Need a plumber in Pennsylvania? Some of the oldest housing in the country means cast iron drains and galvanized pipe. Call Same Day Plumber any time to reach a licensed plumber in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
Call a Plumber in Pennsylvania (833) 763-0420Plumbing in Pennsylvania: What Differs by City
Pennsylvania has no statewide plumbing license. Each area sets its own rules.
In Philadelphia, the city issues permits. Around Pittsburgh, the county health department licenses plumbers and issues permits.
Housing is old across the state. The median home was built in 1942 in Pittsburgh, and in 1938 in Scranton and Reading.
Many older towns are rowhouses with shared walls. Pipes on a wall next to an empty house can freeze.
Water is mostly moderately hard. Bethlehem and Scranton have soft reservoir water.
Pick your Pennsylvania city below for local water, permit and repair details.
Pennsylvania Cities With Local Plumbing Guides
- Philadelphia, PAAging service lines and laterals · Cast iron drain stacks · Frozen pipes
- Pittsburgh, PAOld cast iron and galvanized pipe · Sewer lateral problems · Frozen pipes
- Allentown, PAOld cast iron and galvanized pipe · Frozen pipes · Scale from hard water
- Erie, PAOld pipe · Frozen pipes · Basement sewer backups
- Scranton, PAOld pipe · Frozen pipes · Basement sewer backups
- Norristown, PAOld pipe · Basement sewer backups · Frozen pipes
- West Chester, PAOld pipe · Lead service lines · Frozen pipes
- Phoenixville, PAOld pipe · Frozen pipes · Water heater replacement
- Lansdale, PAOld pipe · Frozen pipes · Old softeners and scale
- Pottstown, PAOld pipe · Basement sewer backups · Frozen pipes
- Coatesville, PAOld pipe · Frozen pipes · Basement sewer backups
- Chester, PAOld pipe · Basement sewer backups · Frozen pipes
- Harrisburg, PAOld pipe · Sewer backups in heavy rain · Frozen pipes
- Reading, PAOld pipe · Frozen pipes · Sewer backups
- Bethlehem, PAOld pipe · Frozen pipes · Water heater replacement
- Bensalem, PAWater heater replacement · Frozen pipes · Sewer backups
- Levittown, PAOld pipe · Frozen pipes · Old sewer laterals
Plumbing Codes, Permit Offices and Water Hardness by Pennsylvania City
| City | Plumbing code | Permits issued by | Water hardness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | Philadelphia Plumbing Code, based on the International Plumbing Code | Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) | Moderately hard |
| Pittsburgh | Allegheny County Health Department Plumbing Code (Article XV) | Allegheny County Health Department Plumbing Program | Moderately hard |
| Allentown | 2021 International Plumbing Code with City of Allentown amendments | City of Allentown Bureau of Building Standards and Safety | Not published |
| Erie | Not listed | Not listed | Moderately hard |
| Scranton | Not listed | Not listed | Soft to slightly hard |
| Norristown | Not listed | Not listed | Moderately hard to very hard |
| West Chester | Not listed | Not listed | Not published |
| Phoenixville | Not listed | Not listed | Not published |
| Lansdale | Not listed | Not listed | Varies |
| Pottstown | Not listed | Not listed | Not published |
| Coatesville | Not listed | Not listed | Moderately hard |
| Chester | Not listed | Not listed | Moderately hard to hard |
| Harrisburg | Not listed | Not listed | Not published |
| Reading | Not listed | Not listed | Not published |
| Bethlehem | Not listed | Not listed | Very soft |
| Bensalem | Not listed | Not listed | Not published |
| Levittown | Not listed | Not listed | Not published |
Pennsylvania Counties With Plumbing Guides
How to Check a Plumber's License in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania does not license plumbers statewide. Philadelphia licenses master plumbers through its Department of Licenses and Inspections, the Allegheny County Health Department licenses plumbers in Pittsburgh, and Allentown licenses its own through a city board. Ask for the local license number before work starts.
Plumbing Services Available Across Pennsylvania
- 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.