Mobile County · Mobile metro
Plumbing Services in Mobile, AL
Older PipesFreeze Risk
Mobile's water comes almost entirely from Big Creek Lake, a protected reservoir west of the city. Heavy Gulf Coast rain, humidity and older housing near downtown shape plumbing calls: drainage and sewer problems after storms, and corrosion on exposed fittings.
Mobile plumbing at a glance
The most common plumbing calls in Mobile, AL are drain cleaning, sewer backup and water heater replacement. The median home was built in 1976, and 60% of homes predate 1980.
- Median home built
- 1976
- Built before 1980
- 60%
- Owner-occupied
- 61%
- Water hardness
- See below
- Winter
- Occasional hard freezes
- Plumbing code
- Local
The plumbing calls that come up most in Mobile
- Drain Cleaning
Older clay and cast iron drains in historic neighborhoods clog with roots and grease.
- Sewer Backup
Intense Gulf Coast rainstorms can surcharge sewers and back water into low fixtures.
- Water Heater Replacement
Humidity and long run times wear out tank heaters in garages and closets.
Emergency plumbing in Mobile
Call (833) 878-1592Shut off your main water supply if it's safe to do so. The emergencies below are listed most likely first for Mobile homes, based on local conditions.
Mobile's 1970s housing and its pipes
The median home in Mobile was built in 1976, and 60% of homes predate 1980. Homes from that era were typically built with copper supply, early plastic (ABS or PVC) drains, some cast iron.
- Galvanized steel supply (1900–1960)
- Copper supply (1950–2000)
- Polybutylene (some homes) (1978–1996)
- PEX / CPVC (1995–today)
Where Mobile's water comes from
Big Creek Lake, placed in service in 1952, is the drinking water source for about 350,000 residents of Mobile and Baldwin counties, and MAWSS restricts boating there to protect water quality (news report). [1]
When Mobile gets a hard freeze
Occasional hard freezes · 60% of Mobile homes were built before 1980
Heavy rain and storms
Plumbing services for Mobile homes
Every plumbing service in Mobile
Services marked “Mobile guide” have a page on local rules and conditions; the rest link to the full service guide, which applies here too.
- Backflow Testing
- Bathroom Remodel Plumbing
- Burst Pipe Repair
- Drain Cleaning
- Emergency Plumber
- Faucet Repair and Replacement
- Frozen Pipe Repair
- Garbage Disposal Repair and Installation
- Gas Line Installation and Repair
- Kitchen Remodel Plumbing
- Leak Detection
- Outdoor Faucet and Hose Bib Repair
- Pipe Repair
- Repiping
- Sewer Backup
- Sewer Camera Inspection
- Sewer Line Repair
- Sewer Line Replacement
- Shower & Bathtub Plumbing
- Slab Leak Repair
- Sump Pump Repair and Installation
- Tankless Water Heaters
- Toilet Installation
- Toilet Repair
- Trenchless Sewer Repair
- Water Filtration Systems
- Water Heater Repair
- Water Heater Replacement
- Water Line Repair
- Water Pressure Problems
- Water Softener Installation
- Well Pump Repair
Mobile plumbing questions
Where does Mobile's drinking water come from?
Mainly Big Creek Lake, a reservoir west of the city run by MAWSS.
Why is boating restricted on Big Creek Lake?
MAWSS limits outside boats to keep invasive species out of the drinking water supply.
Do Mobile storms cause sewer backups?
Heavy rain can overload sewers; a backwater valve protects fixtures below street level.
What should Mobile homeowners do before hurricane season?
Know where the main shutoff and the water heater gas valve are, clear yard drains and cleanouts, test the sump pump if you have one, and fit a backwater valve if a floor drain sits below the street sewer. Storm surge and power loss are when these matter.
Sources (2)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- FOX10 News · checked 2026-10-04