Pinellas County · Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater metro
Plumbing help in St. Petersburg, FL
Older PipesStorms
St. Petersburg's housing is older than most of Florida's, with the median home from 1970, and its water blends regional groundwater and surface water, which gets harder in droughts. Coastal flooding and hurricanes add storm damage to the list.
- Median home built
- 1970
- Built before 1980
- 68%
- Owner-occupied
- 62%
- Water hardness
- See below
- Winter
- Hard freezes are rare
- Plumbing code
- State code
What St. Petersburg homeowners call plumbers about
- Repiping
About two-thirds of homes predate 1980, many with aging galvanized or cast iron piping.
- Sewer Backup
Storm surge and heavy rain overload low-lying drainage.
- Water Heater Repair
Harder drought-season water builds sediment in heaters.
Emergency plumbing in St. Petersburg
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 St. Petersburg homes, based on local conditions.
St. Petersburg's 1970s housing and its pipes
The median home in St. Petersburg was built in 1970, and 68% 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)
Permits and code in St. Petersburg
Plumbing in St. Petersburg follows the statewide Florida Building Code, Plumbing, 8th Edition (2023), and must be done by a DBPR-licensed plumbing contractor. [2]
Where St. Petersburg's water comes from
St. Petersburg's water, supplied through Tampa Bay Water, blends groundwater and surface water. During droughts a larger share comes from harder groundwater, so customers may notice more hardness deposits. [1]
Heavy rain and storms
Plumbing services for St. Petersburg homes
St. Petersburg plumbing questions
Why is my St. Petersburg water harder lately?
During droughts, more of the supply comes from groundwater, which is naturally harder than surface water.
Where does St. Pete's water come from?
Tampa Bay Water supplies a blend of groundwater and surface water to St. Petersburg.
How do I check a St. Petersburg plumber?
Verify the license on MyFloridaLicense.com.
What should I do about plumbing after a hurricane in St. Pete?
Check for sewer backups before running lots of water, look for leaks from shifted pipes, and have flooded water heaters inspected.
Do older St. Pete homes need repiping?
Many do. Galvanized and cast iron in homes from before 1980 corrode, causing leaks, low pressure and drain problems.
Sources (3)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- City of St. Petersburg, Drinking Water · checked 2026-10-01
- Florida Building Commission · checked 2026-10-01