Perhaps the roots of one of those treasured buckeye trees from which Ohio takes its official state nickname ran afoul of your underground water line, or maybe the pipe simply froze during a particularly nasty winter’s cold snap. But one thing’s for sure: Unless you like that Lake Eerie annex welling up in your yard right now, you’re gonna need to call someone to work on your water service line. For Ohio homeowners, it’s a bit of a mixed bag on pricing; compared with the average water line job across the U.S., Buckeye State residents from Cleveland down to Columbus on down to Cincy generally pay more to call someone out initially, but a little less for the actual work.

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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 Ohio, water lines are substantially deeper on average, at 5.76 feet. For further 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 Ohio, 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: $268

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 Ohio, the fee for this is 21% higher than the national average.

Water Service Line Repair: $935

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.

Ohio’s average repair price is about 11% less than the nation’s.

Water Service Line Replace: $2,899

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 Ohioans 18% less than the average American.

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• How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Water Service Line?
• Water Line Insurance: What It Is and Why You Need It
• Should You Go Pro or Try DIY for Your Sewer Line Repair? Here’s What You Should Know
• Prevent Frozen-Pipe Problems by Knowing These Things Down Cold

Video produced and directed by Eric Rossi: