Short answer: In Smyrna, the City repairs leaks up to and inside the meter box on the street side; the service line from the meter to your house is the homeowner's responsibility. One leak in a sound line is usually a spot repair; an old, undersized or repeatedly leaking line is usually replaced. If water is gushing at the meter, call the City's after-hours line at (770) 434-6666.
City side or your side?
| Where the leak is | Who fixes it | Who to call |
|---|---|---|
| Under the street or sidewalk, before the meter | City of Smyrna | Business hours: (770) 431-2850. After hours: (770) 434-6666 |
| Inside the meter box, street side of the meter | City of Smyrna | Same as above |
| Between the meter and the house | Homeowner | A licensed plumber |
| Inside the house | Homeowner | A licensed plumber |
If your bill comes from the Cobb County Water System instead of the City of Smyrna, which is the case for some Smyrna-addressed homes in unincorporated areas, contact Cobb County for the utility side. The homeowner side works the same way. See who fixes what in Smyrna.
Is it the service line? A quick test
- Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances, including irrigation.
- Check the meter. A moving silver wheel or a digital reading above 0.0 gallons per minute means water is flowing.
- Close the main shutoff valve where the line enters the house.
- Check the meter again. If it is still moving, the leak is very likely in the service line between the meter and the house, or in an irrigation line tied in before the house valve.
If the meter stops when the house valve is closed, the leak is inside the house. That calls for leak detection instead.
Signs of a failing water service line
- A wet or soggy spot in the yard along the line's path, especially in dry weather
- A strip of grass that is greener than the rest
- Water pooling near the meter box on your side
- Water pressure that has dropped over time throughout the house
- Spitting faucets or air in the lines
- Dirty or rusty water at every faucet, not just hot
- A sudden jump in the water bill
- The sound of water running near where the line enters the house
Why service lines fail in Smyrna
Aging pipe
Older homes may have galvanized steel service lines that rust from the inside, or copper lines that thin with age. Some homes from the late 1970s to mid 1990s have polybutylene service lines, which can crack at fittings. On a positive note, the City of Smyrna says its inventory of public and customer-owned service lines determined its system is lead free.
Clay soil and roots
North Georgia's clay swells and shrinks with rain and drought, stressing buried pipe and fittings over time. Tree roots can press on or wrap around a line, especially where it passes near mature trees, which are common in Smyrna's established neighborhoods.
Freezing
Service lines are usually buried deep enough to avoid freezing in metro Atlanta, but the exposed section where the line rises at the house, the meter box itself and shallow lines can freeze in a hard cold snap. Read our frozen pipe guide.
Digging and construction
Fence posts, irrigation installs, landscaping and driveway work can nick or crush a service line. Call Georgia 811 before any digging in your yard.
High water pressure
Pressure that runs too high strains every pipe, fitting and fixture in the house. Plumbing codes generally call for a pressure reducing valve when incoming pressure exceeds 80 psi. A failed pressure reducing valve can cause banging pipes, a dripping water heater relief valve and fixtures that wear out early.
A real person answers 24 hours a day and tells you what to do first, before anyone comes out.
How we repair or replace a service line
Locate the leak
We trace the line from the meter to the house, then use listening equipment and ground observation to find the leak. Pinpointing it first keeps excavation small.
Spot repair
If the line is in good shape apart from one leak, we dig at the leak, cut out the damaged section, and install a new piece with proper fittings.
Full replacement
If the line is old, has leaked more than once, or is undersized for the house, replacing it from the meter to the house is usually the better spend. Replacement lines are commonly PEX, copper or polyethylene, chosen for the soil and length of run.
Trenchless replacement
For lines under driveways, walkways or mature landscaping, a new line can often be pulled or bored in with small pits at each end instead of a long trench. It can save a lot of driveway and landscape restoration.
Valves and regulators
While the line is exposed, it is a good time to replace an old main shutoff valve with a quarter-turn ball valve you can actually close in an emergency, and to check or replace the pressure reducing valve.
Low water pressure: service line or something else?
- Every fixture is weak, both hot and cold: a corroded or leaking service line, a failing pressure reducing valve, a partly closed main valve, or a utility issue.
- Only hot water is weak: usually the water heater or its valves, not the service line. See water heater repair.
- One fixture is weak: a clogged aerator, cartridge or supply line at that fixture. See faucet repair.
- Pressure dropped suddenly for the whole street: likely a utility main break or work in the area. Check with the city.
After the repair
- Ask about a leak adjustment. The City of Smyrna has a leak adjustment form for bills raised by a leak. Keep your plumber's invoice.
