The water line between the city meter and your home is one of the most important — and least visible — parts of your plumbing system. When it fails, you may see a soaked yard, a sudden drop in water pressure, or a water bill that doubles overnight. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth specializes in yard line leak detection, service line replacement, and meter-side troubleshooting across Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, Grand Prairie, and Burleson. Here’s what you need to know before calling a plumber or the city — and how to tell the difference between the two.
In the Fort Worth Water Department service area, the homeowner is responsible for the entire water line from the outlet side of the meter to the house. This includes the pipe itself, any shutoff valves on your side of the meter, and any connections that branch off the main line (such as irrigation taps). The city is responsible for the meter, the meter box, and the supply line running from the city main to the inlet side of your meter.
This means that if a leak develops in your yard between the meter and the foundation, it’s your responsibility to hire a licensed plumber to locate and repair it. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth handles this work regularly — yard line repairs and replacements are among our top service categories. We’ll test the line, pinpoint the failure, and present you with repair options that fit the situation and your budget. Read more about yard line water leaks.
Several factors point toward replacement rather than another spot repair. If your yard line is made of galvanized steel (common in Fort Worth homes built before the 1970s), it has likely reached the end of its useful life and will develop recurring leaks even after individual repairs. Frequent leak repairs on the same line, a noticeable decline in water pressure over months or years, and discolored water (rust or sediment) when you first turn on a faucet are all signs of a line that’s deteriorating systemically.
We evaluate yard lines by combining pressure testing with visual inspection at the point of access. If we find that the pipe material is corroded or compromised beyond a localized failure, we’ll recommend a full yard line replacement with modern materials — typically PEX or copper, depending on the run length and soil conditions. A new yard line restores full water pressure, eliminates ongoing leak risk, and typically lasts 40 to 50 years or longer. Learn about our repiping services.
A curb stop valve (sometimes called a customer shutoff) is the valve located near the water meter that allows you to shut off water flow to your entire property. In Fort Worth, many curb stops are buried in or near the meter box. Over time, especially in clay soils that expand and contract with moisture, these valves can seize up, corrode, or break — meaning you have no way to shut off your water in an emergency.
If your curb stop doesn’t turn, feels loose, or leaks when operated, it needs replacement. We replace curb stop valves as a standalone service or as part of a yard line repair. We also recommend that every Fort Worth homeowner test their curb stop at least once a year — turn it off and back on — to make sure it’s operable before you need it in an emergency.
Some Fort Worth-area water utilities offer rebate programs for installing or replacing customer shutoff valves. Ask our team whether a rebate applies in your area when scheduling service. Learn about water leak detection.
Yes. Remodeling projects that move sinks, add bathrooms, relocate laundry connections, or open up walls frequently require rerouting the water supply lines that feed fixtures in new positions. We handle interior water line reroutes for residential remodels throughout the Fort Worth Metroplex.
Our process starts with a site visit to assess the existing plumbing layout and determine the most efficient path for the new lines. We coordinate with your general contractor or remodeling team on timing — supply rough-in typically happens after framing is complete but before drywall goes up — and we pull any required plumbing permits through the City of Fort Worth or the relevant jurisdiction.
We use PEX or copper for reroutes depending on the application and local code requirements, and we pressure-test every new line before your walls close up. If your remodel also involves drain relocation, we handle that too. The key is getting us involved early in the planning stage so that plumbing doesn’t become a bottleneck in your project timeline. Explore bathroom plumbing services.
In most Fort Worth residential properties, the irrigation system taps off the main water supply line — typically at or near the meter — through a dedicated connection with its own shutoff valve and a backflow prevention device. The backflow preventer is required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and local code to prevent irrigation water from flowing backward into the potable water supply.
Problems at this connection point can cause low water pressure inside the house when the sprinklers are running, constant dripping or pooling near the meter box, or failed backflow tests during annual inspections. These issues can be tricky because they involve both the irrigation contractor’s scope and the plumber’s scope.
Our plumbers troubleshoot irrigation-to-house connection problems, repair or replace the supply-side plumbing and shutoff valves, and coordinate with your irrigation contractor if the issue extends into the sprinkler system itself. If your backflow device needs testing or replacement, we handle that as well. Explore our leak detection services.
Yes. Any work on the water service line that involves replacement, rerouting, or significant repair in Fort Worth typically requires a plumbing permit through the City of Fort Worth Development Services Department. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth pulls permits, schedules the required city inspection, and ensures all work meets the current plumbing code — you don’t need to navigate city offices or wait on hold for permit status.
Our master plumber, William McDaniel (TX License M-17631), oversees permit compliance for all service line work. The city inspector verifies proper materials, burial depth, connection method, and backfill before the trench is closed. We coordinate this process so there’s no gap between the repair and the inspection — the work gets done right and documented correctly on the first visit whenever possible.
Permit costs are included in our written estimates so there are no surprises. If your project spans into Arlington, Mansfield, Grand Prairie, or Burleson, we handle the jurisdiction-specific permitting for those cities as well.
Low water pressure can have several causes, and the water service line is one of the first places to investigate. Start by checking whether the pressure drop affects all fixtures or just certain ones. If it’s everywhere, the issue is likely on the supply side — either at the meter, in the yard line, or at the pressure-reducing valve (PRV) where the line enters the house.
Check with neighbors to see if they’re experiencing the same issue. If they are, the city may be doing maintenance or there may be a main break — contact Fort Worth Water to confirm. If it’s isolated to your property, there may be a partially closed valve, a failing PRV, or a leak in the yard line that’s diverting water underground before it reaches your fixtures.
We diagnose water pressure issues by testing at the meter, at the PRV, and at individual fixtures to isolate the problem. We repair or replace PRVs, yard lines, and shutoff valves as needed. In older Fort Worth homes, corroded galvanized piping inside the house can also restrict flow — which may mean repiping is the long-term solution. Learn about repiping services.
Ready to schedule service? Call 817-983-7876 or Book an Appointment Online Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth — If there’s a delay, it’s you we pay.®
Copyright © 2026 Benjamin Franklin Plumbing. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Disclaimer | Cookie Policy | Privacy Settings
