Pipe Repair in Pennsylvania
A single leak in otherwise sound pipe gets a spot repair. When pipe has repeated leaks, is galvanized with low pressure, or is polybutylene (gray plastic, common 1978–1995), repiping the house is usually the lasting fix.
Coverage in Pennsylvania
Covered ZIP codes
1,463
Cities and towns
1,279
Most-covered
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie
What drives pipe repair calls in Pennsylvania
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.
Winter: Frozen pipes in exterior walls, rowhome rear additions and unheated basements are the leading emergency calls.
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.
Hiring for pipe repair 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.
SteadWell is a free referral service, not a plumbing company. Calls to (833) 753-0180 are routed by ZIP code to independent, licensed plumbers; our Pennsylvania coverage list includes 1,463 ZIP codes. Ask for the trip fee and total price before work starts.
About pipe repair
- More than one leak in a year
- Gray plastic supply pipes stamped PB2110
- Rust-colored water or low pressure (galvanized)
- Green or white crust on copper joints
- Pipes that froze and split
The full guide covers the visit and cost factors: Pipe Repair & Repiping.
Pipe Repair in Pennsylvania: questions
How do I check a 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.
Is pipe repair available in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is among the most-covered cities in our Pennsylvania call-routing list. Calls are connected by ZIP code to an independent, licensed plumber who serves it; if none does, you're told so.
How can I tell if I have polybutylene pipe?
Polybutylene is flexible gray plastic supply pipe, often stamped PB2110, used roughly from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. Look at the water heater connections, under sinks and where lines come through the floor.