5 services · Philadelphia
Leaks, pipes & freezing in Philadelphia, PA
Pipe problems range from a burst line that needs the water shut off right now to slow pinhole leaks that show up as a high water bill. A licensed plumber finds where the water is escaping, repairs or replaces that section, and tells you whether the rest of the piping is likely to follow.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Leaks, pipes & freezing services in Philadelphia
Burst pipe repair
UrgentTurn off the main water shutoff first, then open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain the lines. A plumber cuts out the split section, replaces it, and checks the rest of that pipe run, because one freeze rarely damages only one spot.
Frozen pipe thawing in Philadelphia
UrgentIf a faucet gives no water or only a trickle after a hard freeze, a pipe is frozen. Leave that faucet open, warm the area gently, and call a plumber if you can't find the frozen section or if it's inside a wall, because a split pipe will leak as soon as it thaws.
Leak detection
Turn off every fixture and watch the water meter's leak indicator. If it moves, water is leaking somewhere. A plumber uses pressure tests, acoustic listening and thermal imaging to find the leak so only a small section of wall or floor has to be opened.
Repiping
Repiping replaces a home's water supply lines, usually because old galvanized steel has corroded or polybutylene is at risk of failing. Most repipes today use PEX, take two to five days, and are done through small wall openings rather than gutting the house.
Water line repair in Philadelphia
UrgentThe water service line runs from the curb stop near the street to your house, buried below the frost line. A leak shows up as a soggy patch in the yard, low pressure throughout the house, or a meter that never stops. Repair means finding the leak, then fixing that spot or replacing the line.
Local conditions
Leaks, pipes & freezing in Philadelphia: what's different
Philadelphia has many older lead water service lines, and the city offers programs to help owners replace them. Owners are responsible for their water service lines, and a leak in the line under the sidewalk or street is the owner's to repair.
Cold snaps freeze pipes in rowhouse basements and exterior walls. Brick rowhouses from the late 1800s and early 1900s often have older supply piping that leaks at joints.
- Water and sewer in Philadelphia
- The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) provides water, sewer and stormwater service.
- Permits in Philadelphia
- Plumbing permits are issued by the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I).
Philadelphia housing and plumbing
Brick rowhouses from the late 1800s and early 1900s dominate, typically with basements, cast-iron drains and older service lines.
Other Philadelphia conditions that affect plumbing
- Homeowner-owned laterals: Philadelphia property owners are responsible for their water and sewer service lines, and repairs often involve the street.
- Basement backups: Older combined sewers can back up into basements during heavy rain.
- Frozen pipes: Cold snaps freeze pipes in rowhouse basements and exterior walls.
- Rowhouse shared lines: Some older rowhouses share sewer or water lines with neighbors, which complicates repairs and requires coordination between owners.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Philadelphia and Philadelphia County, including Fishtown, South Philadelphia, Germantown, Manayunk, Fairmount, Northeast Philadelphia. ZIP codes: 19019 · 19092 · 19093 · 19099 · 19101 · 19102.
When to call a plumber in Philadelphia
- Water spraying, dripping from a ceiling or pooling on the floor: shut off the main and call right away
- No water from some faucets on a very cold morning
- A water bill that jumped without a change in use
- The water meter moving when every fixture is off
- Warm spots on a slab floor, or the sound of running water in a wall
- Low pressure throughout the house or rusty water from older pipes
How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the leaks, pipes & freezing guide.
Leaks, pipes & freezing questions in Philadelphia
Who pays to fix a water service line leak in Philadelphia?
Should I turn off the water if a pipe bursts?
More plumbing in Philadelphia
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