4 services · Pennsylvania
Drains & sewer in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have large stocks of older rowhouses and homes with cast-iron drains and aging laterals, and Philadelphia owners are responsible for laterals that often run under the street.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Statewide conditions
Drains & sewer in Pennsylvania: what to know
Older combined sewers in both cities can back up into basements during heavy rain, and some Philadelphia rowhouses share sewer lines with neighbors. River flooding affects Harrisburg and other towns.
A camera inspection shows whether a backup is in the lateral, a shared line or the public system, and a backwater valve helps.
- Climate
- Hard freezes are a regular part of winter in Pennsylvania, so pipes in exterior walls, garages, crawl spaces and attics need protection every year, and outdoor faucets and sprinkler lines must be drained before the first freeze.
- Typical foundations
- Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have large stocks of older rowhouses and homes with basements, cast-iron drains and aging laterals. Most common: basements.
Drains & sewer services
Drain cleaning
If one fixture is slow, the clog is usually in that fixture's branch line. If several drains back up at once, or the basement floor drain fills when you run the washer, the main sewer line is blocked and needs a larger cable or a jetter.
Hydro jetting
Hydro jetting cleans the full width of a drain pipe with high-pressure water, washing out grease, scale and fine roots that a cable only punches a hole through. It works best on sound pipe and is usually done after a camera inspection confirms the pipe can take it.
Sewer camera inspection
A sewer camera inspection runs a waterproof camera through the line from your house to the city main and records what it finds: roots, cracks, sags, offset joints or collapsed pipe. It's the best way to decide between cleaning, spot repair and replacement.
Sewer line repair
A damaged sewer line can be fixed with a spot repair, a trenchless liner, pipe bursting or an open-trench replacement. Which one fits depends on what the camera shows, how deep the pipe is, and what's on top of it, such as a driveway, trees or landscaping.
Drains & sewer by city in Pennsylvania
Local pages cover each city's water provider, permit office and housing. Not listed? Check your ZIP code below.
- Drains & sewer in Philadelphia
- Drains & sewer in Pittsburgh
- Plumber in Erie, PA
- Plumber in Harrisburg, PA
Drains & sewer questions in Pennsylvania
What if my Philadelphia rowhouse shares a sewer line?
Are chemical drain cleaners safe to use?
How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the drains & sewer guide.
More plumbing in Pennsylvania
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