A road trip across the second-smallest state in the nation is really more of a short afternoon drive. If you’re tired of being picked on for your state’s scant square-mileage, Delawareans, you should know that we only do it because we’re jealous of how close all of you are to the beach at any given moment. But if the water’s even closer than that — as in, pooling in your front yard — you might have a water service line problem. Delaware was the first state in the union, but when it comes to water service line repair prices, it runs in the middle of the pack. If your whole system needs to be replaced, though, you’ll likely pay less than the average American.

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Your exterior water service line carries water from the public water main into your home. But make no mistake: Once the pipes run under your property, they’re your responsibility — so you’re likely on the hook for any repair or replacement costs.

How deep your pipes are buried deeply impacts the price you pay for these services. Water service lines are buried as deep as local building codes require — but usually, the depth is determined by the frost line in your area. And the deeper the technician must dig to get to your broken or otherwise compromised line, the higher the cost.

The nationwide average water service line depth is 4.58 feet. In Delaware, these lines are buried at about the same depth, at 4.45 feet on average. For context, in f-f-f-freezing Minnesota, pipe depth is more than 8 feet.

Repair and replacement costs also vary depending on where you live. The national average for diagnosis is $222, for repair is $1,039 and for replacement is $3,581.

Below, you’ll find average service prices based on aggregated HomeServe data reported by our network of contractors across the Diamond State, which should give you an approximation of how much you’ll pay to fix your out-of-commission water service line.

Water Service Line Diagnosis: $152

Before any work can begin, the technician will need to come out and run some tests to see what’s wrong with your system. In Delaware, the fee for this is 32% lower than the national average.

Water Service Line Repair: $1,020

A whole host of things can cause trouble with your exterior water service line — from invading tree roots to clogs to general wear and tear. Whatever’s up with your system, the repair process will likely start with excavation to expose the pipe. Depending on your situation, the technician may need to clear a blockage, find a leak or fix the pipe — and, of course, fill the hole back in.

Delaware’s average repair price is about 20 bucks less than the nation’s.

Water Service Line Replace: $3,125

Small sections of leaky or broken pipe can be repaired, but massive clogs or fully compromised pipes might necessitate a full replacement. Due in part to how deep your pipes are buried, water service line replacements cost Delawareans about 13% less than the average American.

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• Prevent Frozen-Pipe Problems by Knowing These Things Down Cold

Video produced and directed by Eric Rossi: