The “Mitten” is an apt name for a state where you wouldn’t want to be caught dead without a pair in the winter — by which we mean the cold season that lasts roughly from November to April, of course. But while you can bundle up to endure the weather, your underground water line doesn’t have that luxury. Temperature swings and deep freezes can do a number on this pipe, and you’ll want to have it fixed before leaking water damages your lawn. In Michigan, you can expect water service line repair and replacement costs to be slightly lower than the national average.

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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, but in Michigan, these lines are buried 6.07 feet deep on average. Yoopers may find their water service lines are buried deeper than this due to just how cold it gets in the Upper Peninsula. (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 Michigan, 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: $208

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 Michigan, the fee for this is 6% lower than the national average.

Water Service Line Repair: $978

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.

Michigan’s average repair price is about 6% lower than the nation’s.

Water Service Line Replace: $3,413

Small sections of leaky or broken pipe can be repaired, but massive clogs or fully compromised pipes might necessitate a full replacement. Water service line replacements cost Michiganders about 5% 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: