Looking for a plumber in Providence? Half the city's homes were built before 1938, many of them triple-deckers with shared stacks, so old pipe, lead service lines and frozen lines in winter are the common calls. Call Same Day Plumber any time to reach a Rhode Island-licensed plumber.
Need a Plumber in Providence Today?
When you call, say which floor you're on and whether the house is a triple-decker. An independent plumbing company that serves Providence, from Downtown, Fox Point, Smith Hill and Mount Pleasant, picks up. You'll hear the arrival window and any fee before anyone drives out.
Emergency Plumbing Services in Providence
These are the emergencies Providence plumbers get called for most, each with a first step you can take before help arrives.
- Water coming through the ceiling from the unit above: have the upstairs shutoff or the building main closed, and tell the landlord.
- Pipe frozen or burst: close the main in the basement and open the faucet it feeds. See burst pipe.
- Sewage backing up into the first-floor or basement unit: everyone in the building needs to stop using water. See sewer backup.
For any of these, an emergency plumber can often come out to Providence 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 Providence
- 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 Providence Homes
Providence's median home was built in 1938. In neighborhoods like Federal Hill, the West End, Elmwood and Mount Hope, multi-family houses still run on cast iron drain stacks and galvanized or lead supply lines.
Providence Water draws from the Scituate Reservoir and describes its water as soft. Plumbing permits come from the city's Department of Inspection and Standards, and plumbers are licensed by the state.
Lead Service Line Replacement in Providence
Providence Water aims to replace every lead service line in its service area by 2033, as Rhode Island law requires. You can enter your address on its Lead Service Location Map to see what your line is recorded as. Only the property owner can register for a replacement, so tenants need to ask their landlord, and a signed right-of-entry form is required before work on the private side. A plumber can also identify the pipe where it enters the basement: lead is soft, dull gray and scratches to a shiny silver.
Leaks in a Providence Triple-Decker
- Each floor may have its own shutoff, or the building may share one main in the basement. Find out which before there is a leak.
- A leak on the second or third floor shows up in the unit below. Tell the other tenants and the landlord.
- The drain stack is shared, so a clog low in the building backs up into the lowest unit first.
- Back porches and stairwells are often unheated, and pipes there freeze first. See frozen pipes.
Old Cast Iron and Galvanized Pipe
With a median home built in 1938, corroded drain stacks and narrowed supply lines cause leaks, clogs and weak pressure.
What Affects Plumbing Costs in Providence
No plumber can quote a firm price before seeing the problem. These are the things that move the cost of plumbing work in Providence.
- Shared systems. In a multi-family house, a repair may involve more than one unit and the owner's approval.
- Old pipe. Repairs on 1930s plumbing often extend past the failed section.
- 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 Providence Department of Inspection and Standards, 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 Providence
These checks take a few minutes and prevent most bad experiences, whichever Providence plumber you end up hiring.
Check the Rhode Island License
Plumbers in Rhode Island are licensed by the state. Before any work starts at your Providence home, ask for the license number and look it up with the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Professional Regulation.
Who Can Pull a Plumbing Permit in Providence
Providence issues plumbing permits to a licensed master plumber, or to the owner of a single-family home they live in. Applications go through the city's online permitting system, and the applicant calls for inspection when rough and finish plumbing are complete. For a multi-family house, that means the work has to be permitted by a licensed master plumber.
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 Providence
FAQs About Plumbers in Providence
How do I find out if my Providence home has a lead service line?
Enter your address on Providence Water's Lead Service Location Map. If the line is lead or unknown, the property owner can register there for replacement.
How quickly can I get a plumber in Providence?
Often the same day, including nights and weekends, but it depends on demand and where in Providence 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 Providence, RI
If you have lead service lines, old cast iron and galvanized pipe or another plumbing problem in Providence, 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.