Berkeley's old water lines
A great many Berkeley homes were built before 1940, and their water service lines were galvanized steel. Steel pipe rusts from the inside. Over the decades the opening closes up until a line that began the width of a thumb passes a trickle. Then it starts to leak.
So the two classic Berkeley complaints go together: pressure that has faded for years, and then a wet patch in the front yard or water in the meter box.
Signs to watch for
- Weak flow at every tap, worse when two are open.
- Brown or rusty water first thing in the morning.
- A soggy spot between the sidewalk and the house.
- An EBMUD bill that jumps for no reason.
- Water sounds in the pipes with everything off.
Repair or new line
We can dig up and repair a single leak. On old galvanized pipe we will also tell you honestly that the next leak is usually not far away, and that a repair does nothing for the pressure. A new line from the meter to the house fixes both at once.
Berkeley lots make the route matter. Lines run under mature gardens, brick paths, retaining walls and steps, and in the hills they climb or drop steeply. We plan the path to disturb as little as we can and tell you what will have to be opened before we start. When the job needs a permit, we pull it.
Is it the service line or the house pipes?
If the house also has galvanized pipe inside, a new service line helps but may not be the whole answer. We check pressure at the meter and in the house to see where the loss is. If the inside pipes are the limit, see repiping. A leak under the house is leak detection work.
About Friendly Services
We are family-owned and based in Hayward, with over 20 years in business. License CSLB #1156315 (C-36 plumbing). $1M general liability and workers' comp. Five-year workmanship warranty on our own work. 100+ five-star reviews online. For water that is running now, our Berkeley emergency line is open 24/7.