- Flush the lines. After a repair, run cold water at the lowest faucet first to clear air and sediment, then work up through the house.
- Clean aerators on faucets if flow is weak after the repair; debris often collects there.
- Restore the yard. Ask whether backfill, seed or sod are part of the job.
Buying an older home in Smyrna?
Ask the seller or inspector what the service line is made of and when it was last replaced. Look at the pipe where it enters the house and at the meter. A water line that is near the end of its life is worth knowing about before you close, and the same goes for the sewer lateral. A camera inspection of the sewer line before closing is also worth it.
Irrigation lines and outdoor spigots
Many Smyrna homes have irrigation systems that tap into the service line before or after the house shutoff. A cracked irrigation pipe, a stuck zone valve or a failed backflow preventer can look exactly like a service line leak on the meter. Shut the irrigation system off at its own valve during the meter test. Some homes have a separate irrigation meter; check both. Frost-free outdoor spigots that froze with a hose attached can split inside the wall and leak only when turned on, so check for water inside the wall behind the spigot after you use it.
The main shutoff valve: the most important valve in your house
When a pipe bursts, the main shutoff valve is what stops the damage. In many older homes, it is an old gate valve that has not been turned in years. Those valves often refuse to close all the way, or start leaking at the stem when they are finally used. If yours is hard to turn or you are not sure where it is, have it replaced with a full port quarter-turn ball valve. It is a small job that pays off the first time something goes wrong. While the water is off, a plumber can also install a pressure gauge so you can check your pressure any time.
How to choose a contractor for water line work
- Ask how the leak will be located before digging starts.
- Get a written scope covering length, material, method, valves, permits, the 811 locate, backfill and yard restoration.
- Ask whether a spot repair or a full replacement is recommended, and why.
- Confirm the plumber holds a Georgia license. See our Georgia plumber license guide.
- Ask about the warranty on the new line and the labor.
Choosing material for a new service line
When a water service line is replaced, the material should suit the soil, the length of the run and the method used to install it.
- PEX: flexible, resistant to scale and corrosion, and easy to pull through a bored path with few joints. Rated PEX for underground service is a common choice for residential lines.
- Copper (Type K): the traditional underground copper. Durable, with a long track record, though some soils can be hard on copper over time.
- Polyethylene (PE) tubing: flexible and widely used for service lines, especially for longer runs and trenchless pulls.
Whatever the material, a good installation includes proper bedding in the trench so rocks do not press on the pipe, a sleeve where the line passes through a foundation wall, a new main shutoff at the house, and enough depth to avoid freezing and damage from future digging. Ask your plumber which material they recommend for your yard and why, and make sure it is written into the plan. Undersized old lines are common in older homes; if your house has more bathrooms than when it was built, upsizing the line during replacement can improve pressure when two showers run at once.
Water line service across Smyrna
We repair and replace water service lines throughout Smyrna and nearby, from older homes in Cheney Woods and Smyrna Heights, Bennett Woods and Cooper Lake and Forest Hills to homes on Cobb County water in Belmont Hills and King Springs, Vinings and Mableton and Riverview. See all service areas.
More plumbing services in Smyrna
- Emergency plumber in Smyrna: 24/7 burst pipes, no water, backups and leaks.
- Drain cleaning in Smyrna: Clogged sinks, tubs, toilets and main line backups.
- Leak detection & slab leaks in Smyrna: Hidden leaks in walls, slabs and yard lines.
- Pipe repair & repiping in Smyrna: Burst pipes, polybutylene and galvanized replacement.
- Water heater repair & installation in Smyrna: Tank and tankless repair and replacement.
- Sewer line repair in Smyrna: Camera inspection, roots, breaks and replacement.
- Toilet & faucet repair in Smyrna: Running toilets, drips, fixtures and disposals.
Helpful Smyrna plumbing guides
Neighborhoods we serve
Licensed plumbers for homes in Market Village & Williams Park, Forest Hills, Bennett Woods & Cooper Lake, Cheney Woods & Smyrna Heights, Belmont Hills & King Springs, Vinings, Cumberland & The Battery, Mableton & Riverview. See every Smyrna service area or contact us.
Sources
- City of Smyrna, Utility Services FAQ (meter rule, leak adjustment)
- City of Smyrna, Water and Sewer Division (emergency numbers, lead service line inventory)
- Georgia 811
Written and reviewed by Alex, a Smyrna local with an MBA who researches and edits every page on this site, citing official and published sources. Updated October 25, 2026.
Plumbing work is performed by independent, licensed Georgia plumbers. General information, not legal or insurance advice.