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Every homeowner must rely on a water main for a multitiude of reasons. Water is a source of life as it’s needed for drinking, washing laundry, washing dishes and many other reasons. Like everything else, water mains suffer wear and tear and it becomes necessary to replace them.

Although not required, it is strongly recommended that a professional plumber do this job. If you decide to do this yourself, an inspection by a city authority will be required.

These basic steps should help you determine if it’s feasible to do the job yourself or hire a professional.

1. Locate where the water main is located and shut off the valve with a wrench.
2. Replacing a pipe means you’ll have to dig a trench to replace the pipe. Before you do this, call your city water department so they can check if there are any electrical fixtures underneath that may cause problems while digging.
3. Another step to consider is what kinds of pipes are legal to use. You will need to check with legal authorities for this.
4. When you’re ready to start installation, locate the “gooseneck” which is the small pipe that is connected to the city’s water main. On the gooseneck is a “corporation stop”. You may turn that off with a wrench to stop the water flow while replacing the pipe leading to your house.
5. Before joining the pipe with the city’s water main, make sure there is enough dirt or sand for the pipe to rest on and no sharp objects near it.
6. When the new pipe is connected, turn on all water valves and test the water pressure.