Emergency plumber in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has some of the oldest housing in the country, from Philadelphia rowhomes to Pittsburgh hillside houses, along with cold winters, wet basements and widespread private wells.
Coverage in Pennsylvania
Covered ZIP codes
1,463
Cities and towns
1,279
Most-covered
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie
What to do before the plumber arrives
- Close the main water shutoff, or the fixture's own valve if the leak is at one fixture.
- Keep away from water near outlets or panels; switch off power at the breaker only if you can reach it from a dry floor.
- If sewage is backing up, stop using every sink, toilet and appliance.
- Smell gas? Leave the building first, then call 911 and your gas utility from outside.
Step by step: what to do when a pipe bursts and finding your main water shutoff.
When plumbing emergencies happen in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania winters are cold, with heavier snow in the north and west and lake-effect snow near Erie. Summers are humid with heavy storms, and remnants of tropical storms have caused severe flooding in river valleys.
- Winter
- Frozen pipes in exterior walls, rowhome rear additions and unheated basements are the leading emergency calls.
- Storm season
- Heavy rain floods basements, overloads older sewers and backs up floor drains.
Emergency risks specific to Pennsylvania
Basement flooding
When: Tropical-storm remnants and spring rain in the Susquehanna and Delaware valleys. What fails: Water enters through floors and walls, and sump pumps fail. What to do: Test the sump pump, add a backup and keep the discharge away from the foundation.
Old cast-iron and clay drains
When: Freeze-thaw cycles and roots. What fails: Older drains crack and clog. What to do: Camera-inspect before any major drain replacement.
Philadelphia's rowhomes and Pittsburgh's older houses frequently date to the early twentieth century or earlier, with cast-iron and clay drains, galvanized supply and some lead service lines. Pennsylvania has one of the largest numbers of private household wells in the country, spread across rural areas from the Poconos to the Alleghenies.
How an emergency call works
SteadWell is a free referral service, not a plumbing company. Calls to (833) 753-0180 are routed to independent, licensed plumbers who serve the caller's ZIP code; our coverage list includes 1,463 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania. If no participating plumber serves your ZIP, you're told so. The plumber sets the price and arrival time; no arrival time is guaranteed.
Pennsylvania has no statewide plumbing license. Philadelphia licenses plumbers through its Department of Licenses and Inspections, Allegheny County (including Pittsburgh) licenses through its Health Department, and some other municipalities license locally. Contractors doing residential home improvement work generally also register with the Pennsylvania Attorney General.
Emergency plumbing in Pennsylvania: questions
Does Pennsylvania license plumbers statewide?
No. Philadelphia, Allegheny County and some municipalities license plumbers locally. Ask which local license applies to your address.
What is HICPA registration?
Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act requires most home improvement contractors to register with the Attorney General. It is a registration, not a trade license.
How do I check an emergency plumber's license in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has no statewide plumbing license. Philadelphia licenses plumbers through its Department of Licenses and Inspections, Allegheny County (including Pittsburgh) licenses through its Health Department, and some other municipalities license locally. Contractors doing residential home improvement work generally also register with the Pennsylvania Attorney General.
What does an emergency plumber cost?
National cost guides put emergency labor around $125 an hour on average, with trip fees commonly $100 to $350 and night, weekend or holiday rates 1.5 to 3 times normal. Ask for the price before work starts.