Water Line Replacement – East Aloha / 185th Ave
East Aloha homes near 185th Avenue were built with copper service lines — an upgrade from the galvanized steel used in older parts of Aloha. Copper is a good material, but the soft, mildly acidic water common throughout the Portland metro is harder on copper than on newer materials. Homes in the 185th Avenue corridor that are now 30 to 40 years old are in the window where pinhole corrosion can develop in the underground service line — showing up as a creeping water bill, a soft wet yard patch, or gradually dropping pressure before anything is visibly wrong. When a copper line in East Aloha reaches the end of its run, we replace it with PEX rated for the next 50-plus years.
How Portland's Soft Water Affects Copper Lines
Copper service pipe holds up well in most respects, but the Pacific Northwest has naturally soft, slightly acidic water — and that chemistry is harder on copper over time than the chemistry in harder-water regions. The process is called pitting corrosion: small pits form on the interior of the copper pipe, deepen slowly over years, and eventually become through-wall pinhole leaks. The leaks often start in the underground service line before they appear anywhere visible inside the house.
The signs are easy to miss at first. The water bill creeps up month by month without an obvious explanation. A patch of the front yard seems unusually soft or green over where the line runs. Pressure at the fixtures has dropped slightly — not dramatically, just enough to notice if you're paying attention. By the time the symptoms are obvious, the pinhole has usually been leaking for some time. Replacing with PEX ends the corrosion story permanently.
Aging Copper vs. New PEX
30–40 Year Old Copper Service Line
- Soft water pitting corrosion over decades
- Pinhole leaks — often underground, invisible inside
- Unexplained water bill increase
- Repair addresses one pinhole; more typically follow
- Full replacement is the permanent solution
New PEX Service Line
- Unaffected by soft water chemistry
- No pitting, no pinholes — solid wall throughout
- Full pressure restored from day one
- Flexible — tolerates soil movement and root pressure
- 50+ year rated lifespan
Signs Your East Aloha Water Line Needs Attention
- Water bill increased without an obvious explanation
- Soft, wet, or unusually green area in the yard over the line route
- Pressure that's dropped gradually at multiple fixtures
- Sound of water running when all fixtures are off
- Discolored water suggesting corrosion inside the line
- Home is 30+ years old with copper lines and no service history
Directional Drilling in the 185th Ave Corridor
The subdivisions along 185th Avenue have standard flat lot lines that work well for directional drilling — no hillside grade, typical meter-to-house distances, and driveways that run predictably from street to garage. A Ditch Witch boring machine pulls the new PEX line underground in one pass without opening a continuous trench. The driveway stays intact, trees and shrubs along the route aren't disturbed, and the yard is largely undisturbed when we finish. Where soil conditions or routing require traditional excavation instead, we explain why and walk you through the work before we start.
- Directional drilling where lot and soil allow — driveway and landscaping protected
- Traditional excavation when routing requires it
- New PEX service line rated 50+ years
- Washington County permit handled
- Water restored before we leave
- Most jobs completed in one day
Frequently Asked Questions
My water bill went up but I can't find a leak inside. What's going on?
An unexplained water bill increase in an East Aloha home from the 1980s or 90s is a common first sign of a pinhole leak in the underground copper service line. The water doesn't show up inside — it goes into the soil. Turning off all fixtures and checking whether the water meter is still moving tells you immediately whether there's a leak in the service line.
Can one pinhole be repaired rather than replacing the whole line?
A single pinhole can be patched, but if the copper has been in the ground for 35-plus years and pitting corrosion is present, more pinholes typically follow. We'll tell you honestly whether repair is reasonable for your specific situation or whether full replacement is the better long-term decision given the age and condition of the line.
How long does the job take?
Most water line replacements in East Aloha are completed in one day. Water is restored before we leave.
Aloha Neighborhoods We Serve
All Water Line Services – Aloha → | Sewer Scope – East Aloha → | Drain Cleaning →
Water Line Issues in East Aloha?
Call us. We'll find out what's in the ground and give you straight answers on what it needs.