When a pipe bursts in a Redlands home, close the main valve at once and stay away from wet outlets, then have the split pipe cut out and replaced. Problems at the meter or in the street go to the City's water utility. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Redlands.
Who do I call about a leak at the meter in Redlands?
The City of Redlands Municipal Utilities & Engineering Department supplies the water, serving Redlands, Mentone, parts of Crafton Hills and San Timoteo Canyon, and a small part of San Bernardino. Its 2022 water quality report lists customer service at (909) 798-7516. Water bubbling up at the meter box or the street should be reported to the City. A break past the meter or inside the home is a job for a plumber you hire.
The City also reports that its service line inventory found no lead service lines, and no galvanized lines needing replacement, in its distribution system. Inventory maps are published if you want to check your street.
Why do pipes burst in Redlands homes?
Freeze damage happens occasionally on cold, clear nights, especially to hose bibs and pipes on exposed walls. More often a burst traces to:
- Old copper or galvanized pipe in older houses, worn thin at fittings
- Braided supply lines and washing machine hoses that age out
- High house pressure from a missing or failing regulator
- Attic piping cycling through hot summers
- Earthquake movement stressing pipe at the slab
Water in Redlands is moderately hard. The City's 2022 report lists groundwater averaging 152 mg/L and treated surface water around 135 mg/L. Scale does not burst pipes, but it can lock up a main valve nobody has touched in years.
Is a permit needed for the repair?
The City of Redlands Building & Safety Division, which runs the One Stop Permit Center at 35 Cajon Street, issues plumbing permits. A quick splice may not need one, while replacing a longer run, rerouting around a slab leak, or a re-pipe usually will. Applications can start on the City's online portal. Your plumber can tell you what applies before work begins.
One local tip
Before you need it, find your main shutoff, which is often near the front hose bib or where the line enters the garage, and make sure it turns. If it is stiff, have it replaced during any plumbing visit. It also helps to know where the water heater's own cold supply valve is, so a leak at the tank can be stopped without cutting water to the whole house.
Burst Pipe Repair questions in Redlands
Water is bubbling up near the street or the meter box. Who do I call?
Can pipes freeze and split here?
Does one burst pipe mean the whole house needs repiping?
What if I smell gas while dealing with the water damage?
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