Looking for a plumber in Des Moines? Iowa winters freeze pipes every year, older homes have basements that take on water in heavy rain, and the water is hard enough to wear on water heaters. Call Same Day Plumber any time to reach an Iowa-licensed plumber.
Need a Plumber in Des Moines Today?
Say whether sewage is coming up the basement floor drain, and whether it started in a storm. Your call is passed to an independent plumber working in Des Moines. They quote the job and bill you directly, and they'll tell you when they can arrive before you commit.
Emergency Plumbing Services in Des Moines
3 situations account for many urgent calls in Des Moines. Each has a first step to take while you wait.
- Sewage coming up the basement floor drain: stop using water on every floor. See sewer backup.
- Pipe frozen or burst: close the main in the basement and open the faucet it feeds. See frozen pipes.
- Sump pump not running during a storm: check the outlet, breaker and float. See sump pump repair.
For any of these, an emergency plumber can often come out to Des Moines the same day, including nights and weekends. If you smell gas, leave the building first and call the gas utility or 911 from outside.
24/7 Plumbing Services in Des Moines
- Emergency PlumbingBurst pipes, flooding, sewage backups and loss of water, any hour.
- Drain CleaningClogged sinks, tubs, toilets and main sewer lines.
- Water Heater Repair & ReplacementNo hot water, leaking tanks, tank and tankless repair or replacement.
- Leak Detection & RepairHidden, slab and pipe leaks found and fixed before they cause damage.
- Sewer Line RepairCamera inspection, sewer repair and trenchless replacement.
- Pipe Repair & RepipingBurst, frozen and corroded pipes repaired or replaced.
- Toilet RepairRunning, clogged, leaking and broken toilets repaired or replaced.
- Faucet & Fixture RepairFaucets, garbage disposals and shower valves.
- Sump Pump RepairSump pump repair, replacement and battery backups.
- Gas Line RepairGas leak repair and appliance hookups by licensed plumbers.
- Water Softeners & FiltrationWater softeners, whole-house filtration and well pumps.
- Commercial Plumbing & BackflowCommercial plumbing service and backflow testing.
Common Plumbing Problems in Des Moines Homes
Des Moines Water Works says it aims to keep total hardness below 150 mg/L, or 8.76 grains per gallon. That is hard water, and the utility notes that excessive hardness can affect home plumbing.
The median Des Moines home was built in 1961, with early-1900s houses in neighborhoods like Sherman Hill and Drake. Plumbing permits come from the city's Permit and Development Center.
Des Moines Helps Pay for Sewer Backup Protection
The City of Des Moines runs a Private Property Protection Program that reimburses part of the cost of qualifying plumbing work that protects a home from sewer backups. The conditions matter: you need a pre-approval letter from the city before any work begins, the work has to be done by a licensed plumber, and it has to be under a plumbing permit. If your basement drain has backed up in a storm, ask the plumber about the program before agreeing to the job, because work started without approval does not qualify.
Winter Checklist for a Des Moines House
- Shut off and drain outdoor faucets from the inside valve before the first hard freeze.
- Insulate pipes along exterior basement walls and in crawl spaces.
- In sub-zero weather, open cabinets on outside walls and let those faucets drip.
- Locate the main shutoff, usually where the water line enters the basement. See frozen pipes.
Hard Water Scale
At up to about 8.8 grains per gallon, scale builds in water heaters and on fixtures.
What Affects Plumbing Costs in Des Moines
No plumber can quote a firm price before seeing the problem. These are the things that move the cost of plumbing work in Des Moines.
- Basement protection. Backwater valves, sump pumps and backups add to a visit.
- Scale. Hard water shortens the life of heater parts and valves.
- Finding the problem. Leak locating and camera inspections are separate steps, but they keep the repair itself small.
- Time of day. Many companies charge an after-hours, weekend or holiday fee.
- Permits. When a job needs one, it comes from City of Des Moines Permit and Development Center, and the plumber usually pulls it.
- Ask for the arrival fee before the plumber heads out, and for the repair price in writing before work starts.
How to Find a Licensed Plumber in Des Moines
These checks take a few minutes and prevent most bad experiences, whichever Des Moines plumber you end up hiring.
Check the Iowa License
Plumbers and plumbing contractors in Iowa are licensed by the state. Before any work starts at your Des Moines home, ask for the license number and look it up with the Iowa Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board.
Who Pulls a Plumbing Permit in Des Moines
Des Moines city code has long required plumbing permits to be issued in the name of a licensed plumbing contractor, with the master plumber signing the application. In practice that means the plumbing company takes out the permit, not the homeowner. Ask for the contractor's Iowa license number and confirm the permit is part of the job.
What to Ask on the Phone
- What is the arrival window?
- Is there a service, trip or after-hours fee?
- For an emergency, will you stop the damage first and quote the permanent repair before starting it?
- What is your license number?
Plumbers in Cities Near Des Moines
FAQs About Plumbers in Des Moines
Is Des Moines water hard?
Yes. Des Moines Water Works says it works to keep total hardness below 150 mg/L, which is 8.76 grains per gallon.
How quickly can I get a plumber in Des Moines?
Often the same day, including nights and weekends, but it depends on demand and where in Des Moines you are. The plumber gives you an arrival window when you call. During a citywide event such as a hard freeze or major storm, waits are longer, so shut off the water and limit the damage while you wait.
Find a Same-Day Plumber in Des Moines, IA
If you have frozen pipes, basement sewer backups or another plumbing problem in Des Moines, call now. You'll be connected to a licensed plumber who works in your area, and you'll know the arrival window and any fee before they head out.