Replace gal pipe to street

I need to replace gal pipe from meter inside basement to the street. How much of a job is this...I dont have lots of money to spend, but I dont mind doin the labour. I figure the outside shut off valve in the front lawn is about
10ft front of foudation wall where it enters house...so I guess its what? dig a trench down to the pipe ( after you shut water off) then disconnect in the house and at the shut off valve and run the new stuff back into the house from valve??? What to expect, and whats best method and material to use?

Why are you replacing it? Why not wait 'til it breaks?

Obviously digging is involved. You need to get down below the frost line...maybe deeper. You'll probably need to get a permit to do the work. It'll be obvious you're doing something since it's in your front yard. You can call your water co and check.

If I had the choice, I would probably replace it with Copper. Again, you may want to call your water co and see if they have any requirements on materials or other specifications that you'll need to follow.

pipe

Dig the ditch, install the pipe, and connect both ends. That is how easy it sounds from your description. Actually doing it, however, can be much more difficult than that.

The only part of this job you should even consider is digging the trench. If it's only 10', that may be doable for you, but as pointed out, this could be a deep trench. Mine is 5'. Just dig until you get to the old line, but you sure don't want to put a pick or shovel through the pipe! My choice of material would be type K copper. It's pricey, but 10' won't send you to the poor house. Have a licensed professional make the connections. As HJ points out, it sounds simple, but a layman can quickly turn a simple job into a disaster.

Gary Swart said:

The only part of this job you should even consider is digging the trench. If it's only 10', that may be doable for you, but as pointed out, this could be a deep trench. Mine is 5'. Just dig until you get to the old line, but you sure don't want to put a pick or shovel through the pipe! My choice of material would be type K copper. It's pricey, but 10' won't send you to the poor house. Have a licensed professional make the connections. As HJ points out, it sounds simple, but a layman can quickly turn a simple job into a disaster.

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I understand what your saying gary. I can see where the galvinized pipe leaves the basement wall. If I could dig down starting at the foundation wall right to the pipe and then gradually trench forward away from the house until I reach the main shutoff. I have used tools before, including pipe wrenches ect. And If I shut the water off outside at the Cities water valve and drained all the water out of the pipes when the pipe is almost fully exposed. What parts should I not concider doing myself. I have very good experience soldering copper pipe, brazing, and welding experience. I could snap a pipe at the valve I guess and have to use an extractor or something I suppose. But I have a friend who is a Licensed plumber that could drive to my home for anything Im not sure of, or to make the actual connections outside. All the inside I will be doing myself with PEX, Home run system. Im listening though, if there is anything I should think twice about, let me know, its appreciated. Hey, I dug 36 Post holes an honest 4' deep, and all by hand...so Im not afraid of doing the work. Im just trying to do it safely, correctly and save myself the cost. I know if I hired a plumber to do this...its big bucks. Im a tradesman myself, and actually the guy who owned this house has his own renovation Buisness....he did most of the crappy plumbing work thats half copper, half galvinized in the house...and its butcherd. I wont even take my car to a mechanic shop, because I know I do a better repair than most mechanics...Im not saying everyone is like that...but man there is alot of shady characters running around that talk a good tune, grab your money and leave you with a cheapo job. But yes, I do hear ya what your saying....BUT, Im still doing it myself...I think...Im gonna evaluate it a little more and get some more advice before I get at it.

Invite your licensed plumber friend over to do an on-site review and plan, and to give you tips. That could prove invaluable.

My advise is to do the digging only. Let the plumber supply the parts and do the labor to make the necessary connections. Paying a plumber or even a plumbers assistant to dig a ditch doesn't make much sense, but trying to save a few more dollars by doing some of the actual plumbing would be foolish in my opinion.