

That compression fitting should not leak. tighten it a little more with 2 wrenches or pliers. After you are done check meter to see if it is running at all. Check for a small red or black star, if it turns even slowly, there is still aleak somewhere. Hope you have it fixed. Remember to cover the waterline back up so it doesn't freeze. Another good thing to do is get a measurement off a monument (something that won't move, fencepost, powerpole, building) so it is easy to find the repair spot again....James

Please don't think that. Everyone who has posted on this thread has helped me out tremendously. Perhaps I haven't expressed that well. But I started out completely clueless, and because of your input and the input of others, I feel like I am almost there on this thing.

You know, I was so tired last night that it didn't occur to me that I probably just need to tighten it up better. I did think of that this morning, and will give it another try after I eat.
I did think of covering it before the freeze, and of marking the spot before I backfill (though I don't know what I'm going to do that with, yet.)
Thanks, too, for the tip on watching the meter.

I think it is finally fixed. I tightened up the compression coupling with the wrenches and it doesn't look like it's leaking.

Checked the meter and found the little red spinner flying around, but found when I got in the house that the son who comes in late had tried to take a shower and left the spigot wide open.

Checked again, and it was still spinning, but slowly. I know that isn't good, but maybe the hot water heater that I forgot to turn off was filling? Or maybe there is another leak someplace else.

At least now I know how to keep an eye on it, and that's what I'll do for now.

Thanks to all who have offered encouragement and/or advice on this thread. I couldn't have done it without you.

Now keep your parts receipt. When I worked in the water dept, you paid the bill, we averaged your normal 4 month winter bill and you got half the difference as a credit on future bills. When I came here there was no adjustment but....You could send a letter to the council, it was up to them. I got that changed, didn't seem fair that if you rented and there was a leak you were responsible for the bad piping. It costs to make water, seems fair that you pay something but the company doesn't need to make a profit off someones misfortune. We now charge the minimum and 1/2 the cost of the water over the minimum, here the minimum is 14.00 which includes the first 3 units (3000 gallons). Over that you pay half the regular rate of $1.00/1000 gallons. or 50 cents/1000. Easy, everyone can figure the bill, no paperwork other than the bill and letter from customer and your reciept for parts or plumber, One time a year though unless extenuating circumstances....James

Oh, good job, I am proud of you. Another thing you know you can do yourself....James

My community water company will make an adjustment once every so many months if you have a leak, providing you show reciepts. Doesn't eliminate the bill, but does make it easier.
Ed

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"Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness."
Thomas Jefferson to George Washington 1787

Thank you for your kind words. I sometimes wonder if I am helping or hindering, what I realized with you is that you have an excellent mechanical aptitude and you are a problem solver. You had a good learning experience and stopped the dollars from flying away. I suggest you keep your eye on the meter and try to figure out how much water you are losing. I don’t know how to read your particular meter but someone may be able to help.

You did well and have an excellent understanding of the problem.

Now come to WV. I’ve got 800 feet of gas line to put in.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Dave

The spin on the meter moving slowly could be the lines pressureizing, lots of air to move in a long line, water heater, toilet tanks, etc. Do check it again in an hour or so after you make repairs to determine if there is another leak. Also, it is good to slowly open the valve to the meter if you don't have a faucet open somewhere to ease the pressure on the line.
Ed

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"Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness."
Thomas Jefferson to George Washington 1787

You know, I didn't even think of that. I guess it's a good thing my late night son left the shower spigot open.

I hope you'll be renting a trencher for that.

Merry Christmas to you.