Plumbing emergency · Allentown, PA
Emergency Plumbing in Allentown, PA
For a burst pipe, major leak or sewage backup in Allentown, shut off the water first, then call. Problems on the street side of the meter go to Lehigh County Authority; anything on your side goes to a licensed plumber, and we connect you with one.
By calling, you agree to be connected with an independent plumbing contractor serving your area. Calls may be recorded for quality and training. The call and referral are free, and you are never obligated to hire.- Licensed local plumbers
- Free call and referral
- You approve the quote first
Call now for
- Burst pipes
- Major leaks
- Sewage backups
- Overflowing toilets
- Leaking water heaters
Emergency plumbing services in Allentown
- Burst Pipe RepairStopping and repairing burst or split pipes.
- Sewer BackupSewage coming up through floor drains, tubs or toilets.
- Water Heater RepairNo hot water, leaking tank, strange noises or uneven temperature.
- Leak DetectionHidden leaks behind walls, ceilings or floors, or a bill that suddenly jumps.
- Frozen Pipe RepairThawing frozen lines safely and fixing freeze damage.
- Sump Pump Repair and InstallationSump pumps that fail, run constantly or need replacing.
Emergencies we connect you with help for
- Burst or split pipes
- Water leaking through a ceiling
- Sewage backing up into drains
- An overflowing toilet that won't stop
- A water heater leaking from the tank
- No water in the house
Emergencies most likely in Allentown homes
- Allentown sees regular hard freezes. Burst pipes usually show up when the pipe thaws, so check exposed lines, garages and crawlspaces after a hard freeze.
- 82% of Allentown's homes were built before 1980 (median year built 1954). Aging galvanized supply pipe and cast iron or clay sewer lines are behind many sudden leaks and backups in homes of that age.
- Allentown's water is very hard (about 15 grains per gallon), which shortens tank water heater life. A tank leaking from the bottom can't be repaired: turn off its power or gas and close the cold-water valve.
- Typical home built
- 1954
- Homes before 1980
- 82%
- Water hardness
- 15 gpg
- very hard
- Winter freezes
- Regular hard freezes
The first five minutes
- 1Shut off the waterMain shutoff, or the fixture's own valve.
- 2Cut power near waterOnly from a dry spot.
- 3Gas smell: leave firstCall the gas utility or 911 from outside.
- 4Call and describe itSay what failed and when.
What affects the price
The plumbing company sets the price after seeing the job; ask for it in writing before work starts.
- Time of day, weekends and holidays
- What failed and how much water got out
- Access to the pipe or fixture
- Whether a temporary fix or a full repair is done first
- Parts the plumber has to source
Plumbing work we connect Allentown homeowners with
Sewer BackupSewage coming up through floor drains, tubs or toilets. Water Heater RepairNo hot water, leaking tank, strange noises or uneven temperature. Leak DetectionHidden leaks behind walls, ceilings or floors, or a bill that suddenly jumps. Frozen Pipe RepairThawing frozen lines safely and fixing freeze damage. Sump Pump Repair and InstallationSump pumps that fail, run constantly or need replacing.
Emergency Plumbing in Allentown: questions
Which number do Allentown residents call for a water or sewer emergency?
Lehigh County Authority asks Allentown residents to call 610-437-7515 for emergencies like a sewer backup into the basement, sudden loss of pressure or water flowing in the street. Do not use the online form.
My Allentown house suddenly has no water. Is it the utility or my plumbing?
Unless there is a main break nearby, Lehigh County Authority says no-water problems often start inside the home, such as a frozen pipe or a closed valve. A plumber can trace and fix interior causes.
Who fixes a water main break on my street in Allentown?
Lehigh County Authority handles mains and the service line up to the meter. A plumber handles the line from the meter to the house and everything inside.
What should I do if a pipe bursts during a Allentown freeze?
Close the main shutoff, open the faucets to drain the lines, and keep heat on. In Allentown, check garages, crawlspaces and exterior walls first.
Are older Allentown homes more likely to have plumbing emergencies?
Age matters: the median Allentown home was built in 1954 and 82% predate 1980. Homes of that era typically have copper or galvanized supply, cast iron drains, clay or cast iron sewer laterals.
Emergency Plumbing near Allentown
More plumbing services in Allentown
- Water Heater Repair in Allentown, PAWater Heater Repair in Allentown, PA: hard water builds sediment and scale quickly.
- Repiping in Allentown, PARepiping in Allentown, PA: older rowhouses have galvanized supply lines.
- Water Softener Installation in Allentown, PAWater Softener Installation in Allentown, PA: at 12 to 18 grains per gallon, softening protects heaters and fixtures.
- All plumbing services in AllentownEvery plumbing service available to Allentown homes.
Local rules and details for Allentown
Who to call in Allentown
Leaks on the street side of the water meter, a broken main or no water on the whole street are for the water utility: in Allentown that is Lehigh County Authority. Check its website or your water bill for its emergency line.
Leaks, backups and failures on your side of the meter, inside the house or in your sewer lateral, are a plumber's job. Call us and we connect you with an independent, licensed plumbing company that handles emergency calls in Allentown; when they can arrive depends on that company and the time of day.
Reporting a water emergency in Allentown
- Lehigh County Authority asks customers not to use its online Report a Problem form for emergencies. Allentown residents should call 610-437-7515, and non-city residents 610-398-1444. Signs of a serious problem include a sudden loss of pressure or service, water flowing in the street, a sudden change in taste, smell or color, and a sewer backup into the basement or an overflowing manhole. [3]
- Lehigh County Authority says that even when an Allentown home is completely out of water, the cause is often inside the house, such as a frozen pipe in winter or a valve that has been turned off, unless there is a water main break in the area. Low pressure is commonly traced to clogged faucet aerators or malfunctioning pressure reducing valves. [4]
Other common plumbing calls in Allentown
- Water Softener Installation: at 12 to 18 grains per gallon, softening protects heaters and fixtures.
- Water Heater Repair: hard water builds sediment and scale quickly.
- Repiping: older rowhouses have galvanized supply lines.
Allentown facts behind this page
- About half of Allentown's water comes from Schantz Spring and Crystal Spring and the other half mostly from the Little Lehigh Creek; hardness ranges from about 12 to 18 grains per gallon. [1]
- The median home in Allentown was built in 1954. [2]
- About 82% of Allentown's housing units were built before 1980, the era of galvanized steel supply pipe, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals. [2]
- Lehigh County Authority asks customers not to use its online Report a Problem form for emergencies. Allentown residents should call 610-437-7515, and non-city residents 610-398-1444. Signs of a serious problem include a sudden loss of pressure or service, water flowing in the street, a sudden change in taste, smell or color, and a sewer backup into the basement or an overflowing manhole. [3]
- Lehigh County Authority says that even when an Allentown home is completely out of water, the cause is often inside the house, such as a frozen pipe in winter or a valve that has been turned off, unless there is a water main break in the area. Low pressure is commonly traced to clogged faucet aerators or malfunctioning pressure reducing valves. [4]
Sources (4)
- Lehigh County Authority, Your Drinking Water · checked 2026-10-01
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- Lehigh County Authority, Report a Problem · checked 2026-10-20
- Lehigh County Authority, Common Service Issues · checked 2026-10-20