Find plumbing in Philadelphia

What usually goes wrong

You may want a plumber if you notice any of these:

• Low water pressure
• Water stains on a ceiling or wall
• Dripping or leaking pipes under a sink

What Philadelphia housing means for plumbing

Much of the older city has combined sewers, and the Water Department's Green City, Clean Waters plan uses rain gardens and other green infrastructure to cut overflows. South Philly and Point Breeze are packed with two-story brick rows built for working families in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Summers are hot and humid, and the city usually sees a string of days above 90 degrees each year. In stacked apartments and row homes, drain lines are often shared, so a clog upstairs can surface as a backup downstairs. Mention the layout of the building when you call.

Freeze and thaw cycles stress older service lines and outdoor spigots. Shutting off and draining hose bibs before the first hard frost saves a lot of trouble. Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy have large stone houses built from local Wissahickon schist.

Utilities, permits and licensing

Ask a plumber who finds an old lead or galvanized service line to point it out, then check with the Philadelphia Water Department about its service line inventory and any replacement program. Pennsylvania has no statewide plumber license, but Philadelphia licenses plumbers through the Department of Licenses and Inspections.

From call to visit

1. Call or use the form and describe the problem.
2. We pass your request to an independent plumber who covers Philadelphia.
3. You and the pro agree on the details before any work starts.

What to have ready

Write down when the problem started and anything that changed, like new fixtures or recent work on the building.