Water Main Leak Repair Hull

Name: Hull Plumbing Solutions
Address: Hull, East Yorkshire, HU1, GB
Telephone: 01482 770 041

A leak on your supply pipe (the pipe that brings water from Yorkshire Water's main in the street to your house) is your responsibility to fix. It's usually buried under your front garden, path, or driveway. You'll notice a wet patch that won't dry, the water meter spinning when nothing's on, or Yorkshire Water writing to you about high water usage.

We'll dig down to the pipe, find the leak, and either repair it or replace the whole run depending on the pipe's condition. If it's old lead or corroded copper, we'll usually recommend replacing it with modern plastic (MDPE) so you don't get another leak in a year.

There's no call-out fee when you book with us. We'll quote you for the work before we start digging, and our 12-month guarantee is included with our membership plan.

Signs You've Got a Supply Pipe Leak

⚠️

Wet patch in the garden or path

A persistent wet patch in your front garden, driveway, or path that won't dry even in summer is usually a supply pipe leak. The water's under pressure, so it pushes up to the surface. In Victorian properties around Spring Bank, the old lead pipes often leak where they've corroded.

⚠️

Water meter spinning when nothing's on

Turn off all taps, don't flush the toilet, make sure appliances are off. Check your water meter (if you've got one). If it's still spinning, you're losing water somewhere. If the stop cock inside the house stops it, the leak's internal. If it keeps spinning, it's the supply pipe outside.

⚠️

Letter from Yorkshire Water

Yorkshire Water monitors usage and will write to you if your consumption suddenly spikes. They'll offer a free leak check. If they confirm it's a leak on your side of the boundary, you're responsible for fixing it. Ignore it and you're paying for water that's going into the ground.

⚠️

Low water pressure

A big leak on the supply pipe can drop your water pressure because half the water's escaping before it reaches your house. If your pressure's suddenly worse and you've ruled out Yorkshire Water's fault (neighbours are fine), check for a supply pipe leak.

⚠️

Soggy ground near the stop cock

The boundary stop cock (where Yorkshire Water's pipe ends and yours begins) is usually in the pavement or just inside your boundary. If the ground around it is soggy or subsiding, the leak's probably at the stop cock itself or just after it. Common fault in older properties.

What to Do Before We Arrive

1

Turn off the internal stop cock

If the leak's serious and you're losing lots of water, turn off your internal stop cock (usually under the kitchen sink). This stops water flowing through the leak. You'll have no water until we fix it, but you won't be paying for thousands of litres going into the ground.

2

Check if Yorkshire Water's been informed

If Yorkshire Water suspects a leak, they'll log it and might fit a meter if you don't have one. If you're on a meter, they'll charge you for the lost water, so get it fixed quick. They won't fix it for you (it's your pipe), but they'll tell you where the boundary is.

3

Mark where the wet patch is

If the wet patch is in a garden or lawn, mark it with something visible (a bucket, a plant pot, whatever). If it's under paving, make a note of which slab. This helps us dig in the right spot and not tear up half your garden.

4

Clear access to the area

Move any pots, bins, or garden furniture out of the way. If the leak's under a car parked on the drive, move it. We need clear access to dig and work.

How We Repair Supply Pipe Leaks

1

Locate the leak

We'll trace the supply pipe from the boundary stop cock (in the pavement) to your internal stop cock. The wet patch usually tells us where to dig. If it's not obvious, we might use a listening stick or isolate sections to narrow it down.

2

Dig down to the pipe

Supply pipes are usually buried 750mm to 1 metre deep. We'll dig carefully to expose the pipe without damaging it further. If it's under paving, we'll lift the slabs. If it's under a concrete path or drive, we might need a breaker.

3

Assess the pipe condition

If the pipe's old lead or corroded copper and it's leaking in one place, it'll likely leak somewhere else soon. We'll recommend replacing the whole run with modern MDPE plastic pipe. If it's newer copper or plastic and just one joint's failed, we'll repair that section.

4

Replace or repair the pipe

For a full replacement, we'll lay new 25mm or 32mm MDPE pipe from the boundary stop cock to your internal stop cock. For a repair, we'll cut out the damaged section and fit a new piece. We'll test it under pressure before backfilling.

5

Backfill and reinstate

We'll backfill the trench with the soil we dug out, compact it down, and reinstate the surface (turf, paving slabs, gravel, whatever was there). If it's a concrete path or tarmac drive, we'll leave it level and you'll need to get a groundworker to finish it properly.

Water Main Leak Pricing

Upfront prices, no nasty surprises

We'll always tell you the cost before we start. These are typical price ranges, your exact quote depends on the job.

Service	Typical Cost
Supply pipe repair (small section)	£250 – £400
Full supply pipe replacement (up to 10m)	£400 – £800
Leak detection and excavation	£150 – £300
Boundary stop cock replacement	£200 – £350

All prices are estimated. Final costs depend on the specific job. We provide detailed quotes before starting work.

Common Questions

Got questions? Here's the quick answers.

How much does it cost to fix a supply pipe leak in Hull?

A small repair (one leaking joint) costs £250 to £400. Replacing the whole supply pipe from the boundary to your house costs £400 to £800 depending on how far it runs and what we're digging through. Garden is cheapest, concrete driveway is most expensive. We'll quote you before we start digging.

Who's responsible for the supply pipe?

Yorkshire Water owns the pipe from the main in the street to your property boundary (usually at the pavement edge or just inside your boundary). You own the pipe from the boundary to your house. If it leaks on your side, you pay to fix it. Yorkshire Water will replace their side for free if it's leaking.

How long does supply pipe repair take?

A day for most jobs. We'll dig down, repair or replace the pipe, test it, backfill the trench, and reinstate the surface. If it's a long run under a concrete drive, it might take two days. We'll give you a time estimate when we've assessed the job.

Will you reinstate my driveway properly?

We'll backfill the trench and leave it level, but we won't re-concrete or re-tarmac. If it's paving slabs, we'll relay them. If it's turf, we'll replace the turf (but it'll take a few weeks to blend in). For concrete or tarmac, you'll need a groundworker to finish it properly.

Should I replace the whole pipe or just fix the leak?

If the pipe's old lead or badly corroded copper, replace the whole run. It'll leak again soon if you just patch it. If it's newer pipe (less than 20 years old) and just one joint's failed, a repair is fine. We'll advise based on what we find.

Can Yorkshire Water make me fix it?

Not directly, but they'll keep charging you for the lost water if you're on a meter. If the leak's affecting the street or neighbouring properties, they can take legal action to force you to fix it, but that's rare. It's cheaper to fix it than to keep paying for wasted water.

How do I know if the leak's on my side or Yorkshire Water's?

The boundary is usually at the edge of your property (pavement edge or boundary wall). Yorkshire Water can tell you exactly where it is. If you turn off your internal stop cock and the leak stops, it's on your side. If it keeps flowing, it's Yorkshire Water's problem.

Does home insurance cover water main leaks in Hull?

It depends on the policy and where the leak is. If it's your responsibility (on your property) and caused by wear and tear, probably not. If it's sudden damage from frost or ground movement, possibly yes. Check your policy or call your insurer. We can provide a detailed invoice for any claim.

Back to Emergency Plumber

Get In Touch

Request a free quote

Tell us what you need and we'll get back to you with a no-obligation quote, usually within the hour during working hours.

01482 770 041

Mon–Thurs 8.30am–6pm, Fri 9am–4pm

Covering all Hull postcodes

Water main leak repair across Hull