Is my service line lead?
Find out in three steps, in about ten minutes
Many homes built before 1950 still have a lead pipe between the street and the meter. You can check yours without tools.
- 01
Look at the pipe
Go to where the water line comes into the house, usually the basement wall facing the street. Find the pipe between the wall and the water meter.
Lead is dull gray and soft-looking, with no threads
It often has a rounded bulge where it was joined
Copper looks like a penny; plastic is blue, black or white
- 02
Scratch and test it
Scratch a small spot with a key or a coin, nothing sharper. Lead shows shiny silver under the gray. Then hold a magnet to the pipe.
A magnet does not stick to lead or copper
It sticks to galvanized steel
Wash your hands afterward and wipe the spot with a damp towel
- 03
Call or text us
Tell us what you saw and text a photo. We look at the line with you, say what it is made of, and write down your options. If your address is in the city program, we start there.
Not sure what you are looking at? Call anyway
Some lines are lead on one side of the curb valve and copper on the other
Take the photo from a step back so the wall, the pipe and the meter all show.
What the scratch shows
Lead, galvanized steel or copper: how to tell them apart
Plastic pipe is easy: it is blue, black or white and you can't scratch it to metal.
Lead
Dull gray and soft. A key leaves a bright silver mark.
Magnet: does not stick
Often a rounded bulge at the joints
Replace it: call us
Galvanized steel
Gray and hard, often rusty at the fittings. The scratch stays gray.
Magnet: sticks
Threaded joints
Old and prone to clogging inside; ask us
Copper
Brown to green on the surface. A scratch shows the color of a new penny.
Magnet: does not stick
Soldered or compression joints
Nothing to replace for lead
Every old pipe looks a little different, which is why a crew confirms what you found.
Before you scratch
Do the check carefully
Lead is a soft metal. A light scratch is enough, and a few habits keep the dust where it belongs.
Use a key or a coin, never a file, knife or wire brush
Scratch one small spot, then wipe it with a damp paper towel
Keep children and pets away while you do it
Wash your hands and throw the towel away
Don't cut, bend or hammer the pipe
Questions about lead lines
Is the scratch test enough to know?
No. It is a good first look. A crew checking the line, or the utility's records, is what settles it. Some lines are lead on one side of the curb valve and copper on the other, so we check both.
Homes built before 1978: is lead likely in my pipes?
Lead service lines are most common in homes built before 1950. Homes built before 1986 can have lead solder or older fixtures inside. Houses built before 1978 may also have lead paint, which is a separate matter.
Does a lead pipe mean my water is unhealthy?
Lead can get into drinking water from old pipes. Your water utility can tell you about testing and filters, and your doctor or the health department can answer health questions. We replace pipes; we don't test water or give medical advice.
Who owns which part of the service line?
It depends on the city. In many places the utility owns the pipe from the main to the curb valve and the homeowner owns the rest to the house. Your utility can tell you for your address, and we confirm it before we write a price.
Found something? Send us a photo.
A text with the street address and a photo is enough to start.