Quick answer
Outdoor plumbing is the exterior water supply side of your home: the pipes, valves and fixtures that carry pressurized water to hose bibs, patios, garages, pools and outdoor kitchens. A licensed plumber can install a new backyard water line, repair a leaking exterior line and protect exposed pipes before a freeze. Stormwater drainage is a separate service.
What are you seeing?
Exterior Plumbing Services
San Antonio homes lean on outdoor water more than most: irrigation top-offs, pet washing, patios, detached garages, pools and outdoor kitchens. Every one of those is a pressurized line running through hot sun, shifting clay and the occasional hard freeze. We handle the whole exterior supply system:
- Backyard and patio water lines from the house or meter to the point of use
- Hose bibs and yard hydrants, repaired or upgraded
- Outdoor kitchen and bar hookups with proper shut-offs
- Garage utility sinks and washers in detached or attached garages
- Outdoor shower plumbing with hot and cold supply and a legal drain path
- Leak repair on exposed or buried exterior lines
Our approach is simple: find the real cause, show you the problem, price it before we start, and leave the area clean.
Outdoor Water Supply Lines
A backyard water line is not just pipe in a trench. It needs the right material (PEX, copper or PVC where code allows), correct burial depth, a shut-off you can reach, backflow protection where required and sensible routing away from trees, driveways and the foundation. Shifting clay soil in Bexar County flexes rigid lines over time, so fittings and depth matter.
What a proper install includes
- Locating utilities before any digging (call 811 is required in Texas)
- Tapping the supply in an accessible spot with a dedicated shut-off
- Pressure-rated pipe, protected where it exits the ground or slab
- A pressure test before we cover the trench
- Backfill and surface restoration
Hose Bibs and Outdoor Faucets
Hose bibs fail in three ways: worn internals that drip, a cracked body from a freeze or an attached hose, and a failed supply pipe behind the wall. The third is the one that does real damage because water runs inside the wall cavity. See our dedicated outdoor faucet repair page for the full breakdown.
Garage and Outdoor Shower Plumbing
Garages and outdoor showers add fixtures far from your main plumbing. We run supply lines, add isolation valves so you can winterize the area alone and make sure waste goes where code allows. Outdoor showers in particular need a legal drain, not a pool of water against the slab.
- Hot and cold supply with a mixing valve or shower valve rated for outdoor use
- Isolation valve inside the house or garage for winter shut-down
- Proper drain connection or approved dispersal, never against the foundation
Outdoor Plumbing Leaks
Exterior leaks hide. Watch for these signs:
- Lush, greener or soggy grass in a strip or patch with no rain
- Water meter spinning with every fixture off
- Sudden jump in your SAWS bill
- Reduced pressure at the hose bib or in the house
- Damp or stained exterior wall, or warped trim below a spigot
- The sound of running water when everything is off
Who do I call, SAWS or a plumber? Roughly: SAWS owns the line up to and including the meter. Everything from the meter to your house and fixtures is yours. If outdoor water keeps flowing after your house shut-off is closed, shut the meter valve if you can and call us; we will tell you quickly which side the leak is on.
Freeze Damage Prevention
San Antonio freezes are infrequent but severe because most homes are not built for them. Exposed hose bibs, backflow assemblers, irrigation lines and any pipe on an exterior wall are the first to split.
- Disconnect hoses and cover bibs before the first freeze
- Insulate exposed pipe, backflow assemblies and irrigation lines
- Know your main shut-off before you need it
- If a pipe splits, shut water off and call right away
See burst pipe repair for emergencies.
Don't DIY this
- Dig near utilities without calling 811 first
- Run a pipe in the yard and bury it without a pressure test
- Splice rigid pipe back together over a leak that has not been located
- Use thread tape or sealant as a permanent fix for a cracked body
- Tie new outdoor fixtures into old galvanized lines without an assessment
Call a licensed plumber instead: (210) 898-9754
Homeowner checklist
Seasonal issues in San Antonio
Hard freezes split hose bibs and exposed lines. Cover, disconnect and drip only where advised.
Check for cracks and drips after winter; test shut-offs before watering season.
Heat and clay soil movement stress buried lines; high usage hides slow leaks in the bill.
Best time to add shut-offs, replace worn bibs and insulate before the first cold front.
Why homeowners trust Stark Plumbing Solutions
You get a price before work starts.
We know San Antonio clay, hard water and freeze patterns.
Verify any plumber's license with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.
We protect your property and clean up.
FAQs
Can a plumber install a new backyard water line?
Yes. A licensed plumber can tap your supply, run pressure-rated pipe to the backyard, add a shut-off valve and pressure test the line. Utility locates are required before digging. Call (210) 898-9754 for a quote.
Why does an outdoor faucet leak behind the wall?
Usually a freeze crack in the bib body or the pipe just inside the wall, or a hose left attached that trapped water. The leak shows up when the faucet is on or after thaw. Stop using it and call a plumber; hidden wall water can damage drywall and insulation.
What outdoor pipes are vulnerable during a freeze?
Hose bibs, exposed backflow preventers, irrigation lines, pool and outdoor kitchen supply, and any pipe in an uninsulated garage, attic or exterior wall.
How much does outdoor plumbing cost in San Antonio?
It depends on length, material and access. A bib repair is a small job; a trenched backyard line is larger. We give a firm price after assessing, with no surprise add-ons.
Do you handle drainage too?
Stormwater and yard drainage is a separate scope. See our French drain installation and sump pump pages.